Prediction: Brentford vs Liverpool

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 14/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Having suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, Brentford bounced back with an away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last week, and now they have another opportunity to prove themselves against a title contender as Liverpool come to the Community Stadium on Saturday to open the 25th round of the Premier League campaign.

The Merseysiders also returned to winning ways in the previous round, beating Burnley at home after losing an important match away to Arsenal. It was their second league defeat of the season, and interestingly enough, both happened in North London.

Brentford

Brentford supporters might have felt fed up with seeing orange as their team faced Wolves once again, marking the fourth encounter between them within just two months. Memories of their side’s 4-1 defeat at Molineux in December and a heartbreaking loss in an FA Cup replay last month linger, painting a vivid picture of frustration with the recurring sight of orange shirts.

However, sweet revenge was served in the West Midlands this time around. Christian Norgaard’s header from close range put the Bees in control, while Craig Dawson’s disallowed equalizer for Wolves due to a marginal offside only added to the drama. Ivan Toney, as reliable as ever, sealed the deal with his contribution on the opposite end of the field.

Although an early injury to Wolves’ influential attacker Matheus Cunha played into Brentford’s hands, the victory at the Molineux was well-earned for Thomas Frank’s side. This triumph propelled them past Crystal Palace into 14th place in the standings, though still distant from their days of challenging for the top half of the table.

Despite holding a slender six-point cushion above the relegation zone, Brentford’s position appears slightly more comfortable considering they have a game in hand over most of the teams below them. Notably, their defensive display against Wolves was significant, breaking a streak of 14 games without a clean sheet dating back to October.

Looking ahead, Brentford aim to address their defensive vulnerabilities at the Community Stadium. Recent outings have seen them concede multiple goals in each of their last four Premier League matches there. Nonetheless, their home record remains formidable, with only one of their last 25 top-flight games at the venue failing to see the Bees find the scoresheet.

Team News

While the spotlight understandably focused on Cunha’s serious injury aftermath at Molineux, Brentford’s Mathias Jensen also suffered some discomfort, prompting his substitution in the 69th minute. Fortunately, indications suggest that the midfielder’s condition isn’t grave.

Furthermore, the Bees are set to benefit from a double international return with Yoane Wissa and Frank Onyeka rejoining the squad following their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. Onyeka brings back a runners-up medal with Nigeria, having experienced defeat against Ivory Coast in the final.

Nevertheless, the injury list is still long for Brentford, with Rico Henry (knee), Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Kevin Schade (groin), and Aaron Hickey (thigh) still sidelined. Additionally, Josh Dasilva’s recent knee injury during training necessitated surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Liverpool

Earlier this month, Arsenal managed to slightly dent Liverpool’s hopes of clinching a quadruple with a 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team responded predictably to that defeat by securing an identical scoreline against Burnley in front of a record-breaking crowd at Anfield.

With nearly 60,000 fans in attendance, Diogo Jota and Dara O’Shea scored first-half headers for their respective teams, showcasing aerial prowess. In a match marked by aerial dominance, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez found the net in the second half, swiftly putting Liverpool back on track.

Despite briefly slipping to second place after Manchester City’s victory over Everton earlier in the day, Klopp’s side reclaimed the top spot, holding a two-point lead over both the reigning champions and Arsenal. However, they’ve played one more game than Pep Guardiola’s team.

While Liverpool’s grip on Premier League supremacy remains uncertain, most of their dropped points this season—14 out of 18—have occurred away from home. Yet, Klopp’s attacking lineup continues to impress, maintaining a fine scoring record on the road in the current campaign.

Although Liverpool comfortably defeated Brentford 3-0 at Anfield in November, the Bees have proven to be a tough opponent at their Community Stadium. Notably, neither team has managed to secure an away victory over the other in the Premier League era.

Team News

Liverpool could see a boost in their attacking lineup this weekend with the return of Mohamed Salah, who has resumed full training after recovering from a muscular injury.

Furthermore, both Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez have recovered from illness, while Ibrahima Konate returns from suspension. Conor Bradley, who missed two matches due to the passing of his father, has also been seen in training.

However, there’s a setback on the defensive front as Trent Alexander-Arnold has reaggravated his knee injury during the Burnley game. The vice-captain is anticipated to remain sidelined until after the EFL Cup final on February 25th.

Alexander-Arnold joins Joel Matip (knee), Ben Doak (knee), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh) in the treatment room. Szoboszlai might return for the final against Chelsea, but none of the others on the list are expected to.

Conclusion

Brentford hold the unfortunate record in the Premier League this season for losing the most points from winning positions, with 26  dropped. In contrast, Liverpool have displayed resilience by accumulating a league-high 19 points after conceding first, indicating a likely outcome even if Brentford manage to take an early lead.

Despite Liverpool’s recent defensive struggles, they are poised to rectify their performance at the Community Stadium. With the opportunity to temporarily establish a significant lead at the top of the table, Klopp’s team is expected to secure victory on this occasion.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 14/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet