MatchThe opposition lowdown: Brentford

Opposition view

Dan Evans, Brentford football journalist

On Brentford’s summer and opening win…

The off-season was all about getting players back from injury for Brentford. They suffered 21 separate injuries last term, making it easily the most testing of their three seasons in the Premier League so far.

While they are still without a couple of important full-backs in Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey as they recover from long-term issues, Thomas Frank is now far closer to having a squad that can withstand the rigours of another season at this level.

There were concerns about the way the Bees defended during some of their pre-season outings, particularly in an exciting 4-4 draw with German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. But that was partially put to bed by the committed display that earned a hard-fought 2-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken and centre-back Nathan Collins were impressive in that game after both had difficult first seasons in west London. Coupled with their attacking players firing against their London rivals and a debut for Fabio Carvalho, it was the ideal way for Brentford and Frank to start the campaign.

If they can make a few more additions before the transfer window closes, Brentford fans will be confident that relegation won’t cross anyone’s mind this season.

On Brentford’s key players…

With Ivan Toney seemingly set to bring an end to one of the great modern Brentford careers, there has been plenty of onus on Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to step up and fill the goalscoring void.

Mbeumo impressed either side of a serious ankle injury last season, and Wissa enjoyed his most prolific season yet for the club as he scored 12 league goals. Therefore, both players finding the net against Palace has suggested that they can establish themselves as the team’s main men in attack.

Captain Christian Norgaard has been a consistent presence in the heart of midfield throughout Brentford’s Premier League journey, and continues to go somewhat under the radar despite being tidy in possession and more than useful at winning the ball back.

Transfer business was slow to begin with. Brazilian striker Igor Thiago arrived in a club-record move but he has been ruled out until the end of the year after suffering a knee injury in his first pre-season outing, meaning it will be a while before we see the best of him.

The disappointment of being without Thiago has been offset by the recent arrival of Carvalho from Liverpool. The attacking midfielder was a revelation at west London rivals Fulham, and it is hoped that his creativity can provide plenty of chances for the likes of Mbeumo and Wissa to take advantage of.

On Thomas Frank’s style of play…

Excellent organisation and a good amount of physicality has helped Brentford make themselves at home in the Premier League. Jürgen Klopp called them the ‘best set-piece team he ever faced’ a couple of years ago and that was no doubt appreciated by Frank and his coaching staff, who are meticulous when it comes to finding ways to bridge gaps in quality between the Bees and wealthier rivals in the division.

Feeling at home in the top flight, Frank tried to make the team more expansive at the start of last season. There were early signs of promise but the club’s injury problems meant he was forced to revert to something closer to Brentford’s initial approach to the Premier League and stave off any fears of a genuine relegation battle.

With a front three of Mbeumo, Wissa and Kevin Schade finally fully fit to start the current campaign, the early signs against Palace last weekend suggested that this season Brentford will be all about hurting opponents with pace. New signing Carvalho should hopefully provide some guile to go with it.

Predicted line-up

Frank has often changed to a back five for tests as difficult as a trip to Anfield, but I think he will stick with the 4-3-3 that got the best out of the forward line against Palace.

Brentford XI (4-3-3): Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade.

Team news

Henry is closing in on a return from a long-term absence but this weekend’s fixture at Anfield will come too soon.

Josh Dasliva (knee), Hickey (hamstring) and Thiago (meniscus) are also sidelined.

Toney could be involved after missing Brentford’s opening-day fixture against Palace.

Previous meetings

Liverpool defeated Brentford twice during the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.

Their last meeting came in the capital at the Gtech Community Stadium in February, with the Reds running out 4-1 winners. Goals from Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo secured the spoils.

In the preceding clash at Anfield, Liverpool earned a 3-0 win courtesy of a Salah double and Diogo Jota effort.

What they said

Brentford manager Frank

“We are going into a fantastic team, against a good manager. I followed his [Arne Slot’s] work with Feyenoord, of course seen his pre-season games, the Ipswich game and it looks good. He tried to add layers to the fantastic job [Jürgen] Klopp did. He inherited a fantastic team. The team that started against Ipswich is a fantastic team. I saw some awesome stats. At home, they are so frightening, I expect them to be an unbelievably difficult task. We know we have the capacity to go anywhere and try to win it. We will go there and try everything we can to win it.”

Pre-match stats

Liverpool have won each of their last five home games against Brentford, keeping a clean sheet each time.

The Reds haven’t lost their opening home fixture in any of the last 20 league campaigns (15 wins, five draws), winning 10 of their last 11.

Virgil van Dijk has won 81 of his 99 Premier League games for Liverpool at Anfield (16 draws, two losses). If the Dutchman features and the Reds avoid defeat in this game, it will be the fewest defeats a player has suffered in their first 100 Premier League home appearances with a specific club.

Arne Slot won his first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool last weekend against Ipswich Town, with Graeme Souness in April 1991 the last Reds boss to win his opening two league games.

The Bees have lost just one of their previous six Premier League away games in the month of August (one win, four draws), with that sole defeat coming at Fulham in 2022.

Salah has 127 goal contributions in 127 Premier League appearances for Liverpool at Anfield (92 goals, 35 assists).

The Egyptian has six goal involvements against Brentford in the competition (five goals, one assist).