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
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.
Relive the action with our live blog below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Brentford 0-3 Liverpool
72 mins: Brentford seem to have a decent shout for a penalty as Robertson flies into the back of Toney, but it is quickly cleared by VAR. It would’ve been harsh on the Scotsman.
Brentford 0-3 Liverpool
71 mins: Brentford will be so disappointed with how this game has turned out. The Bees started well and threatened, and in truth they haven’t played badly at all except for two brief instances in defence.
However, they find themselves 3-0 down. Liverpool have been brutally clinical and had the quality where it mattered.
GOAL! Brentford 0-3 Liverpool
68 mins: GOAL! And Liverpool wrap it up!
Too easy for the away side. Kellher hits it long, and Gakpo wins the flick on. The ball runs between the two centre-backs, and Salah is quickest to it. He runs at Collins, turns him inside out and hits it across Flekken into the net.
66 mins: CLOSE! Liverpool work it well again. Diaz plays it to Gravenberch, whose ball runs past the Colombian and to Salah. The Egyptian lays it off to Diaz, but his shot is blocked well.
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
64 mins: Not for the first time this game, Liverpool end up near the Brentford box after a home team’s free-kick. Diaz skips past two players but can’t create anything.
Liverpool are in total control at the moment; the second half has been much more comfortable for them.
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
61 mins: Conor Bradley sends a shot over the bar from outside of the box. A couple of minutes later, a long ball is played towards Salah, but it’s just too long for the Egyptian.
Brentford make a triple substitution. Maupay, Norgaard and Roeslev are off for Wissa, Lewis-Potter and Frank Onyeka.
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
57 mins: Brentford think they have a great chance for 2-1, but Maupay is offside after the original free-kick.
Liverpool are playing with a lot of confidence now, and are keeping the ball well.
For the Bees, Maupay and Toney are at the centre of much of their good play, linking up nicely with the midfield, but no result yet.
GOAL! Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
54 mins: GOAL! Liverpool are two up.
Brentford lose the ball from a clearance, with a header from Endo falling to Gravenberch. The Dutchman lays off Salah on the right, who plays a diagonal ball right into Mac Allister on the edge of the box.
The Argentine’s touch is lucky, bouncing off the Brentford defender and back into his own path, and he pokes past Flekken for 2-0.
Brentford 0-1 Liverpool
52 mins: Salah starts the counter, winning the ball in his own half and carrying it. He passes right to Gakpo, but the pass is a little wide.
The Dutchman clips a ball back towards Salah, but the chance has gone and Brentford clear.
Brentford 0-1 Liverpool
50 mins: Probably should have been 2-0. Just as the words ‘no chances’ are written, Mo Salah is sent through on goal. He takes a great touch on the halfway line to release himself, has the pace to get into the box, but scuffs the shot as he tries to dink it past Flekken. It goes out for a goal kick.
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