Liverpool vs Brentford: The most awaited match in 2023

Brentford goes into this game in great shape after winning its last three Premier League fixtures. In their last three matches, Thomas Frank’s team had thrashed Burnley, stunned Chelsea by two goals to one at Stamford Bridge, and emerged victorious over West Ham by 3 to 2. On the other hand, Brentford has failed every time to secure a win at Anfield, being defeated by a single goal during the previous campaign and by three goals in the previous campaign.

However, Liverpool could not achieve their third successive league victory when they drew one-all against newly promoted Luton town on Sunday. Luis Diaz managed to score an equalizing goal towards the end for the Reds in order to rescue a point and he dedicated it to his father whose whereabouts were uncertain in Colombia until he regained his freedom. At the moment, Liverpool ranks fourth in the league and can move up to the third position bypassing Tottenham in the table if they win this encounter.

Let’s take a look at today’s match highlights:

First-half begins!!!

• In the 1^st minute, referee Paul Tierney has blown the whistle to start this Premier League match!
• In the 4^th minute, it’s a save! Early in the game Gakpo takes a powerful right-footed shot towards the middle of the goal, which Flekken, the Brentford goal-keeper parries away comfortably using his hands.
• In the 5^th minute, the ball is sent toward the Liverpool penalty area by Flekken, and there is a little bit of chaos in there. Matip makes an effort to clear it, but it only makes it as far as Pinnock who fires a shot right from nearly the penalty spot and just hooks it wide. At the other end of the field, a Nunez deflected cross from the left hand side nearly took the Brentford goalkeeper by surprise at his near post. Teams quickly alternated chances to score.
• In the 10^th minute, Salah had some space on the right-hand side, but his left-footed cross was not accurate, and it ended up on the roof of Flekken's goal. Nunez was positioned wide, so Liverpool didn't have many targets inside the penalty area for the cross.
• In the 15^th minute, Jota could have a go at shooting at goal, but chose not to. Gakpo passed the ball to Tsimikas (left wing). The danger was cleared by the Brentford defense but not before they had to block a cross from Tsimikas’ which had been deflected on the left side. Liverpool has its players penetrating into the box, but they have not really tested Flekken the Brentford goalkeeper with serious threat so far.
• In the 16^th minute, Close call! Salah found some space on the right wing and passed the ball to Nunez. Nunez took a first-time right-footed shot, aiming for the near post, but Flekken, the Brentford goalkeeper, managed to kick it away. The Bees need to be careful not to allow too many opportunities to Liverpool's dangerous attackers, Salah and Nunez.
• In the 18^th minute, Brentford gave the hosts a fright when Alexander-Arnold struggled to clear the ball inside his own penalty area. Mbeumo seized the loose ball and attempted a quick left-footed shot, but it went high and wide, missing Alisson's goal.
• In the 22^nd minute, no goal! Jota made a run down the left wing and passed the ball to Szoboszlai, who took a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it was a weak attempt. Somehow, the ball found its way to Nunez, who finished from close range. However, the VAR will review this goal as the assistant referee raised the flag for an offside.
• In the 25^th minute, Mee is down on the ground, holding his head. It happened when his own teammate, Pinnock, collided with him while they were both going for an aerial challenge. The former Burnley center-back will need medical attention, which gives the players a break as the game is temporarily paused.
• In the 28^th minute, no goal! Tsimikas crosses to the left of the pitch and Salah challenges Roerslev to head clear of the ball. Tsimikas crosses from the right and Van Dijk heads to Flekken who makes a super save. Matip directs for a six-yard rebound, which becomes an acrobatic finish in the top-right corner via Nunez. Nonetheless, the offside flag was raised once again, and the VAR will also review this one.
• In the 30^th minute, Liverpool wanted to take a quick free kick, but the referee gave Norgaard, the Brentford midfielder, a yellow card and stopped play. However, Norgaard pushed back Jota to stop a possible counter move and thus caused the warning.
• Yellow cards are shown almost straight away, back-to-back. One more time, Jota is fouled by Ajer, the Brentford defender. Ajer gets a yellow card, making his the second Brentford player to be booked after Norgaard.
• In the 32^nd minute, a fantastic opportunity for Brentford! Jensen plays in Mbeumo who runs straight through the field, and the forward runs into the box of Liverpool. Mbeumo attempts a chip shot that goes over Alisson, the Brazilian goalkeeper, who rushes out and closes off the angle. There, the Brentford attacker had a chance to put one past the net but that never materialized.
• In the 37^th minute, the young Matip is quite irked by the fact that he receives a yellow card for a late tackle of Norgaard. Tierney thinks that it was a fair decision to issue Matip a yellow card.
• In the 39^th minute, it's a goal for Liverpool! After six minutes into the first half of the game, the Reds have been pressing, and their efforts pay off. Matip wins the ball from the opposition side high up the pitch, and Alexander Arnold passes the ball in Nunez’s feet. Nunez subsequently plays a long ball towards Salah, who passes it to the right of the goal by taking a single touch before placing a composed low left foot shot in the bottom-left corner of the net. Liverpool is now ahead 1-0!
• In the 42^nd minute, Wissa is down after strong sliding tackle by Van Dijk; if not for a flag that went up just seconds before it would have been a foul. Luckily, the Brentford forward has a quick response and is given some treatment, as he can carry on with the game.
• In the 45+3 minute, it seemed that Jensen put down Gakpo under pressure, though the referee did not consider this a foul. However, Liverpool quickly regained possession and Nunez let loose with a powerful right-footed long ranged shot which Flekken managed to save.
• In the 45+5 minute, a close call for Liverpool! Alexander Arndold daintily crosses a ball towards the far post, and Jota keeps an attack going. Salah remains absolutely unmanned but strains himself too much; and, his volleyed finish goes beyond the goal due to excess strain of muscles. Therefore, it is not surprising that Salah will feel disappointed by that miss because given his skills and position he should at least hit the target.

Second-half begins!!

• In the 46^th minute, Thomas Frank makes a halftime substitution, replacing Janelt with Onyeka.
• In the 51^st minute, here are two players (Mbeumo and Jensen) a free-kick taken slightly to the left just outside the Liverpool area. Jensen tries to shoot to the right, but it is over the wall. Alisson manages to make a routine save and tips it behind for corner.
• In the 54^th minute, Norgaard, who is already on a caution, is once again penalized, this time for handling the ball while attempting to control a loose ball. Both Norgaard and Matip need to be cautious for the remainder of the match. Shortly after, Gakpo takes a long-range shot that goes well over the target.
• In the 59^th minute, Salah tries to play a pass into the Brentford penalty area, but Pinnock blocks it with his chest. There are some slight appeals from Liverpool for handball, but the referee doesn't consider it a handball as Pinnock used his body and not his arm to control the ball.
• In the 62^nd minute, Liverpool scores again! They now lead 2-0. This goal could be a tall order, as the Bees started growing in confidence. Jota passes a long ball to Tsimikas, who is lunging, and crosses it at the backpost. Salah heads it in the back of the net for straightforward final, doubling his as well as Liverpool’s lead. Brentford says that Tsimikas had not kept the ball in play; however, the VAR confirms the on-field decision.
• In the 66^th minute, a close call for Brentford! Mbeumo takes a corner kick to the left side and Norgaard’s deflection finds the bottom-right corner. Alisson relieves a sigh for his side as he watches Wissa and Pinnock both stretch for a tap-in for a goal-kick.
• In the 70^th minute, Thomas Frank is waiting for his second substitute from the side of the line with a cleared loose ball for a goal kick by Liverpool. However, it seems Brentford has a hard work to fight back.
• In the 72^nd minute, Jensen, who put in a lot of effort without much reward, is substituted for Yarmolenko.
• In the 74^th minute, Liverpool scores their third goal of the day, making it 3-0. However, the ball goes to Tsimikas, who runs down the left flank and then passes it back to Jota. The country’s international slides inward at the touchline, and fires off a curling far post flick with the outside of the foot. Flekken is sight blinded by a Brentwood’s wall of defenders and can do nothing about it!!
• In the 78^th minute, Brentford comes close! With the second corner off the right flank, Mbeumo sends in a cross which Norgaard nods past the keeper and into the back of the net. Matip is just there clearing for, but Pinnock takes a smart save after the subsequent throw-in.
• In the 79^th minute, Brentford earns a fourth consecutive corner, putting Liverpool on the defensive. Mbeumo takes the corner towards the far post, but after a flick-on, Maupay misses his volleyed attempt.
• In the 83^rd minute, Gakpo is substituted for Elliott, who created Diaz's opener at Luton last weekend.
• In the 89^th minute, Elliott drives forward and kicks with his left foot. Flekken does a wonderful dive save to push it to Salah who assists sending it out to a corner on the right hand side.
• In the 90+4 minute, Szoboszlai leaves the pitch to applause from the fans, and he is replaced by McConnel.

A 3-0 defeat gave Brentford their second successive loss and allowed Liverpool to claim their top three spot in the Premier League. Mohammed Salah scored in the 39th minute on Brentford’s wasted opportunities. In addition, though Darwin Nunez was twice denied for being offside, he contributed in setting up Mohamed Salah’s goal in the first half. Salah later finished off his doubler with a header while Digo Jota completed the match with a fierce shot assisted by Konstantinos Tsimikas. Liverpool dominated and Luis Diaz made a comeback in the last part of the match having received news that his father had been released by his captors in Colombia.