This could have been the game that got Liverpool back on track in their defence of their Premier League title. Instead, it was the match that almost took it our of their reach.
Arne Slot’s side lost just four times as they stormed to the title of champions just five months ago, and they have already hit that number this season. And all four of those defeats have come in a row.
The direct ball that has come to be Slot’s nemesis reared its head again just five minutes into the game when Michael Kayode’s long throw wasn’t dealt with by the Reds, and Dango Ouattara opened the scoring.
Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago also scored before the hour, and strikes from Milos Kerkez and Mohamed Salah weren’t enough for Liverpool to take anything back to Merseyside.
While the Reds are now stuck in a crisis, meanwhile, the Bees are looking up under Keith Andrews, having now hit their stride under their former set piece coach.
Daily Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was at the Gtech Community Stadium to run the rule over Brentford and Liverpool.
Arne Slot has a crisis on his hands after Liverpool lost their fourth league match in a row on Saturday afternoon
Keith Andrews’ Brentford, who are hitting their stride, were the better side as they beat the Reds 3-2
Andrews earning his keep
Three months ago, if you asked most non-Brentford fans for their pre-season predictions on who would be relegated this year – many would have opted for the Bees.
They had reasons: Thomas Frank, the manager who had led this club to their greatest era in modern history and brought them to the Premier League for the first time, left for Tottenham.
Star striker Yoane Wissa also parted company with the club in acrimonious fashion by forcing through a move to Newcastle, key man Bryan Mbeumo left for Manchester United and captain Christian Norgaard joined Arsenal.
So it was not wrong to expect Brentford to be in for a tough period but knowing how the Gtech Community Stadium club are run off the pitch, we should have all fancied them to put things right – and they have done.
Keith Andrews may not be a household name and he was perhaps unfairly mocked when he was promoted from set-piece coach to first-team manager. But he has certainly earned his keep, especially now he has settled.
They gave Liverpool as tough a task as any in the first half especially here, making the champions look nervous and defensively vulnerable. It came after a big win over West Ham – 2-0 but it should have been more – and they gave Manchester City a scare earlier this month.
It also happened when star striker Ivan Toney went to Saudi Arabia – many expected Brentford to struggle but they did not. The Bees look a well-coached, drilled unit under Andrews and it would be a surprise if they lived up to the pre-season predictions of relegation.
Mohamed Salah was not at his best here again, despite ending his draught in front of goal
Mo’s out of sorts
For the first time in his Liverpool career, Arne Slot was criticised this week after four losses in a row — and the same can probably be said about Mohamed Salah, who came here on a six-match goalless run that saw him dropped for the Champions League clash in Frankfurt.
Slot said he enjoyed seeing Salah frustrated because it meant the ‘fire’ of desire still burned in his belly. Though not at his best again here, he did pop up with a late consolation goal for Liverpool in the 88th minute.
Game of throw-ins
Slot was criticised for being too open in terms of discussing tactics this week which, in itself, seems a bit strange considering 95 per cent of people in high-level football are media-trained and give boring, non-insightful answers.
The Liverpool manager’s honesty is to be praised and, when saying that his team struggle with long balls, it was hardly like Brentford’s preparation consisted of watching his press conferences anyway.
However, it must be said, Slot was spot on. Liverpool were all over the place defensively and Brentford could have been out of sight with several chances early in the second half that should have put this game to bed with better finishing.
The problem with being champions is you are the team to beat for everyone – and who can blame teams for playing a direct style? Manchester United tried it and succeeded, so Brentford took note and their game-plan was perfect to floor a poor Liverpool.
Liverpool were all over the place defensively – particularly when dealing with Brentford’s long balls into the box
Can Slot stop the rot?
Yes – but the next games do not get any easier with in-form Aston Villa and Manchester City up next, plus a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace in midweek, a team who have already beaten Liverpool this season.
Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ from the Brentford fans were in jest, of course, and there is no chance of Slot’s job being under threat any time. Saying that, though, he is not exempt from criticism and he could find himself seven points behind by Sunday afternoon.
After a 5-1 win in Frankfurt on Wednesday, this was two steps back after one forward. It is fair to say this blip is heading towards crisis territory.
