Liverpool maintained their lead in the Premier League championship race with a 4-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday, thanks to goals and an assist from Mohamed Salah, who made his comeback from injury.
First to score, Darwin Nunez made a breakthrough on goal and skillfully lifted the ball over a defenseless Mark Flekken in the Brentford net.
Alexis Mac Allister and Salah’s goals after the interval essentially put an end to the match. This is Jurgen Klopp’s first victory at Brentford on the road.
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Brentford’s Ivan Toney managed to pull one back, but Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored the game’s fourth goal to seal an easy victory for the guests.
A bitter note for Klopp, who was already saddled with a long list of injuries, was that Nunez did not return from halftime, and both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were substituted out.
The Liverpool manager, who was already missing a number of important players due to injury, including goalie Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai, must have been impressed with the ease with which his team handled a potentially difficult road encounter.
That is definitely not good. But when asked about the most recent injury, Klopp told reporters, “We can’t change that anymore.”
“The performance level could have decreased in these circumstances, but it worked the other way around. We had a really good game. This was by far the best game I’ve played at Brentford since I left Liverpool.”
On the sidelines, he appeared irritated as Brentford quickly retaliated to challenges and forced Liverpool back, with Toney missing a few opportunities. But Nunez’s excellent finish in the 35th minute was what gave the visitors the advantage and ended the tie.
After recovering from an injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah replaced Jota off the bench. He had two opportunities to score after halftime.
He went through with just the goalkeeper to beat after Luis Díaz’s dangerous cross bobbled up in front of him, but he failed to convert it. Shortly after the half, he fired wide again.
However, in the 55th minute, the Egypt international set up Liverpool’s second goal when he cut in from the right and supplied Mac Allister, whose initial touch put him ahead of the final defender before he punched the ball into the net.
Thirteen minutes later, Gakpo headed on a long ball forward from stand-in keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and Salah was on target. As the Brentford defence froze, Salah pounced, beating Nathan Collins and finishing with a left footed shot.
In the 75th minute, Toney equalised, scoring on the rebound after Kelleher made a fantastic save on Sergio Reguilón’s attempt. However, it was merely a comforting thought, and Liverpool’s fourth goal in the 86th minute made sure there would be no dramatic finish.
After the break, Diaz’s ball found the Netherlands forward, who replaced Nunez, in the goal and completed with a clinical finish with his left foot.
Liverpool now has 57 points after the win, ahead of second-place Manchester City and third-place Arsenal, who can both cut the margin later on Saturday to 52 points apiece. With 25 points, Brentford maintains their 14th-place position.
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, stated, “I thought we were brilliant in the first 35 minutes and created a lot of good moments. We should have shown quality or coolness but then we conceded the first goal.” With 25 points, Brentford finished in 14th place.
Brentford’s manager, Thomas Frank, stated, “I thought we were brilliant in the first 35 minutes and created a lot of good moments. We should have shown quality or coolness but then we conceded the first goal.” With 25 points, Brentford finished in 14th place.
“You have to be flawless to defeat the top players in the Premier League. Regretfully, we weren’t today.
