Liverpool beat Brentford 4-1 in west London on Saturday and even though Mohamed Salah starred on his return, Jurgen Klopp will be ruing more injuries.
Still, Liverpool sit five points clear atop the Premier League table with Arsenal and Manchester City still to play in Matchweek 25.
After Brentford had some big chances early on, Darwin Nunez chipped home brilliantly to give Liverpool the lead. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were lost to injury in the first half and Nunez came off at half time but Liverpool kicked on in the second half.
First Alexis Mac Allister finished off a lovely ball from Salah, then the Egyptian superstar finished off superbly and Cody Gakpo added a fourth after Ivan Toney has briefly given Brentford hope of an unlikely comeback.
The win is Liverpool’s second in a row in the Premier League as they sit on 57 points, while Brentford have lost 10 of their last 13 games as they sit on 25 points and are in danger of being dragged into the relegation scrap.
Injury-ravaged Liverpool need Salah now more than ever
When red-hot Diogo Jota went down with an injury and had to be carried off in the first half you started to look at Liverpool’s injury list and wonder how that will impact their title race. Goalkeeper Alisson is missing now too, while Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai are still out. Curtis Jones went down against Brentford and had to come off. Darwin Nunez was taken off at half time. Add in that Joel Matip is out for the season and Thiago and Bajcetic are out again and that is nine first team players missing. But then Mohamed Salah glides onto the pitch and scores a goal, adds and assist and caused so many problems for Brentford. Liverpool fans and Jurgen Klopp will still be worried about their ever-growing injury list but Salah papers over so many of the cracks. Having him back from injury just as injuries pile up is the perfect tonic and Liverpool have their talisman ready to stand tall as they aim to win the first of four possible trophies. Salah can’t do it all on his own but he proved once again on Saturday at Brentford that he can inspire the team and help the players who are fit and available get to the levels needed. Salah is Liverpool’s x-factor in this title race.
Liverpool vs Brentford player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see that Van Dijk, Robertson and Diaz had stellar performances while Salah was Man of the Match after coming off the bench late in the first half to score and grab an assist. Jota and Nunez were both superb before they came off, while Mac Allister and Bradley showed real class on the ball. For Brentford, Maupay and Toney kept plugging away up top.
What’s next?
Liverpool host Luton in the Premier League on Wednesday, Feb. 21 then head to Wembley next Sunday, Feb. 25 for the League Cup final against Chelsea. Brentford head to Manchester City on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and then to West Ham next Monday, Feb. 26.
How to watch Brentford vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 7:30am ET Saturday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Online via NBC.com
Brentford vs Liverpool live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Brentford vs Liverpool final score: 1-4
Toney 75'; Nunez 35', Mac Allister 55', Salah 68', Gakpo 86'
Full time: Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
As soon as Liverpool went 1-0 up they were in control. Brentford were surprisingly sloppy defensively and Liverpool made them pay with the returning Salah at the heart of their second half blitz. But Liverpool’s win came at a cost with Jota and Jones coming off injured, while Nunez was also taken off.
Gakpo seals it - Brentford 1-4 Liverpool (86th minute)
Poor defending from Brentford once again and Gakpo finishes. That is game over.
Toney pulls one back - Brentford 1-3 Liverpool (75th minute)
Kelleher does really well to save the initial shot but the ball falls straight to Toney and he tucks home. Game on?
Mohamed Salah is back and he has an assist and a goal right away - Brentford 0-3 Liverpool (68th minute)
Kelleher pumps the ball forward, Gakpo flicks on and Salah beats Collins to the ball and tucks a finish just inside the far post. Salah is back from injury with a bang.
That should be game, set, match as Mac Allister prods home - Brentford 0-2 Liverpool (55th minute)
That is a great goal from Liverpool. Mohamed Salah tees up Alexis Mac Allister and he controls the ball into his stride before prodding home. Liverpool deservedly double their lead at Brentford. Class from Salah and Mac Allister.
Big chance for Salah... but he shanks it wide
Oh Mo. He is clean through on Flekken but prods his shot horrible wide of the goal. Everyone expected the net to ripple there. Liverpool are getting some chances on the counter here as Brentford push high for an equalizer.
Back underway for the second half and Gakpo is on for Nunez
There is no information about whether this is another injury for Liverpool but goalscorer Darwin Nunez has been taken off at half time. Cody Gakpo is on. Perhaps this is just Klopp trying to wrap Nunez in cotton wool ahead of the League Cup final next week?
Half time: Brentford 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool lead thanks to an exquisite chip from Nunez but Jones and Jota both came off injured and that will cause Klopp plenty of headaches. Still, after Brentford started well Liverpool took control of the game and with Salah on the pitch they’ll look to wrap up the three points as early as they can in the second half. This is Brentford though and surely Ivan Toney and Co. have a few more tricks up their sleeves...
Jota, Jones subbed off and with Gravenberch and Salah on
Diogo Jota is carried off the pitch after being caught on the foot by teammate Mac Allister and then Brentford’s Christian Norgaard landed on Jota’s knee awkwardly. Not what Klopp wanted to see after Curtis Jones landed awkwardly under pressure from Norgaard and was replaced by Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool’s injury issues are worsening.
That is sublime from Nunez as Liverpool take the lead! - Brentford 0-1 Liverpool (35th minute)
What a finish from Darwin Nunez that is! My word. Incredible composure to chip Flekken as he ran through at goal. After a thunderous clearance from Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota does superbly to head the ball into the path of Nunez and he finishes calmly. Devastating counter attack from Liverpool and they lead in west London.
Toney inches away from an opener
Reguilon surges down the left and feeds Maupay who sets up Toney and his shot across goal seemed to take a slight deflection and it just squirmed past the far post. Lovely move from Brentford.
Liverpool go close through Bradley
Almost a lovely goal from youngster Conor Bradley as he dribbles into the box and take the shot early with the outside of his right foot but Flekken saves down low then denies Jota on the rebound.
Bright start from both teams
This is a very promising start in terms of a high-energy encounter. Liverpool are looking sharp with Nunez and Diaz buzzing around and combining well. At the other end Maupay is cleverly played in but he drags his shot wide and it looked like he was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross for a teammate.
Welcome to the first game of Matchweek 25 in the Premier League as leaders Liverpool head to a dangerous Brentford side. Mohamed Salah is back on the bench for Liverpool, which is obviously a huge boost, but Klopp does have some big injury issues with Alexander-Arnold and Alisson both missing. There’s the whiff of an upset in the air in west London but Liverpool have the chance to momentarily go five points clear at the top.
Brentford lineup
Flekken; Collins, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Maupay, Toney
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
Brentford focus, team news
It’s all about Ivan Toney and it’s almost had to be with Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo out. Wissa and Onyeka are back from AFCON and on the bench, while Toney and Neal Maupay will cause Liverpool plenty of problems.
OUT: Bryan Mbeumo (ankle), Rico Henry (torn ACL - out for season), Kevin Schade (adductor), Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Josh Dasilva (torn ACL - out for season)
Liverpool focus, team news
Diogo Jota and Darwnin Nunez have picked up the slack since Mohamed Salah left for the Africa Cup of Nations and suffered a hamstring injury. The Reds have been scoring in bunches aside from the 3-1 loss to Arsenal. Alisson has picked up a muscle injury in training so Kelleher is ready to stand in for the next few games.
OUT: Alisson (hamstring) Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee), Dominik Szoboszlai (thigh) Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (groin)
