Brentford 3-2 Liverpool: More questions to be asked of awful Reds

Liverpool revealed their midweek victory over Frankfurt to be an anomaly as they lost their fourth in a row in the Premier League – this time beaten 3-2 by Brentford.

Salah returns as Slot makes 3 changes

Following the success of Wednesday’s Champions League win at Frankfurt, Arne Slot opted for three changes – one forced by injuries to Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong.

Mohamed Salah and Conor Bradley came back in for the absent duo, while Milos Kerkez replaced Andy Robertson despite the Scot’s solid display in midweek.

Eighteen-year-old Kieran Morrison made the Premier League squad for the first time.

Liverpool concede first – again!

The two sides kicked off in a frenzied atmosphere in west London and Liverpool were immediately faced with a barrage of Brentford right-back Michael Kayode’s long throws.

It took just five minutes for them to pay off for the hosts, with Kayode’s ridiculously flighted throw flicked on and then turned in by Dango Ouattara – making it six games in a row the Reds have conceded first.

Florian Wirtz, prowling in his advanced midfield role, looked the most likely to make something happen for Liverpool, and the No. 7 almost levelled as he followed up a chance he created, but his first-time effort flashed wide.

Brentford remained the better side, and Giorgi Mamardashvili was required to tip a goal-bound effort from Mikkel Damsgaard over the bar.

Damsgaard was the architect of the second goal, however, his stunning through ball sending Kevin Schade through for a simple finish through Mamardashvili.

But Milos Kerkez – who had an otherwise awful game – halved the deficit just before the break, scoring his first goal for the club from close range after Hugo Ekitike flicked on Conor Bradley‘s cross.

Half-time: Brentford 2-1 Liverpool

More of the same in the second half

Wataru Endo was put through an extensive warmup at the break but not with an immediate change in mind, with neither coach making a substitution – and the game state remained the same.

Brentford went 3-1 up through a penalty from Igor Thiago, with the decision made after a lengthy delay for a Virgil van Dijk foul on the very edge of the area.

Slot then made a triple change with Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa coming on for Kerkez, Bradley and Gakpo – meaning a different setup in every third of the pitch.

Less than 10 minutes later Curtis Jones was forced off with an injury and Rio Ngumoha was sent on in another kitchen-sink substitution.

It was a basketball game as soon as Igor scored Brentford‘s third – and the questions continue to pile up over not only how Liverpool are playing, but how they are being managed.

Salah pulled one back with an outrageous touch and finish, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback, but it was far too late for the champions – who are performing like anything but that.