Aaron Bower was at Anfield. Here’s his report. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Thomas Frank speaks to Sky. “We definitely could have got something out of it … our high pressure was really good and we frustrated them a lot … in the first half they only had the goal … they normally start very fast … in the second half we created a lot of problems … if the two centre backs and the goalkeeper get yellow cards, you must have done something right … if you give Alisson a yellow card for time-wasting at Anfield, that is OK … of course we want more … the final quality in the pass and cross … but we had a goal disallowed like this [holds fingers closely together] … I have some good players!”
As for Liverpool’s chance of a top-four finish, should Manchester United or Newcastle drop points? “I don’t think they will, but imagine if they did and we were not there? We would really regret that. But if United win their two games in hand, they are seven points away and it is pretty much done, we all know that … and if Brighton win all their games in hand, which is absolutely possible, they are above us … it is good that we can get in that region again, but we have to make sure we keep the teams behind us, behind us … not only Brighton but Aston Villa and Tottenham … nothing is decided and that is good … we have three games to go and finally a bit longer break … the boys fought through it and I am really happy about it.”
Jurgen Klopp talks to Sky. “[Liverpool’s six-game winning run] is maybe a bit to late but better late than never … that game today was the best defensive set-piece session I ever saw in my life against the best set-piece team I’ve ever played … they are most creative … we didn’t concede a real chance with 50, 60 set pieces, that’s how it felt at least … the boys were really focused … could we have controlled the game better? Yes, but it was really tricky because they break the rhythm … it is difficult to deal with … from a focus point of view it was really good … a few weeks ago against Nottingham Forest we struggled a lot so the boys did really well today and I am happy … the chance [Alexander-Arnold] set up for Darwin was a really special ball … he is defensively extremely strong … he cannot be everywhere … it is outstanding what he is doing … I can’t see [Salah] stopping because that is just his nature … he’s an all-time great but in the moment he has to work … his numbers are outrageous.”
Mohamed Salah - Liverpool’s Egyptian King, seeing we’re on the subject - speaks to Sky. “We need to keep winning … that was the main thing for us … nothing matters more than the three points … everyone is happy in the dressing room and we just need to keep going … [100 goals at Anfield] means a lot to me … I feel home here and I am happy … we just need to finish the season in the best possible way … [scoring in nine consecutive home games] is something that makes me proud … I work really hard and everybody knows that … I am motivated to keep breaking records and scoring goals and winning games for the team … we take it game by game and see what will happen … we have improved a lot during the last couple of weeks … clean sheets are really important for us … we are more stable as a team and we need to carry on … we will fight hard.”
Charles III < Kenny. A reminder that just before kick-off, Liverpool fans told it as they saw it on the hot-button topic of Kings.
The win takes Liverpool to within a point of the Champions League spots … though the games-played column is likely to be their undoing. Manchester United or Newcastle would have to stumble badly during the run-in for Jurgen Klopp’s side to snatch a top-four place. But from Liverpool’s point of view, all they can do is ask the question, and they’ve taken another big step towards the Europa League at least, which would salvage something from a poor season. As for Brentford, a draw wouldn’t have flattered them this evening, but the defeat probably puts paid to any European dream. Even so, what a job Thomas Frank continues to do for the Bees. One of the stories of the season, regardless how their final three matches pan out.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 34 | 58 | 82 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 34 | 42 | 78 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 33 | 34 | 65 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 33 | 9 | 63 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 35 | 25 | 62 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 7 | 57 |
| 7 | Brighton | 32 | 22 | 55 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 35 | 3 | 54 |
| 9 | Brentford | 35 | 7 | 50 |
| 10 | Fulham | 34 | -1 | 45 |
| 11 | Chelsea | 34 | -5 | 42 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 35 | -11 | 40 |
| 13 | Wolverhampton | 35 | -20 | 40 |
| 14 | AFC Bournemouth | 35 | -30 | 39 |
| 15 | West Ham | 34 | -13 | 34 |
| 16 | Leicester | 34 | -13 | 30 |
| 17 | Leeds | 35 | -25 | 30 |
| 18 | Nottm Forest | 34 | -32 | 30 |
| 19 | Everton | 34 | -25 | 29 |
| 20 | Southampton | 34 | -32 | 24 |
FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
It’s six Premier League wins in a row for Liverpool … but how Brentford made them work for it. The two managers embrace warmly. They both know that was a closely fought match.
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90 min +3: Raya stays up but Fabinho clears. Liverpool threaten to break towards the unguarded goal but are happy enough to draw a foul with the clock ticking down.
90 min +2: Corner for Brentford out on the right. Raya comes up for it! Alisson punches clear, but Brentford win another corner, this time on the left.
90 min +1: Brentford have scored five goals during injury time this season. Nobody in the Premier League has managed more.
90 min: Toney leans into Tsimikas. Foul, and the pressure on Liverpool is released. There will be four added minutes.
89 min: Konate and Salah perform a pincer movement on Mbeumo, who was going nowhere down the left. Free kick. Everyone in the Liverpool box!
88 min: Hickey makes way for Wissa, who has caused Liverpool pain before.
87 min: Alisson gathers a ball on the edge of his box and fires a low, flat kick upfield in the hope of releasing Diaz down the middle. Hickey reads the danger well and intercepts.
85 min: A free kick for Liverpool out on the left. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Brentford box. Tsimikas loops in. Mee clears. It’s still tense at Anfield. Quiet and tense.
84 min: Salah and Hickey compete for a long ball down the Liverpool right. Salah’s presence forces Hickey into a mistake, heading into the path of Gakpo, who lashes a wild shot wide right from the edge of the box.
83 min: Fabinho launches long down the right to release Salah into space. Salah enters the box but dillies and dallies, and Pinnock’s not of a mind to let him pass. Eventually Salah is forced to turn tail and the danger is gone. That’s wonderful one-on-one defence by Pinnock.
82 min: Brentford make a double change as well, swapping out Janelt and Jensen for Damsgaard and Baptiste.
81 min: Milner and Tsimikas replace Jones and Robertson.
79 min: Konate wins a header at the corner but it’s an easy pick for Raya. This match is far from over, and the tension is palpable.
78 min: Salah sends Henderson into space down the right. Henderson’s cross is no good, but he flicks the ball back for Alexander-Arnold, who aims a rising diagonal shot towards the top left. It’s heading in, but Raya extends fully to tip around for a corner.
77 min: Alisson is booked for taking his sweet time over a goal kick.
76 min: Liverpool beware! Brentford have scored 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of their Premier League matches this season. Only Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle have managed the same amount.
75 min: Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Diaz and Jones buzz around the edge of the Brentford box. They can’t quite fashion a decent shooting opportunity, though Alexander-Arnold eventually has a dig that’s deflected wide left for a corner … but nothing comes of the set piece.
73 min: Alexander-Arnold swings in the resulting free kick. It doesn’t beat the first man.
72 min: In fact Henry can’t continue, and he’s replaced by Schade. Meanwhile Onyeka makes way for Dasilva. Liverpool respond by swapping Jota for Henderson.
71 min: Henry hurt his wrist during that tussle, and requires a bit of a patch-up.
70 min: Gakpo battles his way down the right and is clambered over in the rugby style by Henry, who goes into the book.
Updated
69 min: Janelt wedges down the inside-right channel but Hickey has timed his run incorrectly and the flag goes up. Brentford are asking a series of serious questions here.
67 min: Alexander-Arnold’s loose pass in midfield gifts Brentford the opportunity to counter. Jensen swings deep from the left. Alisson comes out to claim but stops. Hickey, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box, should seriously trouble Liverpool but misses the dropping ball altogether. Goal kick.
65 min: Liverpool make the first change of the evening. Diaz comes on for Nunez.
63 min: Mbeumo whips the free kick into a crowded six-yard box. It pinballs back out. Liverpool deal with the next phase and the danger is over.
62 min: Onyeka barges into the back of Fabinho, just to the right of the Liverpool box, but the hosts don’t get the free kick. They’re doubly annoyed seconds later when Robertson clips Toney and that one is awarded. A free kick in a very dangerous position here.
60 min: A pause in play as Toney, having been cuffed upside the head by Van Dijk, receives some treatment. He’s up and running again soon enough.
Updated
58 min: Jota spreads a pass wide right for Salah, who looks for Anfield goal number 101 by curling towards the top left. He’s still looking. Miles wide.
56 min: Alisson sees off Henry with a ballsy Cruyff Turn. The crowd enjoyed that.
54 min: Konate is booked for kicking the ball away after a Gakpo foul on Mbeumo. The referee points all around the pitch, suggesting it’s a totting-up thing. Meanwhile here’s Peter Oh: “Nine Anfield appearance goals on the trot? It’s good to be the king! The Egyptian King.”
53 min: Salah slips Jota into the Brentford box down the right. Jota absolutely skelps a low cross through the six-yard box. It hits Gakpo on the knee but doesn’t fly into the net. Gakpo had no time to react; that cross was hit with some venom. Still, it goes down as a bad miss.
52 min: Brentford have been super-lively since the restart. Van Dijk and Alisson do the professional thing by taking their sweet time over a restart.
50 min: Alisson’s back up and running, and claiming Mbeumo’s cross from the left. Mbeumo had been sent clear down the wing by an absurd back-heeled volley from Toney. What a season he’s having!
49 min: Toney clatters into Alisson. Accidental, but the keeper felt that. Play pauses awhile.
48 min: Onyeka attempts to steer a shot towards the top right from the edge of the D. The ball hits Van Dijk’s arm, but the limb was in front of his body, tucked into his chest. Neither referee nor VAR shows any interest in awarding the penalty the Brentford fans scream for.
47 min: Brentford have started the half well. They’re first to most of the loose balls. Anfield has become a little quiet as a result.
Liverpool get the second half started. No changes.
Half-time entertainment. Numbers eight and nine in particular sound like good shouts.
Updated
HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
Liverpool just about deserve their lead … but Brentford responded excellently to falling behind, launching several dangerous attacks, and will fancy their chances of an equaliser and even more. It’s poised delicately, deliciously, for an entertaining second half.
45 min +2: Toney gets a yard on Alexander-Arnold down the left and whips a fierce low cross into the Liverpool box. Alisson gathers confidently at his near post.
45 min +1: The first of three extra first-half minutes passes by without incident.
45 min: Toney spins around Konate on the Brentford left, and is cynically taken out by a hanging leg. Konate is extremely fortunate not to go into the book.
44 min: After some pre-kick faff, Brentford deliver. Mbeumo curls in a floater, and Alisson plucks it from the sky. Brentford are knocking loudly on the door here.
42 min: But it’s the correct decision, and the goal’s chalked off. Brentford come again, though, and Fabinho high-kicks Toney as the pair contest a loose ball just to the left of the Liverpool D. This’ll be another free kick in a dangerous position, and a yellow card for Fabinho too.
41 min: VAR takes a while to double check, though. The tension around Anfield is palpable.
40 min: … and it so nearly pays dividend as Toney plays a cute first-time ball around the corner down the right, sending Mbeumo clear. Mbeumo romps infield, holds off Van Dijk, reaches the edge of the D, and whips gloriously into the top left! But the flag immediately goes up for offside.
Updated
39 min: Brentford have enjoyed 60 percent of possession during the last ten minutes.
38 min: Onyeka brings down a loose ball, just outside the Liverpool D, and draws a clumsy foul from Fabinho. Toney’s eyes light up. He sends a vicious low drive inches wide of the right-hand post. Alisson probably had it covered, but if he did, only just. That was a fine free kick.
36 min: Brentford pin Liverpool back for 90 seconds or so. Hickey and Jensen causing all manner of problems down the right. But the final ball is lacking, and Nunez eventually clears, albeit with his shin. He’s a trier all right.
34 min: I’ve just noticed that Brentford’s away shirt has their mid-70s badge on it. YES LOGO.
33 min: Alexander-Arnold is swarmed by Toney and Mbeumo, facing his own goal 30 yards out, and inevitably ships possession. Van Dijk comes across to blooter clear just before the Brentford pair can latch onto a loose ball on the edge of the area.
32 min: Say what you will about Nunez, though; he keeps on keepin’ on. He powers his way down the left and hooks a low cross in towards Salah. Mee hacks it out for a corner, which Robertson takes, only to send straight out for a goal kick.
30 min: Alexander-Arnold wedges a stunning pass down the inside-left channel for Nunez, the ball dropping at the much-maligned Uruguayan’s feet six yards out. Nunez must score, but wafts at the ball, barely making contact. It drifts wide left and high. A dreadful miss.
Updated
29 min: Brentford are winning their fair share of free kicks in Liverpool territory, but they’re not doing very much with them. In fact, once again Liverpool clear it easily, Van Dijk heading Jensen’s floated delivery out, Jota very nearly breaking free down the middle. But Hickey holds firm and ushers the ball back to Raya, who clears up.
27 min: … Nunez slips a pass down the middle for Jota. It’s perfectly weighted, and Jota latches onto it at full speed, only to be cynically checked on the halfway line by Mbeumo, who goes into the book.
Updated
26 min: Another free kick for Brentford out on the left. Van Dijk heads it clear. Liverpool break, and …
24 min: Jensen cops a finger in the eye from Gakpo. Accidental, but a free kick, out on the left. Jensen whistles the free kick down the left flank, hoping to surprise Liverpool and release Toney into the box, but the pass is too strong and Alisson claims. Meanwhile here’s Richard Hirst: “If one is allowed to quote a rival journal of record, Private Eye’s take on the coronation is surely the last word: ‘Man wearing hat sits on chair’.” Right up there with The Day Today’s “Car drives past window in town”, only even less captivating.
22 min: Nothing comes of the corner, but Liverpool keep the pressure on … until Van Dijk buys a ticket for the lottery, the best part of 30 yards out. The ball sails wide right, never threatening the goal.
20 min: Alexander-Arnold, tight on the right touchline, half-volleys a crossfield pass towards Robertson on the left. Roberson romps into space. Jones curls a weak shot straight at Raya. Brentford counter, Mbeumo speculating from a position out left. Alisson gathers. Liverpool keep up the basketball rhythm by chasing up the other end, Nunez winning a corner down the right.
18 min: That was also Salah’s 100th goal at Anfield. “The carpet bombing hype machine of the coronation has been unbearable but the Anfield defiance and the glorious Celtic response to the forced patriotism campaign warms my heart,” writes Evertonian Mary Waltz. “Back to the authentic majesty, Premier League football.”
16 min: Fabinho slips Nunez into space down the inside-left channel. Nunez enters the box, should get a shot away, doesn’t, sorts his feet out, and digs out an effort that Raya parries. Then the flag goes up for offside, so none of it mattered anyway.
15 min: That’s nine successive appearances scoring at Anfield for Mohamed Salah, breaking a record held jointly by Luis Suarez (2013-14) and Gordon Hodgson (1927-28).
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Brentford (Salah 13)
The corner’s worked back to Jones, who pearls a shot goalwards. Hickey blocks. Brentford clear, but Liverpool come again. Fabinho, on the edge of the D, wedges diagonally towards Van Dijk on the left-hand edge of the six-yard box. Van Dijk heads across the face of goal for Salah, who needs two touches to force home … but force home he does!
Updated
12 min: Gakpo and Nunez combine well down the right to send Salah into acres. Salah curls into the middle. Jota prepares to nut home from six yards, but Zanka reads the danger and heads behind for a corner.
10 min: Robertson, Jota and Gakpo probe down the left to little effect. Brentford hold their shape. “On my way home from Perth,” writes Simon McMahon, whose Dundee United lost this afternoon to St Johnstone. “Should’ve stayed at home and watched the coronation. That’s how bad it was. Long live the MBM!”
8 min: … the ball’s pulled back to Salah, who wafts a tame shot straight at Raya. A nice brisk start to this game.
7 min: Fabinho is clumped by Hickey out on the left. Liverpool line up on the edge of the box. The free kick’s swung in by Robertson. Konate somehow misses his header, six yards out. But Liverpool have the consolation of a corner, from which …
6 min: Jensen hoicks the resulting free kick harmlessly into the Kop. Meanwhile, in the interests of balance, some folk in Anfield have pledged allegiance to their king. King Kenny, that is, the Fields of Anfield Road and all that.
5 min: It’s Onyeka versus Van Dijk again, but this time the Liverpool defender slides recklessly through the back of the Brentford midfielder. It’s a needless challenge and he quite correctly goes into the book.
4 min: Henry makes good ground down the left and is blocked by Konate. A free kick. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Liverpool box. The ball’s swept wide right for Onyeka, whose cross is headed clear by Van Dijk.
2 min: A slow start, during which Anfield collectively suggests, like Celtic’s fans last weekend, where the coronation should be stored for safe keeping.
Brentford get the match underway. They’ll be kicking towards the Kop in this first half.
The teams are out! Liverpool in red, Brentford sky blue. We’ll be off soon. But first, a musical interlude. Liverpool have been passive-aggressively cajoled into playing the National Anthem in honour of the coronation of King Charles III, despite the powers that be knowing full well that, in terms of pledging allegiance to the crown, the denizens of Anfield register a score of absolute zero on the Guardian’s patented Ibrox-o-meter™. So here it comes, drearily pouring out of the speaker, to be met with predictable results. A cacophony of booing, some loud and repeated chanting of “Liverpool, Liverpool”, then a lot more booing, after which a much more popular ditty, You’ll Never Walk Alone, gets the place back on equilibrium.
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Jurgen Klopp speaks to Sky: “It’s a tough cookie … they are so smart … the whole club is set up for years … it is really great … they are very creative and super-dangerous … they are very well organised … counter-attacking really good … coaching all of a sudden is a real joy again because we all have different things to think about … usually you cannot do that in the middle of a season but we had nothing to lose … since then it’s going well … we are not there, not even close, we have to improve a lot, but the start is good enough to keep going.”
… and so does Thomas Frank: “It is a massive challenge … it is one of the most difficult grounds to go to in the world … we can’t wait … we know we can make it difficult … we have a chance … but we are also very aware that these guys come flying out and it will be very difficult.”
Liverpool make three changes to their starting XI after the sketchy 1-0 win over Fulham during the week. Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson are back, at the expense of Luis Diaz, Jordan Henderson and Kostas Tsimikas, who all drop to the bench.
Brentford make two changes to the XI that started their smash-and-grab 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest last Saturday. Mathias Jorgensen and Frank Onyeka nudge Mikkel Damsgaard and Kevin Schade down to the bench.
The teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Jones, Gakpo, Jota, Salah, Nunez.
Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Milner, Henderson, Elliott, Tsimikas, Diaz, Carvalho, Matip.
Brentford: Raya, Hickey, Zanka, Pinnock, Mee, Henry, Janelt, Onyeka, Jensen, Mbuemo, Toney.
Subs: Cox, Schade, Dasilva, Wissa, Ghoddos, Ajer, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Roerslev.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
The Reds to take on Brentford 📋#LIVBRE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 6, 2023
🐝 Your Bees to take on Liverpool this evening#LIVBRE | #BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/ApF2cKxJIM
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 6, 2023
Preamble
Liverpool and Brentford both fancy playing some European football next season. The Reds still have a wafer-thin chance of making the Champions League, though the Europa League is much more likely; the Bees would happily settle for either Europa or Conference League action and a first-ever continental sortie. Both teams are in good form, Jurgen Klopp’s men winning their last five, Thomas Frank’s side their last two, while both have history on their side in their own way: Liverpool have only lost to Brentford once at Anfield, back in 1937; Brentford beat Liverpool handsomely just four months ago, 3-1 at the Gtech. Nicely balanced, then. Fun ahoy! Kick off is at 5.30pm BST. It’s on!
