Will Liverpool return to winning ways?
The 22nd matchday in the English football top flight is dominated by the rematch of the Champions League final from last season. The beneficiary in this match could possibly be Jürgen Klopp. The Reds have a much easier task on Sunday. Liverpool FC and Brentford face off at Anfield Road.
After three winless league games recently, a home game against a promoted side is an absolute “must win”. The gap to leaders Manchester City is already enormous and further defeats must be avoided. The Bees from London are visiting Liverpool, a team that has not won in five away games in the league. A streak that looks set to continue, with double-digit betting odds on Liverpool v Brentford on Sunday being offered for the visitors.
Liverpool were still in action in the League Cup semi-final on Thursday and could count on a number of returnees. Liverpol will still not be at their best, but that should not be an excuse against Brentford.
Liverpool – Statistics & current form
While Manchester City have gone from strength to strength in the league, Klopp’s side have suffered in recent weeks. Although there were six league wins in a row between matchday twelve and 17, Liverpool have since gone without a win three times in a row. Although the Reds still have a game to play (against Leeds United), the gap of eleven points is already enormous. Soberly speaking, winning the title is hardly within reach and the focus must be on the remaining competitions.
Unbeaten in 13 PL home games
Liverpool’s recent setbacks have all come away from home, as their home record is absolutely impressive. Jürgen Klopp’s team has not lost at Anfield Road for 13 home games. They have also won all of their last four league games. However, Liverpool missed out on a win in their last two home games against promoted teams. They also failed to do so on Thursday in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the League Cup. After a meagre 0-0 draw, their place in the final (Chelsea are waiting) is hanging in the balance.
Disappointing especially due to the fact that the Reds were outnumbered from minute 24, but could not capitalise on this superiority. The absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the offensive leaves a big gap. In addition, youngster Harvey Elliott and Divock Origi are injured, Jürgen Klopp does not have many options up front these days. Therefore, the odds for the clash between Liverpool and Brentford seem relatively high when betting on an under 2.5.
Sunday is not considered to be a favourite day
For the seventh time this season, Liverpool will play a league match on Sunday. So far, the Reds have not really been able to convince on the last day of the week. Exactly half of the draws (three out of six), defeats (one out of two) and goals conceded (nine out of 18) so far have come on the last day of the week. So far, Sunday has been a day to forget in terms of title ambitions. Another upset against the underdogs would be a bitter disappointment and would probably bury the title dream for good.
Expected Liverpool line-up:
Alisson – Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold – Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago – Minamino, Firmino, Jota
Last matches played by Liverpool:
Carabao Cup
01/13 2022 – Liverpool FC 0 – 0 Arsenal London
FA Cup
01/09 2022 – Liverpool FC 4 – 1 Shrewsbury
Premier League
01/02 2022 – Chelsea London 2 – 2 Liverpool FC
12/28 2021 – Leicester 1 – 0 Liverpool FC
Carabao Cup
12/22 2021 – Liverpool FC (5)3 – 3(4) Leicester
Brentford – Statistics & current form
Not only Liverpool were active this week, but Brentford also had an appearance to deal with. The Premier League used this week to schedule some catch-up games. Thereby, the data-based promoted team guested at Southampton. The trip was by no means successful, as head coach Thomas Frank’s team conceded the highest defeat of the current season with a 1:4. For the first time this season, the “Bees” conceded four goals.
Winless in six away games
The defeat at St Mary’s Stadium marked the promoted side’s sixth away game without a full win. After the Premier League debutants collected a respectable eight points from their first four appearances as visitors (and thus remained unbeaten), the most recent trips were not crowned with success. Only two draws were achieved, but this compares to four defeats.
The away game at Anfield Road is one of the most difficult tasks possible. Especially due to the weak defence against Southampton (despite almost equal possession, the shot ratio was 5:12 from Brentford’s point of view), the underdogs are expected to be even more defensive on Sunday afternoon. Despite the absences on the Reds’ side, Brentford will not want to run into the open knife again and will try to hold the goalless draw for as long as possible.
Offensive rarely scoring lately
Despite recent weaker results, the Premier League debutants are still in a very good position. There is no need to talk about fear of relegation at the moment. Nevertheless, better results must be achieved away from home. A big problem compared to last season is certainly the penetrating power in the offensive. This is especially true of Ivan Toney. Last year, the striker was the guarantor of promotion with 31 goals and ten assists, but currently the 25-year-old only has four meagre goals for the season. However, this is enough to be the best scorer in the Frank eleven.
Since it is to be expected that Brentford will put a lot of emphasis on the defence due to the Southampton defeat, the forecast for Liverpool against Brentford also offers a favourite victory without conceding a goal. In this case, betting odds of just over 2.00 are offered.
Predicted line-up of Brentford:
Fernandez – Jansson, Pinnock, Ajer – Canos, Baptiste, Nörgaard, Janelt, Roerslev Rasmussen – Mbeumo, Toney
Last matches played by Brentford:
Premier League
01/11 2022 – Southampton 4 – 1 Brentford
FA Cup
01/08 2022 – Port Vale 1 – 4 Brentford
Premier League
01/02 2022 – Brentford 2 – 1 Aston Villa
12/29 2021 – Brentford 0 – 1 Manchester City
12/26 2021 – Brighton 2 – 0 Brentford
Liverpool – Brentford Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
The last time these two teams met, hardly any player on the pitch was even born. In March 1989, the Reds celebrated an emphatic 4-0 victory in the FA Cup. Brentford’s last appearance at Anfield Road in a league game was much longer ago – October 1946, with their last away win coming in 1937.
Liverpool – Brentford Tip
After three winless league games, Liverpool are starting to feel the pressure. The fans are finally looking forward to a home game again, because the Klopp eleven presented itself very strongly at home Anfield Road recently. The fifth league home win in their own stadium seems more than likely, and it is not for nothing that odds of only 1.30 are offered for Liverpool against Brentford when betting on the home side.
Although the win seems very likely, there is no denying that the Reds are currently having major problems in their attacking play. The absence of Salah/Mane is impossible to compensate for. As the Bees from Brentford will probably go into the game very destructively, Liverpool will have to run against a parked bus. Many goals are not necessarily to be expected, so the forecast for Liverpool against Brentford is interesting at under 2.5. With odds around 2.20-2.30, there is value here.
