From Gtech Neighborhood Stadium – Brentford maintained their spectacular large recreation file this season with a 3-1 win at house to Liverpool.
The hosts had been lacking Ivan Toney because of a leg harm, however nonetheless made life tough for the Reds and had been deserved victors on Monday night.
After Brentford did not clear an early nook, Harvey Elliott’s deep cross was helped on by Virgil van Dijk, and although it was impressively tipped over by David Raya, the offside flag was later raised.
Liverpool continued to threaten early doorways as Mohamed Salah swivelled previous Zanka and set by way of Nunez, who rounded Raya however noticed his effort cleared off the road by Ben Mee.
On the different finish, a cross from Rico Henry was met by the top of Bryan Mbeumo, however he could not maintain his effort on course.
The Cameroon worldwide squandered an important probability to present Brentford the lead shortly afterwards. Christian Norgaard robbed Nunez of possession on the sting of the Bees field and rapidly discovered Yoane Wissa, who in flip despatched Mbeumo racing away, just for Alisson to disclaim him at shut vary.
From the ensuing nook, Brentford did take the lead when Mbeumo’s cross was diverted into the Liverpool internet by Ibrahima Konate’s knee. The objective stood after a prolonged VAR checked cleared Mee of dealing with the ball earlier than it struck the Frenchman.
The Reds almost levelled when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cleverly discovered an open Kostas Tsimikas when surrounded by 4 defenders, however Raya saved his near-post try.
Thiago almost gifted Brentford a second following a mix-up with Van Dijk, permitting Mathias Jensen to run by way of on objective, however his half-volley was deflected over by the retreating Liverpool backline.
And from that nook, the hosts had the ball within the internet once more. Norgaard’s flick-on was properly saved by Alisson, who then denied two rebounds from Ethan Pinnock, just for Wissa to faucet in from a yard out. Nonetheless, the offside flag was accurately raised in opposition to the ahead and the objective was chalked off.
Liverpool’s incapability to defend Brentford corners continued as Wissa appeared to half-volley them right into a two-goal lead. Nonetheless, VAR dominated it out for offside in opposition to Mee, whose deflection despatched the shot into the highest nook.
However the Reds inexplicably gave the ball away from that free-kick and Alisson was unable to claw Wissa’s header from Jensen’s very good cross away in time, with Brentford now legally going 2-0 up.
Klopp made three modifications at half-time with a purpose to assist stem the tide, throwing Naby Keita, Andy Robertson and Joel Matip on for Elliott, Tsimikas and Van Dijk.
Regardless of the German stated at half-time appeared to work as Liverpool had the ball within the internet minutes after the restart. Thiago’s great ball excessive was met by Nunez and he dinked it over Raya, just for VAR to drag it again for a marginal offside in opposition to the Uruguayan.
However like Brentford within the first half, Liverpool responded to a decent offside name by scoring a authorized objective. Trent Alexander-Arnold lower in off the correct and his curling cross was nodded in by Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The ball belonged to Liverpool within the second half, however they went an extended stretch with no clear sight of objective – Nunez went closest with a horrendously dragged effort from simply contained in the field after 70 minutes.
And Liverpool had been made to pay as Mbeumo added Brentford’s third within the dying embers. Keane Lewis-Potter pick-pocketed Keita in midfield, and Norgaard’s crossfield ball was met by Mbeumo, who outmuscled Konate and slotted previous Alisson.
Pinnock and Henry managed to scramble away Salah’s effort on the final because the guests sought to claw their means again into the competition once more, however that was the perfect they may muster and Brentford took all three factors.
GK: David Raya – 7/10 – Made a string of sensible saves, notably within the first half.
CB: Zanka – 7/10 – Picked up a second-minute reserving for a foul on Nunez, however seemed very assured from then onwards.
CB: Ethan Pinnock – 8/10 – Sliced a few clearances however was largely nice. Saved Nunez quiet, which is a tough ask.
CB: Ben Mee – 8/10 – Concerned lots at each ends, profitable tackles and forcing targets.
RM: Mads Roerslev – 5/10 – Appeared fairly timid and did not provide so much offensively.
CM: Mathias Jensen – 8/10 – The creator of Brentford’s greatest possibilities, incomes an help for Wissa for his or her second objective.
CM: Christian Norgaard – 8/10 – Swept up properly and was wonderful at beginning counter assaults.
CM: Vitaly Janelt – 6/10 – Not his brightest day on the ball however ran exhausting and contributed defensively.
LM: Rico Henry – 8/10 – Dominated his flank. Even atoned his defensive errors in the identical part of play.
CF: Bryan Mbeumo – 8/10 – A wonderful facilitator and his set piece supply was spot on. Made himself the hero with the profitable objective.
CF: Yoane Wissa – 8/10 – Whereas he lacks Toney’s physicality, Wissa did an important job of constructing himself a nuisance, incomes a spot on the scoresheet.
Substitutes
Josh Dasilva (73′ for Jensen) – 5/10
Keane Lewis-Potter (73′ for Wissa) – 6/10
Saman Ghoddos (88′ for Janelt) – N/A
Sergi Canos (88′ for Mbeumo) – N/A
Mads Bech Sorensen (90′ for Henry) – N/A
Supervisor
Thomas Frank – 8/10 – One other large recreation wherein the Dane bought his recreation plan spot on. Uncovered Liverpool’s weaknesses excellently.
GK: Alisson – 7/10 – Saved the rating down with some sensible saves. Got here an inch away from replicating Gordon Financial institution’s well-known 1970 save vs Brazil.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10 – Focused defensively however was certainly one of Liverpool’s most potent creators.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 4/10 – Caught within the chaos and altered the sport along with his personal objective. Outmuscled by a a lot smaller participant in Mbeumo.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 4/10 – Defended with a bit extra emphasis than standard however it wasn’t sufficient to save lots of him from a half-time hooking.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas – 3/10 – Consistently roasted in his 45 minutes on the pitch.
DM: Fabinho – 5/10 – After a tumultuous first half, Fabinho seemed rather more assured within the second and did his personal job properly.
CM: Harvey Elliott – 4/10 – Efficient in vast areas however that was it, when you wanted extra proof his long-term future is not in midfield.
CM: Thiago – 5/10 – Like Fabinho seemed extra like his outdated self after the break.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 5/10 – Confirmed wonderful poise bodily and technically, however primarily in vast areas and never in harmful ones.
CF: Darwin Nunez – 4/10 – Appeared sharp early on however discovered possibilities tough to come back by.
LW: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6/10 – Took his objective properly however lacked the dynamism to guide assaults.
Substitutes
Andy Robertson (46′ for Tsimikas) – 6/10 – Introduced the power that Liverpool lacked.
Joel Matip (46′ for Van Dijk) – 6/10 – Higher than Liverpool’s different centre-backs however that is not saying a lot.
Naby Keita (46′ for Elliott) – 5/10 – Did not draw back from the ball however did give it away for the third objective.
Curtis Jones (84′ for Oxlade-Chamberlain) – N/A
Supervisor
Jurgen Klopp – 5/10 – Liverpool defended with out depth they usually had been punished for it.
