Brentford v Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Jurgen Klopp’s men go five points clear
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool: Mo Salah returned with a goal and assist as Liverpool breezed past Brentford
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Liverpool moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a clinical and professional display against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp’s men took advantage in the early stages, controlling possession and feeding passes into their in-form strikers Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. They found it difficult to break down the Bees’ solid defence though and needed a slick counter-attack to score the opening goal – Jota nodding the ball to Nunez who finished with a superb chip.
Jota then took a heavy tackle and needing to be subbed off, adding to Liverpool’s injury woes, but his replacement was Liverpool’s returning hero Mohamed Salah. He set up Alexis Mac Allister for the second goal before a strong solo effort earned him the third.
Ivan Toney scored a consolation, but Cody Gakpo secured the points with Liverpool’s fourth goal five minutes from time. With Arsenal and Manchester City still to play, Liverpool have set the benchmark for the weekend.
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Mohamed Salah serves notice of intent in Liverpool trophy chase – but victory comes at a cost
Three points on the day kept Liverpool firmly in charge of their title fight, but the bigger questions for Jurgen Klopp will be over the longer-term impact of this fixture on his squad.
Victory over Brentford came at a cost, with three of the team’s most in-form players being forced off through injuries, even as perhaps their most decisive star made his own return.
Mohamed Salah hadn’t featured for the Reds since hitting a brace at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, with Africa Cup of Nations duty and a hamstring injury seeing him miss out since. An entrance off the bench perhaps came earlier than expected here, but out of necessity as a string of starters suffered their own injuries which could yet impact on more silverware than just the Premier League trophy.
Salah serves notice of intent in trophy chase – but victory comes at a cost
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool: Salah scored one and assisted another off the bench but the Reds lost Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones and possibly Darwin Nunez to injury
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
Thomas Frank is disappointed as he speaks to TNT Sports.
He says he thought Brentford “were the better team” for the first 35 minutes.
“The first and the third [goals] are two things we normally do very well, but we made a mistake. It’s a risk that I’ll take.
“I can’t argue too much, we lost to a better team,” he adds.
Regarding injury to Ethan Pinnock, he says that he expects the defender to be back “after the international break”.
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
Today’s injuries to Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and potentially Darwin Nunez mean that their injury list has extended to eight senior squad members.
Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago, Joel Matip and Dominik Szoboszlai are the other absentees.
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
It’s Jurgen Klopp’s turn to speak to TNT. He says he has mixed emotions after losing Jones and Jota, saying that it “doesn’t look great for either of them”.
Regarding Nunez, he says that “we are not sure if he has something or not, he felt something.
“What the boys did after 15, 20 minutes was exceptional against a team who is set up to annoy you.
“We played a good game from a specific moment on. We controlled them as much as you can and we are happy about that.”
He says Liverpool have “definitely” had bad luck with injuries.
Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
Speaking to TNT Sports, van Dijk says that he had “no idea” that it was his 250th game for the club.
“It’s a proud moment, and onto many more. Today was a tough game for many reasons. It was always going to be tough. We had to be patient.”
“Everyone wants to be competing on all four fronts. Next week we have a final, but that doesn’t change [anything]. We found a way, we need to be ready for Wednesday, and we’ll go for it.
“I’ve played with great players. I’m proud to be a Liverpool player, a captain, and I enjoy each and every day. Onto many more.”
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
That result leaves Brentford in 14th place, with their 25 points putting them just nine above the relegation zone.
Their next game is at away to Manchester City – a re-arranged fixture – before going away to West Ham. They then play at home to Chelsea, before two straight away games against Arsenal and Burnley.
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
Liverpool have one more game before that Carabao Cup final. They play at home to Luton on 21 February, before the first showpiece game of the English calendar at Wembley, on 25 February against Chelsea.
That game is followed by a home FA Cup tie against Southampton, and they return to league action ag ainst Nottingham Forest before hosting Manchester City on 10 March.
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
Some impressive goals from Liverpool today, and an important win before a League Cup final next weekend. The result was much easier than expected.
The win also keeps up pressure on the teams chasing them. Arsenal play Burnley away at 3pm, while Manchester City host Chelsea in Saturday’s late kick-off.
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool
FULL-TIME! Brentford 1-4 Liverpool. An often entertaining game comes to an end. A potential banana skin for Liverpool is avoided easily in the end, with a convincing win that puts them five points ahead of their nearest rivals.
One defeat in 14 games for the Reds.
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