Liverpool’s success in the Premier League this season has been dependent on the game’s first goal, and it could be the same again at Brentford.
Arne Slot‘s side got back on the winner’s board in midweek and must now aim to end their three-game losing run in the Premier League.
Notably, the Reds have won all five league games this season when scoring the first goal, having lost the other three after conceding first.
It has become a trend to allow the opposition to get a head start, with Liverpool conceding the first goal in each of their last five games in league and cup.
Thus, with just one win after conceding first across the last five games, it is key for Liverpool to get on the scoresheet first.
A strong recent record vs. Brentford
The Reds have now beaten Brentford in each of the last five league games, and they could stretch this to a record sixth in succession.
Not since February 2023 have Liverpool lost three away league games in a row – one of those came against Brentford.
Four of Liverpool’s last six goals against Brentford have been scored by substitutes – Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez (twice).
Salah has scored six times in seven appearances against Brentford, in just 579 minutes of action. No player in the history of the fixture has scored more times.
Milestones and birthdays
• Cody Gakpo could play his 100th Premier League game – he has scored 28 goals in the competition.
• Andy Robertson could make his 350th appearance in all competitions.
• Virgil van Dijk is in line to captain Liverpool for the 150th time in all games.
• Mo Salah needs two goals to register 250 in his Liverpool career.
• Federico Chiesa (28) and Dominik Szoboszlai (25) celebrate birthdays today.
A meeting against former Reds
The trip to the Gtech will mark a reunion with four former players.
Jordan Henderson played 492 times for Liverpool from 2011-23, scoring 33 goals. He became the first captain in Liverpool history to lift six different trophies.
And the former captain will face Liverpool for the first time since leaving Anfield.
Caoimhin Kelleher, likewise, aftre leaving in the summer following 67 appearances for Liverpool from 2019/25, keeping 24 clean sheets.
Fabio Carvalho scored three times in 21 games for Liverpool in all competitions and netted twice in 13 league appearances.
And, finally, Sepp van den Berg played four times for the Reds, yet never made a league appearance.
Scorers so far this season
Brentford: Igor Thiago 6, Carvalho 2, Jensen 2, Damsgaard 1, Hickey 1, Ouattara 1, Schade 1
Liverpool: Ekitike 6, Gakpo 4, Salah 3, Chiesa 2, Gravenberch 2, Szoboszlai 2, Van Dijk 2, Frimpong 1, Isak 1, Konate 1, Ngumoha 1, Robertson 1
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea (@ged0407).
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