This might have been the sport that bought Liverpool again on monitor of their defence of their Premier League title. As a substitute, it was the match that nearly took it our of their attain.
Arne Slot’s facet misplaced simply 4 instances as they stormed to the title of champions simply 5 months in the past, they usually have already hit that quantity this season. And all 4 of these defeats have are available in a row.
The direct ball that has come to be Slot’s nemesis reared its head once more simply 5 minutes into the sport when Michael Kayode’s lengthy throw wasn’t handled by the Reds, and Dango Ouattara opened the scoring.
Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago additionally scored earlier than the hour, and strikes from Milos Kerkez and Mohamed Salah weren’t sufficient for Liverpool to take something again to Merseyside.
Whereas the Reds are actually caught in a disaster, in the meantime, the Bees are wanting up below Keith Andrews, having now hit their stride below their former set piece coach.
Each day Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was on the Gtech Group Stadium to run the rule over Brentford and Liverpool.
Arne Slot has a disaster on his palms after Liverpool misplaced their fourth league match in a row on Saturday afternoon
Keith Andrews’ Brentford, who’re hitting their stride, had been the higher facet as they beat the Reds 3-2
Andrews incomes his preserve
Three months in the past, when you requested most non-Brentford followers for his or her pre-season predictions on who could be relegated this 12 months – many would have opted for the Bees.
That they had causes: Thomas Frank, the supervisor who had led this membership to their best period in trendy historical past and introduced them to the Premier League for the primary time, left for Tottenham.
Star striker Yoane Wissa additionally parted firm with the membership in acrimonious style by forcing by a transfer to Newcastle, key man Bryan Mbeumo left for Manchester United and captain Christian Norgaard joined Arsenal.
So it was not improper to count on Brentford to be in for a tricky interval however understanding how the Gtech Group Stadium membership are run off the pitch, we must always have all fancied them to place issues proper – they usually have performed.
Keith Andrews is probably not a family title and he was maybe unfairly mocked when he was promoted from set-piece coach to first-team supervisor. However he has actually earned his preserve, particularly now he has settled.
They gave Liverpool as powerful a job as any within the first half particularly right here, making the champions look nervous and defensively susceptible. It got here after a giant win over West Ham – 2-0 but it surely ought to have been extra – they usually gave Manchester Metropolis a scare earlier this month.
It additionally occurred when star striker Ivan Toney went to Saudi Arabia – many anticipated Brentford to battle however they didn’t. The Bees look a well-coached, drilled unit below Andrews and it might be a shock in the event that they lived as much as the pre-season predictions of relegation.
Mohamed Salah was not at his finest right here once more, regardless of ending his draught in entrance of purpose
Mo’s out of kinds
For the primary time in his Liverpool profession, Arne Slot was criticised this week after 4 losses in a row — and the identical can most likely be stated about Mohamed Salah, who got here right here on a six-match goalless run that noticed him dropped for the Champions League conflict in Frankfurt.
Slot stated he loved seeing Salah pissed off as a result of it meant the ‘fireplace’ of want nonetheless burned in his stomach. Although not at his finest once more right here, he did pop up with a late comfort purpose for Liverpool within the 88th minute.
Sport of throw-ins
Slot was criticised for being too open by way of discussing techniques this week which, in itself, appears a bit unusual contemplating 95 per cent of individuals in high-level soccer are media-trained and provides boring, non-insightful solutions.
The Liverpool supervisor’s honesty is to be praised and, when saying that his crew battle with lengthy balls, it was hardly like Brentford’s preparation consisted of watching his press conferences anyway.
Nevertheless, it have to be stated, Slot was spot on. Liverpool had been in every single place defensively and Brentford may have been out of sight with a number of probabilities early within the second half that ought to have put this sport to mattress with higher ending.
The issue with being champions is you’re the crew to beat for everybody – and who can blame groups for taking part in a direct model? Manchester United tried it and succeeded, so Brentford took observe and their game-plan was excellent to ground a poor Liverpool.
Liverpool had been in every single place defensively – significantly when coping with Brentford’s lengthy balls into the field
Can Slot cease the rot?
Sure – however the subsequent video games don’t get any simpler with in-form Aston Villa and Manchester Metropolis up subsequent, plus a Carabao Cup tie towards Crystal Palace in midweek, a crew who’ve already overwhelmed Liverpool this season.
Chants of ‘you are getting sacked within the morning’ from the Brentford followers had been in jest, after all, and there’s no likelihood of Slot’s job being below menace any time. Saying that, although, he’s not exempt from criticism and he may discover himself seven factors behind by Sunday afternoon.
After a 5-1 win in Frankfurt on Wednesday, this was two steps again after one ahead. It’s truthful to say this blip is heading in the direction of disaster territory.
