Liverpool beat Brentford at Anfield within the second spherical of the brand new Premier League season on Sunday, courtesy of fantastic objectives from Luis Diaz (13′) and Mohamed Salah (70′). Thus Arne Slot turned the primary Liverpool supervisor since Graeme Souness to steer the Reds to victory in his first two video games in cost, after they beat Ipswich City away within the opening spherical by an similar scoreline.
The groups
Slot’s first outing at Anfield noticed virtually the identical lineup begin for Liverpool because the one the earlier week at Portman Street, the one change being that Ibrahima Konate, as an alternative of Jarell Quansah, partnered Virgil van Dijk within the coronary heart of defence.
The 2 centre-backs had been flanked as ever by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, in entrance of Alisson Becker in objective. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister paired up in the course of the park, with Dominik Szoboszlai in slightly extra superior function. Diogo Jota led the road, with Salah on his proper and Diaz on his left.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank additionally made only one change from the staff that began of their opening-round victory over Crystal Palace, however he additionally tweaked the formation from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2.
With Mark Flekken in objective, Kristoffer Ajer, Ethan Pinnock, and Nathan Collins fashioned the again line. Keane Lewis-Potter, who changed Kevin Schade within the beginning XI, slotted alongside Vitaly Janelt, Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen and Mads Roerslev Rasmussen in midfield, whereas within the absence of Ivan Toney, Yoan Wissa partnered Bryan Mbeumo up entrance.
The sport
Proper from the beginning, Liverpool sought and established management over the proceedings, pushing the guests again and protecting the ball with out main issues. And the primary time Brentford regarded like they could do one thing on the different finish – a nook within the thirteenth minute – resulted in a Liverpool counterattack which Jota and Diaz carried out to perfection, earlier than the Colombian winger broke into the field and slammed previous Flekken.
Six minutes later, Diaz virtually turned supplier for Robertson, however Flekken closed the angle down and saved the shot from the Scotland captain. Quickly after, Szoboszlai mixed properly with Alexander-Arnold on the correct to arrange Salah, however the Egyptian scuffed his shot and despatched it harmlessly removed from the goal. Alexander-Arnold was the subsequent to have a go, however his free-kick from a beneficial place went excessive nook.
Brentford steadily stepped up their recreation afterwards and spent extra time within the opposition half, however their greatest probability got here from a set-piece state of affairs as Mbeumo’s cross discovered Norgaard within the air, earlier than the Denmark worldwide headed simply large. One other set piece, which Flekken despatched straight into the Liverpool field, ended with Jensen blasting a volley sky-high. Alexander-Arnold tried his luck once more to double Liverpool’s lead within the forty first minute, however his shot picked up a deflection which took it over the bar. The final probability of the primary half got here to Lewis-Potter, who hit the goal with a tough shot from simply exterior the field, however Alisson was alert.
Liverpool regained full management after the break and created quite a few probabilities, most notably for Robertson, however Flekken did properly once more. Collins threatened on the different finish with a harmful header, however Alisson wonderful reflexes to maintain his staff forward.
Within the 59th minute, it was Collins’ flip to avoid wasting his staff and he did admirably, blocking Jota’s effort from six yards with a last-ditch deal with. Three minutes later, Alexander-Arnold hit the publish instantly from a nook, virtually catching Flekken at unawares, however the Brentford goalkeeper made a fantastic save straight after as Konate examined him with an correct header.
The Netherlands worldwide was compelled into a really outstanding save within the sixty fourth minute as Liverpool labored up a terrific probability for Diaz to shoot. Diaz and Jota mixed properly once more three minutes later and this time it was the Portuguese’s flip to shoot, however Collins made one other life-saving block.
After which got here the seventieth minute when the result of the match was put past Brentford’s attain. By the way, it was former Liverpool man Fabio Carvalho who misplaced the ball to Szoboszlai in the course of the park. Mac Allister picked it up and included Diaz, whose cross discovered Salah unmarked, and there was nothing Flekken may do to stop a second Liverpool objective this time.
Substitute Cody Gakpo got here near including Liverpool’s third with 10 minutes to go along with a long-range rocket, and from that time on, Slot’s staff calmly managed the pitch and introduced the sport to its finish.
Slot’s entrance three look set
Not like within the opening recreation in opposition to Ipswich, Darwin Nunez received some recreation time as he changed Jota after the second objective, however the Uruguay worldwide, who loved a terrific Copa America match this summer season, didn’t pose a lot hazard for the Brentford defence. In fairly a distinction, the entrance three that began each matches have confirmed themselves greater than worthy of Slot’s belief.
All of Diaz, Jota and Salah have now scored (Salah twice) and assisted this season, and if their fantastic kind continues, each Gakpo and Nunez must make do with a spot on the bench for some time. Issues have clicked the correct method, and the brand new coach has no cause to alter something concerning his attacking decisions.
The aftermath
Naturally, desk rankings imply little or no at this stage of the season, however for what it’s value, Liverpool now share locations two, three and 4 with Brighton and Arsenal, with all three groups displaying six factors on the board and a goal-difference of +4. Solely defending Champions Manchester Metropolis have finished higher (+5), and these are the 4 groups to have gained their respective matches in each rounds up to now.
Liverpool followers definitely have one thing to look ahead to, because the staff beneath the brand new coach takes form.
In the meantime, Brentford stay on the three factors they gained in opposition to Crystal Palace, becoming a member of the mid-table group of six. However fairly other than that, this most likely isn’t the way in which Frank needs his staff to look on the pitch, and there’s a lot of labor to be finished if the Bees don’t wish to discover themselves too near the relegation zone when it begins to matter.
