Brentford vs Liverpool Preview: Kickoff Time, Team News, and Streaming Details
Liverpool’s Arne Slot acknowledges tougher challenges ahead as Premier League leaders face Brentford.
Who: Brentford vs Liverpool
What: English Premier League
Where: Gtech Community Stadium, London, UK
When: Saturday, 3 PM (15:00 GMT)
As Liverpool heads to Brentford for their Saturday match, manager Arne Slot acknowledges that the second half of the season promises tougher challenges than the first. Slot, in his debut season at Anfield, is targeting a record-tying 20th top-flight title for the club.
Liverpool has been dominant this season, losing just two of their 31 games across all competitions. Currently, they hold a four-point lead over second-place Arsenal, with a game in hand. Brentford, who are coming off a 2-2 draw with Manchester City, have been formidable at home, matching Arsenal and Liverpool with seven home wins so far this season.
Slot praised the high level of competition in the Premier League, highlighting that every team is capable of surprising results. He pointed to Southampton's competitive performance against Manchester United as an example of the unpredictable nature of the league. Slot emphasized that the second half of the season is particularly challenging, as teams are more cohesive, managers have had more time to implement tactics, and squads are strengthened with new players. Additionally, teams are battling for European spots, league titles, or simply to avoid relegation.
Reflecting on Liverpool's previous match against Brentford in August, which ended in a 2-0 win for the Reds, Slot remarked on the competitive nature of the Premier League, noting that it is a more challenging league than the Eredivisie, where he previously coached.
Despite a two-game draw streak, Slot downplayed concerns about Liverpool's position in the league, stating that the team is not fixated on the table. He also addressed concerns about forward Darwin Nunez's form. Nunez, who has scored four goals in 26 appearances this season, has not been a regular starter. Slot expressed confidence that Nunez will continue to score goals for the team, noting that the team has been able to score in every match except for a couple of isolated losses.
Brentford Team News:
Brentford's Rico Henry and Ben Mee are both in contention to start after returning to the bench during their 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Tuesday. There are no other new injury concerns for the Bees.
Liverpool Team News:
Diogo Jota remains a doubt for the match after experiencing discomfort following his goal-scoring performance against Nottingham Forest in a 1-1 draw. Darwin Nunez returns from a one-match ban, and Luis Diaz is expected to be fit despite missing training on Thursday due to illness.
Head-to-Head:
Brentford's last victory over Liverpool came two years ago, marking their first win against the Reds since 1938. Since then, Liverpool has won the last four encounters and scored a total of 17 goals in the seven Premier League meetings since the league's reformation. The Bees have failed to score in four of those match-ups.
How to Follow:
Stay tuned for Al Jazeera's live build-up and follow the text and photo stream of the match.