Brentford 3-2 Liverpool: Player Ratings

The dark cloud looming over Liverpool has not yet blown through, as the Reds returned to Premier League action with another crushing defeat on the roads, with huge questions now needing to be answered.

Brentford 3-2 Liverpool

Premier League (9) | Gtech Community Stadium
October 25, 2025

Goals: Ouattara 5′, Schade 45′, Thiago 60′ (pen); Kerkez 45+5′, Salah 89′

---

Giorgi Marmardashvili – 6 (out of 10)

A strange mix between growing in confidence with every minute he gets as Liverpool’s No.1, while also taking a battering given the porous nature of the out-of-sorts defence.

Has enough about him to bark orders at his team-mates now, and roared like a bear when pulling off a stunning save to deny a long-range Mikkel Damsgaard effort on the 40-minute mark.

Repeated the gesture early in the second half to deny the Dane again in spectacular fashion.

Couldn’t do much about the goals, but got himself out early and uses his huge frame to the best effect. Got to feel for him, getting his run in the first team while things are so chaotic.

Needs to work on his first-time distribution massively, especially when under pressure.

Conor Bradley – 6

Looked good in possession and a threat going forward. Can’t be faulted much, but hard to sparkle given how disjointed the set-up is. Will benefit from a prolonged run in the starting XI, which he looks set to get now.

Ibrahima Konate – 6

Another composed performance by a man who has returned to form, but forming a piece of the puzzle that is a disjointed defence hardly provides spoonfuls of encouragement. Looked to keep the ball ticking over through into the middle channel, but was often left void of options.

Virgil van Dijk – 6

The penalty given against him was a joke. A negligible clip of an opponent’s foot, leaving the box and going away from goal. Typical of everything that is stirring around the cauldron of misfortune right now.

Prowled around like a bear with a sore head in the second half, clearly aggrieved. Held strong in his individual duels as per, but the pressures of persistent poor form are taking a mental toll on the skipper.

Milos Kerkez – 4

A total jack-in-a-box player, at any given moment he’s going to frantically spring out and christ knows what you’ll get. Today it was more like the evil reincarnation of Alberto Moreno, erratic and thinking in both fast-forward and rewind at the same time.

Watching Kerkez is both fascinating and baffling. He almost set up a one-on-one chance for Brentford with a failed diving header, before clearing the danger himself on the second ball.

Sometimes his quick interchange passes are neat and nimble, while at other moments he’ll lash a ball into the feet of Gakpo like it’s an unspeakable disease which must be disposed of.

Of course it was going to be Kerkez to crash the ball into the back of the net on the cusp of half-time to give the Reds a hope. His celebration was as passionate as it was possessed.

Picked up a predictable yellow and seems to be absolutely driving Van Dijk mad on numerous occasions.

I have a feeling this lad will come very good, but right now the roulette nature of his name in the starting XI is a heart-raiser. Needs to make way for Robertson.

Curtis Jones – 7

The best player in a Liverpool shirt for large parts. You can tell he’s well and truly done with this wayward, lacklustre form.

Took to this game like a kid on the playground, knocking the ball around for fun and always showing for a team-mate.

Tucked in deep between the centre back pairing when needed, in the same vein as Ryan Gravenberch.

Put in some serious yards without letting up, doing all the grunt work without complaint and his labours freed up some serious creative space for the repeated breaking surges of Szoboszlai.

These two work on a similar wavelength.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 8 – Man of the Match

Some gorgeous footwork, paired with driving runs and an unwavering desire to create. Left some careless channels of space open for Brentford to spark rapid counters, but almost unavoidable given how quickly he had to get things moving.

Kept plugging away more relentlessly than others, never stopped running and came deep time and time again to begin the first piece of link-up play, or launch a searching ball forward.

One of those evidently trying hard to turn this recent mire around.

Florian Wirtz – 5

Saw heaps of the ball early on and looked to pick repeated passes that no other player can see. Impressive, when it works. But more often that not they caught both team-mates and opposition alike unaware.

His desire can’t be questioned, but the killer spark still lacked. Had a sublime chance to rifle the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box early on, but missed by a hair.

Kept knocking at the door in the second half but it was inevitable he’d be off as the changes were rang by the gaffer once more. Another frustrating evening for the new boy.

Mohamed Salah – 5

Never before seen his first touch looking so heavy. I don’t know what it is with Salah. It’s both painful and frustrating in equal measure at the moment.

There’s never been a situation in which the Egyptian king has been shorn of confidence, and perhaps that’s not even the case right now – but Liverpool’s talisman certainly looks unsure, at the very least.

He’s straying into the territory of trying too hard now, which is absolutely not what Arne Slot wants nor needs right now. Was the Liverpool player with the fewest touches of those that started, and it was clear to see why.

And yet, seemingly out of nowhere, he scores a goal befitting of a Pele highlight reel.

The first time take, touch and finish was ridiculous. Trademark Salah, at a time when he couldn’t look less like himself. Would be rated lower if it wasn’t for finding the back of the net.

Cody Gakpo – 5

Looked dangerous cutting inside, as ever, but his arcing crosses continued to nestle just beyond their intended target. Was a nuisance for Brentford to keep an eye on, but was contained by Liverpool’s own uncertain set-up.

Game started to bypass him in the second period, as energy levels dropped. Replaced on the hour mark.

Hugo Ekitike – 5

Creative and in the groove, but found himself slaloming down blind alleys far too often. Partly at fault for the goals after possession leaks, and the frustration built as a result.

Kept focus in the second half and threatened with his trademark long-range, low fizzing efforts. Overall, won’t be happy with his outing.

Overall Team Performance – 5

 

Substitutes

Federico Chiesa (on for Gakpo, 62′) – 7 – Did more defending than attacking, wanted to play anywhere and everywhere to make sure he got involved. A heart-on-the-sleeve sub appearance.

Andy Robertson (on for Kerkez, 62′) – 6 – Added much needed composure. Needs to start in the Premier League now, time to go back to basics and stop the rot.

Alexis Mac Allister (on for Bradley, 62′) – 6 – His presence was needed in the midfield, but he’s still far below his self-styled massively high standards. Still rusty, still struggling in quick transition, which is usually his bread and butter.

Rio Ngumoha (on for Jones, 70′) – 6 – Showed for the ball willingly out on the flank, but had the door shut in his face multiple times by hefty opponents. An incredibly tough away match to get subbed into. Gave a good account of himself.

Joe Gomez (on for Wirtz, 83′) – 6 – Didn’t have much time but made his experience felt straight away by shoring up gaps on the left channel.

Subs not used: Endo, Morrison, Nyoni, Woodman

 

Arne Slot – 4

Hampered by both injuries and poor officiating, but neither of those things can be blamed for looking leaky from the off and conceding early once again.

Can’t be picked at for the starting XI he selected, but came across like a man on the brink of fury once again when the array of subs were machine-gunned into the action.

One thing Slot brought last season was a hearty measure of calm and stillness. For weeks now, this golden trait has vanished. It badly needs to return or things will get even messier.

Four league defeats in a row and the same issues that don’t seem to being addressed.