Having come out on opposite ends of 3-2 scorelines in their most recent encounters, Liverpool and Brentford have a lot to live up to in the final third when they lock horns in Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield.

The Reds lost a five-goal thriller to Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday evening, while the Bees sunk London rivals West Ham United in equally thrilling circumstances last weekend.

Match preview

Not for the first time this season, Alexis Mac Allister fell victim to a contentious officiating decision on Thursday evening, as Liverpool were denied a place in the last 16 of the Europa League with two games to spare at Toulouse's Stadium Municipal.

With LASK Linz thumping Union SG, Liverpool only needed to replicate their Anfield success over the Coupe de France winners to seal a first-placed finish in Group E, but Jurgen Klopp's men came up short on the road again as Aron Donnum, Thijs Dallinga and Frank Magri breached Caoimhin Kelleher's net.

A Cristian Casseres Jr own goal and Diogo Jota strike gave the Reds hope before Jarell Quansah turned home a last-gasp leveller, only for play to be brought back for a handball against Mac Allister, and the Reds' delirium soon turned to despair as they were condemned to their first Europa League loss of the season.

Klopp questioned the decision to rule out Quansah's first Liverpool goal, but as was the case in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Luton Town - where a last-gasp Luis Diaz intervention snatched a point from the jaws of defeat - the Reds boss admitted that his side's performance left a lot to be desired.

However, a return to Anfield comforts is exactly what the doctor ordered for the third-placed Reds, who boast a flawless record of eight wins from their eight home games in all competitions this season, scoring multiple goals on each occasion and shipping a league-low two in the top flight.

Harbouring their own ambitions of Europa League or Europa Conference League qualification, Brentford have consigned a miserable September to history as they revel in a three-game victorious streak, having previously gone six matches without a triumph in all tournaments.

On the back of putting Burnley and Chelsea to the sword by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0, Brentford lost their defensive nous when West Ham visited the Gtech Community Stadium for a London derby, as Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Neal Maupay's first goal in 34 matches.

However, Dinos Mavropanos offered the Bees a route back into the game as he turned into his own goal in the 55th minute, before Nathan Collins directed a venomous header into the back of the net to prolong Brentford's purple patch, much to the delight of Thomas Frank.

Shooting up to ninth in the table on account of their revival, Brentford could now write a new chapter of club history with a fourth top-flight win in a row - something they have not achieved since 1939 - and they have never triumphed in four top-tier matches while scoring at least twice on each occasion.

The Bees have to go back three years further to 1936 for the last time that they recorded a clean sheet against Liverpool, though, and the Reds have prevailed 3-0 and 1-0 at Anfield since Brentford's promotion in 2021, albeit while also being overwhelmed at the Gtech in a 3-1 January beating.

Team News

As well as long-term absentees Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf) and Thiago Alcantara (hip), Klopp lost all of Virgil van Dijk, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch to various afflictions before the defeat to Toulouse.

Van Dijk is expected to return from his illness in time to take his rightful place at the back, while there is also hope that Gravenberch will shake off his knee injury in time for the clash, but Jones's hamstring problem will sideline him until after the international break.

Klopp's midfield dilemma is further complicated by Mac Allister's suspension - the Argentine was booked for the fifth time in the Premier League this season at Kenilworth Road - so another start in the number six role awaits Wataru Endo this weekend.

As for Brentford, Frank was forced into a goalkeeping change at half time last week as Mark Flekken handed the gloves over to Thomas Strakosha, but the Dutchman was only suffering from a dead leg and is expected to take his place in between the sticks at Anfield.

On a more negative note, Aaron Hickey has been ruled out for the remainder of 2023 with a thigh injury, joining Rico Henry (knee), Ivan Toney (suspended), Kevin Schade (groin), Mikkel Damsgaard (knee), Josh Dasilva (thigh) on the Bees' lengthy absentee list, but Shandon Baptiste is in with a slim chance of playing.

Keane Lewis-Potter is also touch-and-go as he works his way back from a calf concern, while Henry and Hickey's long-term issues could see Vitaly Janelt fill in at left-back heading into the festive period.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Jota

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Ajer, Collins, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Onyeka, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa

We say: Liverpool 2-1 Brentford

Home is where the heart is for Liverpool, who should at least be boosted by the return of Van Dijk for Sunday's game, where Brentford's unenviable injury list could catch up to them.

Given their propensity to concede and Brentford's recent hot streak in front of goal, the Reds may require another of their trademark come-from-behind wins to take the spoils, but with 11 points already gained from losing positions this season, Klopp's men should head into the international break on the back of a ninth successive Anfield triumph.


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