Liverpool look to end a run of three league games without a win against Brentford

Liverpool welcome Brentford to Anfield on Sunday afternoon with Jurgen Klopp’s side looking to get back to winning ways following draws against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur and a defeat to Leicester City.

The Reds will still be without a number of key players with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita at the African Cup of Nations. Thiago Alcantara, who brings experience and his high-quality passing ability, missed the midweek Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal and it appears he will be absent from the squad this weekend with Klopp confirming there are no new injury concerns and will have the same side available from the previous game.

After the disappointing result on Thursday night against the Gunners, who found themselves down to 10 men for over an hour, there was a lot of criticism from the media and fans on the lack of creativity and pace in the final third with the absence of Salah and Mane.

With the only shot on target coming in stoppage time at the end of the game, Liverpool will now travel to the Emirates on Thursday needing a win to reach the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley on February 27th.

However, they have two more Premier League games against Brentford and away at Crystal Palace before their star players return from international duty.

With Manchester City securing a 1-0 win against Chelsea in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off to extend their lead at the top of the table to 13 points, many believe the title race is now over.

The Redmen will be focusing on themselves with a victory against the Bees a must if they are to stay clear of the chasing pack for the Champions League places. A win will see Liverpool move up to second, but beating Thomas Frank’s side will not be easy.

They proved in the previous encounter at the Brentford Community Stadium, a 3-3 draw in September, that on their day they can be a match for any side. They do, however, come into the game off the back of a 4-1 away defeat to Southampton. The visiting Bees will be looking to right the wrongs of Tuesday’s defeat, and if the Reds are not at their best, Brentford are more than capable of taking advantage with Ivan Toney leading the line.

Jurgen Klopp will turn his attentions to winning some silverware in other competitions as Liverpool’s hopes of winning the league are essentially over.

It would not come as a surprise if the German manager rests some of his key players in the fixture against Brentford with an eye on the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Arsenal at the Emirates.

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