Liverpool v Brentford Live Commentary & Result, 6/5/23, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all for today, goodbye.

Liverpool have played two games more than Manchester United but are just one point behind the Premier League's fourth-placed side. They will be hoping that West Ham can cause an upset against Erik ten Hag's side tomorrow. Next up, they travel to relegation-threatened Leicester City. As for Brentford, they are five points above Fulham, so will not drop below them in the table if they secure three points against Leicester. As for Frank's men, they host West Ham in their next match.

Salah scored the only goal of the game to secure Liverpool's sixth successive Premier League win and send the Reds to within one point of Manchester United. The winger struck the winner after a quick passing move. Salah had the ball on the right before sending it back to Fabinho on the edge of the box, with the 29-year-old curling it into the box towards Van Dijk. The centre-back could have shot himself but put it on a plate for Salah to score from close range. Nunez should have doubled Liverpool's lead after racing away from his marker to get onto the end of a pass from Alexander-Arnold, but he missed the target from the middle of the box. Brentford had just five shots but thought they had struck an equaliser through Mbeumo before the break. However, he was in an offside position when Toney sent him away down the right flank, with the Cameroon international driving inside before shooting past Alisson. Liverpool continued to dominate after the break. Gakpo should have confirmed all three points but was unable to turn Jota's powerful cross into an open net, with Raya denying Alexander-Arnold of a superb long-range goal.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 BRENTFORD

90' + 4' Liverpool are looking to slow down the game in the final moments. Henderson has the ball on the right and wins a corner.

90' + 2' Van Dijk sends Schade's cross behind for a corner. Raya makes his way forward, but Toney heads the ball up in the air and out of the box. However, Schade wins a corner on the other side. Nothing comes of it.

90' + 1' There will be four minutes of additional time at the end of the game.

90' Mbeumo wins a free-kick after he is brought down under the challenge of Konate and Salah who block his path forward. He then curls a cross into the box from the left, but Henderson clears it. A free-kick was also given against Brentford, with Toney fouling Tsimikas.

Y. Wissa

A. Hickey

88' Brentford throw the dice for the final time. Wissa comes on in the attack to replace left-back Hickey. Wissa has scored two goals in his three Premier League games against Liverpool, scoring once on average every 54 minutes against the Reds. However, both of his strikes against them have come at the Gtech Community Stadium.

86' Brentford have not tested Alisson enough this game but are only one goal behind. They are throwing men forward and are looking to stretch the pitch with Mbeumo and Schade on each side. Wissa is also about to come on.

84' WIDE! Chance for Liverpool. Hickey fails to deal with a long ball forward, sending a header into the path of Gakpo under pressure from Salah. He gets into the box and lashes an attempt towards the goal, but it goes wide.

S. Baptiste

M. Jensen

82' Jensen has taken almost every free-kick and throw-in but is now coming off. Baptiste is on.

K. Tsimikas

A. Robertson

82' Liverpool make a change at left-back. Tsimikas started the last game and now comes on to replace Robertson.

J. Milner

C. Jones

82' Liverpool make a couple of changes. Jones has established himself in the Liverpool team in the last few weeks, starting eight games in a row, but is now coming off. Milner replaces him in the midfield.

M. Damsgaard

V. Janelt

81' Frank makes two changes. He also alters his midfield, choosing to bring on playmaker Damsgaard. Janelt is off.

79' Of Toney's 20 Premier League goals for Brentford this season, 11 have come at home, and nine away. With Erling Haaland and Harry Kane both already doing so, this could be the second ever Premier League campaign to see three players score 10+ home and away goals after 1993-94 (five players – Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier, Chris Sutton and Ian Wright). He has been good at start attacks today but has not been able to have many chances at shooting himself. He has had just one attempt at the goal.

78' SAVE! Raya keeps Brentford in the game. Alexander-Arnold has the ball just outside the box and powers an effort towards the top corner. it goes past a number of bodies and towards the top corner, but Raya pushes it behind. That was the first shot on target since the 20th minute.

Alisson

Yellow Card

77' Alisson is shown a yellow card after taking too long to take a goal-kick.

77' Jensen plays the ball down the left to Schade. He tries to push the ball past Alexander-Arnold down the left, but the right-back gets ahead of him and lets it go out for a goal-kick.

75' Alexander-Arnold's shot is blocked out for a corner. Robertson swings in a cross from the left that bounces around the box before Toney gets it away.

J. Henderson

Diogo Jota

73' Klopp is adding more experience to the midfield, bringing on Henderson. Jota is off, allowing Gakpo to move into the attack.

J. Dasilva

F. Onyeka

72' The other switch comes in the midfield. Onyeka is replaced by Dasilva.

K. Schade

R. Henry

72' Frank makes his first two changes of the game. He adds another attacker to the mix, sending on Schade to replace the injured Henry.

72' Henry is down after bringing down Gakpo and is receiving treatment. He is holding his wrist and will not continue.

R. Henry

Yellow Card

70' Gakpo is smart on the right flank and rolls past Henry before driving forward with the ball. He is then dragged down by the left-back who is shown a yellow card.

68' Brentford have won just two of their 14 Premier League games against sides in the top five of the table (drawing five, losing seven), though both of these victories came away from home (4-1 v Chelsea in April 2022, and 2-1 at Man City in November this season).

67' Alexander-Arnold plays a loose pass back, allowing Toney to take the ball forward and poke it to Jensen who sends a pass down the left to Mbeumo. Brentford are slow in possession and let Liverpool get bodies back, but they still have a chance to score. Jensen swings a cross into the box from the left towards Hickey, but he misses the ball. Goal-kick to Liverpool.

L. Díaz

D. Núñez

65' Liverpool make their first change of the game. Nunez had a chance to score before the break but has been quiet since the restart. Diaz takes his place in the attack.

63' Jensen runs towards a free-kick on the byline before allowing Mbeumo to take it. He drives the ball towards the near post, but Jones gets his foot in the way to make the block.

61' Liverpool have won 122 of their last 135 Premier League home games when leading at half-time (drawing 13) since losing 2-1 to Arsenal in December 2009.

60' Van Dijk clatters into Toney with the pair jumping for the ball and a free-kick is given. The centre-back is clearly frustrated by the decision but walks away after a small amount of complaining. He is already on a yellow card and does not want another one. Toney needs attention from the medial team but will be able to continue.

58' Salah has the ball just outside the box on the right and tries to curl an effort into the top corner on the other side. However, he does not get any bend on it, with his shot going out for a goal-kick.

56' Alisson tries to let a long ball go out for a goal-kick, but it hits the goalkeeper and goes outside of the box. The away fans cheer as Mbeumo presses him, with the Brazil international pretending to clear it before rolling the ball back into the box.

I. Konaté

Yellow Card

54' Konate kicks the ball away and is shown a yellow card. It was not for that incident alone, but also for making too many fouls across the game.

53' HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN? Salah plays the ball down the right with Jota rushing into the box. He drives a low cross from right to left into the middle of the box, towards Gakpo in the middle. He is free and has an open goal, but it comes at him too quickly and hits the leg of the Liverpool man.

51' Toney flicks the ball delightfully down the left, allowing Mbeumo to race away down the flank. He gets to the byline, but nobody is in the middle. He sends his cross straight at Alisson.

49' Mbeumo has the ball on the byline and crashes it across the box. Alisson claims it next to his post but is bundled into by Toney. He hits the floor, with the referee giving a free-kick.

47' Henry looks to curl a cross into the box towards Toney, but it goes over him and out to Hickey on the other side. He decides to recycle the ball rather than put another cross in with his left foot.

46' Salah gets the ball rolling again. No changes at the break.

Liverpool have had the better chances and should have a healthier advantage in the game. However, they are giving Brentford too many chances in their half. The away side keep winning free-kicks around the box, with Konate and Fabinho already committing three fouls. it has allowed the away side to commit men forward, but Jensen has been unable to find a team-mate so far.

Salah scored the only goal before the break, with Liverpool deserving their narrow advantage. The Reds winger had a shot from distance to test Raya before scoring the opener at the end of a lovely move. Salah started it, playing the ball back to Fabinho on the edge of the box, with the midfielder curling it into Van Dijk. The centre-back could have gone for the goal himself but headed it across to Salah for a simple finish. Alexander-Arnold then found Nunez with a delightful pass into the box, but the striker missed the target with his effort. Brentford were under pressure for most of the first 45 minutes but did find the back of the net before the offside flag went up. Toney unleashed Mbeumo down the left, with the forward driving inside before curling his shot past Alisson.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 BRENTFORD

45' + 2' Onyeka and Salah battle for the ball in the Brentford half, with the former coming away with possession. Salah goes down briefly before returning to his feet.

45' + 1' There will be three minutes of additional time.

45' Toney looks to go one way before rushing down the left flank after the ball. Konate brings him down and is lucky to get away without a yellow card.

44' Jensen runs over the ball before Mbeumo puts a cross into the box from the left. Fabinho dives to the floor, getting down to head it back to Alisson.

Fabinho

Yellow Card

42' Fabinho goes into the book after crashing into Toney. His boot went across the top of his leg, but it was not dangerous.

40' OFFSIDE! Mbeumo races away in celebration, but the flag goes up. Toney curls the ball into the path of Mbeumo, with the forward driving inside from the right past Van Dijk who do not want to bring him down. He then shoots past Alisson, but he is offside. VAR checks the decision before allowing the game to continue.

38' Mbeumo and Toney are over the ball. The latter goes low with his effort, driving the ball towards the far post, but it goes just wide.

37' Brentford have a free-kick in a shooting area after Fabinho steps on the foot of Onyeka just outside the box. Four Brentford players are around the ball.

35' Jensen's throw-in is cleared before his cross is turned behind by Jota. Mbeumo plays a short corner, getting the ball back before having his cross blocked by Robertson.

33' CHANCE! Alexander-Arnold is lucky after giving the ball away just outside Liverpool's box. Mbeumo looks to poke a throughball into the path with Toney rushing forward, but Konate gets a touch on it before Van Dijk clears it out for a throw-in.

31' Nunez rushes down the left flank before playing the ball across the box. Salah is free and looks to have a simple finish, but Mee sticks out a leg to turn it behind.

29' WIDE! Liverpool should have a second and Alexander-Arnold should have another assist to his name. The right-back loops a smart pass into the box towards Nunez, but the striker cannot sort his feet out and directs the ball wide of the target.

28' Brentford have had a lot of deep free-kicks but have not been able to do anything with them. This time Van Dijk jumps the highest to head away Jensen's free-kick, with Alexander-Arnold hooking it away.

B. Mbeumo

Yellow Card

27' Liverpool spring forward after they clear away a Brentford free-kick. Jota bursts down the middle of the pitch before being blocked by Mbeumo. He is then shown a yellow card for stopping the counter.

26' Nunez and Pinnock challenge for the ball in the air, with the Brentford man coming off worse. He is holding his shoulder and needs attention from the medical staff. However, he will be able to continue. Ajer is back from injury and can come off the bench if needed.

24' Jensen is on the ground after being fouled by Gakpo just past the halfway line. He eventually gets to his feet and tries to send a low pass into the box, but Alisson comes out to collect it before Toney can get there.

22' Van Dijk has an assist to his name and now wants a goal. Nobody puts pressure on the centre-back who has a shot from a long way out, but it goes well wide of the target.

20' Jota has the ball on the left, playing it back to Jones who makes a run forward. He tries his luck from distance but bends his effort straight into the gloves of Raya. He opened up his body to suggest he was aiming for the far corner before going the other way, but Raya was ready for it.

18' Jensen launches a throw-in into the box, but Van Dijk heads it away before Jota clears the ball up the pitch.

16' Nunez tests Raya with a shot from inside the box, but the goalkeeper pushes away his effort. The flag then goes up against the striker.

14' Liverpool have scored 32 first half goals in 35 games, only Manchester City (43) and Arsenal (37) have scored more in the Premier League this season.

V. van Dijk

Assist

13' Van Dijk could have looked to score himself, but found the run of Salah who had lost his marker on the right side of the box. The winger then crashed his effort into the roof of the net.

Mohamed Salah

Goal

13' GOALLLL! SALAH SCORES! 1-0 LIVERPOOL! Liverpool play some fantastic football again. Salah sets the ball back to the edge of the box with Fabinho lurking. The Brazil international curls it to the left side of the box onto the head of Van Dijk, with the defender playing it across to Salah who has a simple finish.

12' Liverpool work the ball brilliantly down the right side with Gakpo releasing Salah down the right side of the pitch. The winger curls a cross into the box with the outside of his foot towards Nunez, but Jorgensen heads it behind.

10' Liverpool have lost six of their last 11 Premier League games played on Saturday (winning three, drawing two), one more than they had in their previous 90 (winning 65, drawing 20 and losing five). They have been the better side in the opening exchanges of the game.

8' Salah has his first shot of the game from the edge of the box, but his effort goes straight at Raya. The chance came after a corner was cleared to the feet of the 30-year-old.

8' Hickey brings down Fabinho on the left flank and gives away a free-kick. Robertson looks for Konate in the middle, but he misses the ball, allowing Mee to clear it away.

6' Jensen has the chance to put the following free-kick into the box, but his deep cross goes over everyone and straight out for a goal-kick.

V. van Dijk

Yellow Card

5' The first yellow card of the game goes to Liverpool captain Van Dijk after he slides in on Onyeka from behind.

4' Henry does brilliantly to come away with the ball down the left, rushing past Alexander-Arnold before kicking the ball past Konate. The centre-back gets in his way and gives away a free-kick.

2' Salah drops deep before sending the ball down the left flank towards Jota. The former Wolves man gets there and tries to cut inside, but slips on the ball, allowing Onyeka to get a foot on it. However, the Reds keep possession.

1' Brentford get this Premier League clash under way. Jensen with the first kick.

Liverpool have lost just one of their 10 home meetings with Brentford in all competitions (winning seven, drawing two), winning the last six in a row since a 4-3 loss in November 1937 in the top-flight.

Brentford make two alterations to the side that beat Forest. Manager Frank swaps Jorgensen with Schade to add another centre-back to the team, with Onyeka replacing Damsgaard in the midfield.

Liverpool make three changes to the team that beat Fulham in their previous outing. There is only one switch to the defence, with Robertson starting instead of Tsimikas at left-back. Henderson is also on the bench. Gakpo replaces him in the team and Van Dijk is the captain. Finally, Jota comes in for Diaz on the left wing.

BRENTFORD SUBS: Matthew Cox, Kevin Schade, Josh Dasilva, Yoane Wissa, Saman Ghoddos, Kristoffer Ajer, Mikkel Damsgaard, Shandon Baptiste, Mads Roerslev.

BRENTFORD (5-3-2): David Raya; Aaron Hickey, Mathias Jorgensen, Ethan Pinnock, Ben Mee, Rico Henry; Mathias Jensen, Frank Onyeka, Vitaly Janelt; Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney.

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Caoimhin Kelleher, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Luis Diaz, Fabio Carvalho, Joel Matip.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Curtis Jones, Fabinho, Cody Gakpo; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota.

Brentford will be looking to complete a first league double over Liverpool after beating the Reds 3-1 in the reverse fixture. Their hopes of qualifying for European football took a hit when they went without a win in six games, but back-to-back victories against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest has reignited some belief. They are five points behind sixth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion but have played two games more than the Seagulls. Additionally, they have a tough final few fixtures and still have Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester City to play after today’s match versus Liverpool. Only four of Brentford’s 12 wins have come away from home this season, with Thomas Frank’s men collecting 19 points on the road.

Liverpool have been in superb form in the Premier League and have given themselves an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season. The Reds were in eighth position after they salvaged a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, but five successive wins have seen them move up to fifth. Scoring 16 goals in that time, Jurgen Klopp’s men are just four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United but have played one game more than their historic rivals. Liverpool have lost just once at Anfield this term, winning 12 and drawing four of their 17 fixtures.

Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Brentford.

Liverpool v Brentford Live Commentary, 7/5/23

Key Events

Match Stats

Key

Commentary