Liverpool know the importance of victory at Brentford this weekend, with a win taking them to within a point of Arsenal before they play.
Brentford vs. Liverpool
Premier League (9) | Gtech Community Stadium
October 25, 2025 | 8pm (BST)
The Reds head to west London on Saturday night, looking to kick on after their 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek.
Here are 10 things to know ahead of Brentford vs. Liverpool:
1. A chance to put pressure on Arsenal
Liverpool’s win in Frankfurt was welcome, but they must now back that up with a victory away to Brentford.
The pressure is already on in the Premier League title race, but the Reds have a chance to go just one point adrift of leaders Arsenal with a win.
The Gunners host Crystal Palace on Sunday, which won’t be easy, but they are in impressive form, conceding just one shot on target in their last three games.
Liverpool will also be behind Man United at kick-off, should they beat Brighton at Old Trafford earlier on Saturday – it doesn’t bear thinking about…
2. Quadruple Liverpool reunion awaits
Saturday’s game will see Liverpool reunite with four former players – Caoimhin Kelleher, Sepp van den Berg, Jordan Henderson and Fabio Carvalho.
Kelleher is enjoying life as a regular starter in the Premier League, while Henderson has impressed since his move in the summer.
Speaking to This Is Anfield, Brentford fan Billy Grant positively assessed the impact Liverpool’s ex-captain has made:
“Jordan Henderson is an absolute leader. He has really got the team organised and motivated, which was needed after the summer upheaval.”
At 35, though, Henderson is not the force of old, and Liverpool’s younger midfield needs to get the better of him.
• READ: Why Brentford’s “absolute leader” Jordan Henderson will be key vs. Liverpool
3. Who’s missing for Liverpool?
The injuries are starting to mount up for Liverpool, with Jeremie Frimpong out of Saturday’s game after limping off in Frankfurt.
The Dutchman’s hamstring problem – which Arne Slot says is “going to take a while” to recover from – sees him join Alisson and Giovanni Leoni on the treatment table.
Alexander Isak (groin) is also a doubt after being replaced at half-time at Frankfurt, and the same applies to Ryan Gravenberch (ankle), who missed the midweek action.
The duo will need to have emerged from training unscathed on Friday to be in contention for the squad.
4. How will Liverpool line up?
Slot has big selection decisions to make, given the success of his much-changed starting lineup on Wednesday.
Mohamed Salah will be pushing to start, and fortunately for him, the absence of both Frimpong and potentially Isak may play into his hands.
Andy Robertson is in contention for his first Premier League start of the season but Milos Kerkez has proved a favourite for Slot, while Curtis Jones did enough against Frankfurt to retain his place over Alexis Mac Allister.
Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike both impressed in Germany, too, and it would be a shock if they didn’t start.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.
5. Brentford’s likely XI
Brentford won 2-0 away to West Ham on Monday night and there is no reason for Keith Andrews to ring the changes.
That means both Kelleher and Henderson are expected to play, with Van den Berg continuing at the heart of the defence alongside Nathan Collins. Carvalho is likely to be on the bench.
The dangerous Igor Thiago will lead the line, having scored five goals in eight games in the Premier League this season.
Paris Maghoma and Antoni Milambo are injured, but Aaron Hickey could return after missing the West Ham game.
Possible Brentford XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Ajer; Yarmoliuk, Henderson; Outtara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
6. Slot not worried about Mo Salah
Speaking to the media, Slot said he isn’t concerned about Salah’s form – one goal in his last seven appearances – backing him to come good:
“In general in football players miss chances and Mo is a human being as well. We are not used to him missing chances, let alone a few in a row, but these things can happen.
“It’s easier to finish a chance if you are 3-1 up than if you are 1-0 down but maybe that is not true for him.
“But the main thing is Mo has always scored goals for our club and the last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again.
“That is what he has done his whole life and that is what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well.”
7. Liverpool’s record away to Brentford
Liverpool have experienced mixed fortunes at Brentford‘s Gtech Community Stadium, often finding it tough under the lights.
Last season, the Reds required two last-gasp Darwin Nunez goals to seal a priceless 2-0 win, which was huge in the title race.
In the other three meetings at the Gtech, Liverpool have won, drawn and lost once apiece, including a 3-1 defeat in January 2023.
The same result as last season with less drama would not go amiss!
8. Did you know?
Salah will be desperate to re-find his form this weekend, with one statistic outlining his struggles.
Incredibly, the 33-year-old’s only Premier League goal from open play this term came in the 4-2 win at home to Bournemouth on the opening weekend.
There was also a penalty at Burnley, but by Salah’s world-class standards, he has been off the boil.
Slot trusts the Egyptian to get back on the scoresheet and Saturday would not be a bad time to do so – after all, he has scored six times in seven appearance against the Bees.
9. Simon Hooper takes charge
Simon Hooper will referee Saturday’s game and has plenty of previous with Liverpool.
Most notably, he was in charge of the farcical 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in 2023/24, in which Luis Diaz wrongly had a goal ruled out and both Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off.
Hooper’s assistants are Adrian Holmes and Simon Long, while Tim Robinson is the fourth official.
Chris Kavanagh is in charge of VAR, assisted by Simon Bennett.
10. Follow the match with TIA
Brentford vs. Liverpool is live on TNT Sports 1 from 7pm (BST) on Saturday, for those in the UK, with kick-off at 8pm.
This Is Anfield‘s matchday live blog will also be running as usual, with Harry McMullen keeping you company from 7.15pm to provide the latest updates and stats.
Come on you Reds!
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