Prediction: Liverpool vs Brentford

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Unibet

Liverpool and Brentford are set to clash at Anfield on Sunday, and they have high expectations to meet in terms of goal-scoring based on their recent performances. In their respective latest matches, both teams were involved in 3-2 scorelines, creating anticipation for another exciting encounter in the attacking third.

Liverpool experienced a setback in the Europa League, losing a thrilling 3-2 match against Toulouse on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, Brentford secured a dramatic victory over London rivals West Ham United in their last Premier League outing.

Liverpool

Once again, Alexis Mac Allister found himself at the center of contentious officiating decisions as Liverpool faced disappointment in the Europa League on Thursday. Needing a victory over Toulouse to secure first place in Group E after LASK Linz’s win over Union SG, Liverpool fell short as Aron Donnum, Thijs Dallinga, and Frank Magri breached Caoimhin Kelleher’s net.

Despite a Cristian Casseres Jr own goal and a strike from Diogo Jota giving Liverpool hope, a last-gasp equalizer from Jarell Quansah was disallowed for a handball against Mac Allister. This decision led to Liverpool’s first Europa League loss of the season, leaving manager Jurgen Klopp questioning the ruling.

Klopp acknowledged that Liverpool’s performance against Toulouse was not up to par, echoing sentiments from their recent 1-1 draw with Luton Town. However, the return to Anfield could provide a much-needed boost for the Reds. They hold a flawless record of eight wins from eight home games in all competitions this season, scoring multiple goals each time and conceding a total of two, the lowest in the Premier League. The upcoming fixture at Anfield offers an opportunity for Liverpool to bounce back and continue their strong home form.

Team News

Long-term absentees Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), and Thiago Alcantara (hip) continue to be unavailable. Before the defeat to Toulouse, Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch also succumbed to various afflictions.

Virgil van Dijk is expected to make a return from illness, and there is optimism that Gravenberch will recover from his knee injury in time for the upcoming clash. Unfortunately, Curtis Jones will be sidelined with a hamstring problem and is not expected to return until after the international break.

Adding to the challenges, Mac Allister’s suspension due to accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League complicates Klopp’s midfield options, and leaves Wataru Endo likely to start in the number six again.

Brentford

Brentford has managed to shake off a dismal September and is currently riding high on a three-game winning streak, rekindling hopes of securing a spot in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League. The team endured a winless run of six matches in all competitions before their recent resurgence.

In their recent matches, Brentford impressively defeated Burnley and Chelsea, accumulating a combined scoreline of 5-0. Although they stumbled defensively in a London derby against West Ham, with Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen responding to Neal Maupay’s goal, the Bees bounced back with an own-goal from Dinos Mavropanos and a Nathan Collins strike, securing another victory.

This successful run has elevated Brentford to ninth place in the table, and they now have the opportunity to make history by securing a fourth consecutive top-flight win, a feat not achieved since 1939. The challenge lies in facing Liverpool, a team they haven’t kept a clean sheet against since 1936. Despite recent victories by Liverpool at Anfield, Brentford managed a 3-1 win in January. The upcoming match presents an opportunity for Brentford to continue their impressive run and potentially make history.

Team News

Frank dealt with a goalkeeping change at half-time in the previous week, with Mark Flekken making way for Thomas Strakosha. However, it was reported that Flekken was only suffering from a dead leg, and he is expected to resume his position in goal at Anfield.

Unfortunately from Brentford’s point of view, there are several players set to miss the Anfield trip. Aaron Hickey has been ruled out for the remainder of 2023 due to a thigh injury, joining a lengthy list of sidelined players that includes Rico Henry (knee), Ivan Toney (suspended), Kevin Schade (groin), Mikkel Damsgaard (knee), Josh Dasilva (thigh), and Shandon Baptiste (fitness).

Keane Lewis-Potter is uncertain due to a calf concern, and with long-term issues affecting Henry and Hickey, there might be a potential role for Vitaly Janelt.

Conclusion

Liverpool tend to find strength at home, and the return of Van Dijk for Sunday’s game against Brentford should provide a notable boost. On the other hand, Brentford’s extensive injury list could represent a significant challenge for them.

Considering Liverpool’s tendency to concede goals and Brentford’s recent impressive goal-scoring form, the Reds might need to showcase their trademark ability to come from behind to secure a victory. However, the Reds already accumulated 11 points this season from losing positions, indicating their resilience and capability to turn things around. With this track record and the support of their home crowd, Klopp’s team are likely to head into the international break with a ninth successive win at Anfield.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Unibet