Match Report: Brentford 3 - Liverpool 2

Match Date: Saturday October 25th 2025 (8pm)

Brentford Scorers:

Dango Ouattara – 5′
...from a long throw

Kevin Schade – 45′
Assist from Mikkel Damsgaard

Igor Thiago – 60′ (Penalty)
foul by Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool Scorers:

Milos Kerkez – 45′ +5
cross by Conor Bradley

Mohamed Salah – 89′
Assist from Dominik Szoboszlai

Lineups: Sky Sports

Match Report:

Ok - so I said in my previous game where Liverpool beat Frankfurt away 1-5 that it would mean little for the premier league clash against Brentford, mainly because Frankfurt are known to be a basketball team, and can win good and also lose badly.  Well sadly I was right in the most negative sense.  That game really did have NO bearing on the game that would follow for Liverpool.   

Although Slot adjusted the lineup that kind of matched the same formation and lineup against Frankfurt - it was hard to tell if it was his plan from the start or he had to play that lineup due to injuries to Gravenberch, and Isak.  We will never actually know had Isak been fit - if Slot would have started Salah. 

The game started again with Liverpool losing their concentration in the 5th minute as they conceded a volleyed goal by Ouattara - not from a corner but a long throw in.  It was poor from Liverpool, they had learnt nothing.  For the rest of the half Liverpool toiled to get that equaliser - it was the same Liverpool that struggle to create clear cut openings in that final third, and on that rare occasion where they do create that chance - they nearly always fail to score; both Salah and Wirtz  had moments to equalise but failed.  The effort cannot be doubted, but the intelligence and concentration was not present in the performance.  They struggled to control the game forcefully, despite the dominance in  possession - it was the same story unfolding before our eyes.  The second goal that Brentford scored was typical of goals conceded by Liverpool where the midfield is bypassed - but this goal was special - you see Konate chased the free running Kevin Schade - to a certain point and did his best impression of Trent Alexander-Arnold of the last two seasons - you know that chasing he used to do when an opponent got passed him and he did the impression of a man that just cannot be arsed to chase his man down.  But the bigger question is - why why do these moments keep happening ?

The half ended with Miloz Kerkez getting a goal back for Liverpool in what many thought was controversial because it was scored in extended stoppage time.  But complain all you like - the rules state that the time added on in any half is up to the discretion of the referee and in this case not the Brentford supporters. From a personal point of view - I was happy for Kerkez considering the amount of unjustifiable stick he has been getting from so many Liverpool fans.  

In the second half, Liverpool appeared to have more control, but again in those moments where the opposition (in this case Brentford) could get forward it seemed inevitable that they would score.  So it was no surprise that Van Dyke fouled a player on edge of the penalty area (actually on the line) - that led to the ref awarding a penalty after some VAR help.  The penalty was not a good one - but still beat Marmadashvili in goal to restore Brentford's two goal cushion.  This was in the 60th minute - so what does Slot do now ? - of course he brings on the changes.  

The second half would also force Slot's decision to substitute Jones ( who was having a good game ), who could not continue due to an injury.  It should also be pointed out that Szoboszlai was having a good a game and unsurprisingly it was his persistence that allowed Liverpool a glimmer of hope in the 89th minute when he pressed enough to get the ball and put in a cross for Mohamed Salah, who reminded everyone who he was with a clinical finish.  However, this does not excuse the fact that Salah was the poorest player on the pitch  -probably tied with Ekitike who was having his worst game for Liverpool this season.

The last 8 minutes - Liverpool tried to get that equaliser but Brentford defended well, covering every inch in their box, and it was no surprise that Liverpool just could not find that final shot, there were at least a couple of moments where the equaliser should have come but there was always a Brentford body in the way.

So four premier league losses in a row - many Liverpool fans were expecting a quad attempt this season - and now Liverpool have a quad of losses in the league games.  It's not going to plan is it ?