Game Week 12 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Brentford

Liverpool aims to leapfrog Arsenal in Premier League standings with a strong win against Brentford at Anfield. Can they secure second place?

Liverpool must be clinical and respectful when they host Brentford on Sunday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Liverpool vs. Brentford

Anfield

3pm

Liverpool will have to score at least two goals to go above Arsenal and into second on the Premier League log after watching the Gunners down Burnley at the Emirates on Saturday.

The Kops had a strange day in Europe on Thursday with a loss away at French side Toulouse and would need to do better than they did at Kenilworth Road last weekend, where they settled for a late goal to earn a point off the new boys.

Brentford is flying, but they must be clinical and disciplined when they travel to Anfield. The Bees have won three on the bounce, including a spirited 2-0 win away at Chelsea, with a clean sheet, making it important for Liverpool to be careful.

A win will take Brentford just two points off Manchester United in sixth and three points off Aston Villa in fourth, although Unai Emery’s team would need to lose to Fulham at Villa Park when they meet at about the same time for this to stay sane.

Liverpool has huge strength at home, and that should worry anyone, not least Brentford, but the visitors are also strong away from home. They were inches away from earning a result against Manchester United before two stoppage-time goals from Scott McTominay took it away from them.

Brentford will set up the way they usually do: to stay narrow in midfield when they’re defending and go wide when they’re attacking. It’s amazing to see them fight for the right to be feared even without their top striker, Ivan Toney.

Liverpool will be without Alexis Mac Allister, who will be serving his one-match ban after receiving five yellow cards, and that leaves the door open for Wataru Endo to partner Ryan Gravenberch in the middle of the park for the hosts.

Luis Diaz is fully back after news broke out that his father was released by the kidnappers. They must have enjoyed his late equaliser for the Reds away at Luton. Mohammed Salah is sure to start, as is one of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool remain the clear favourites here, but they cannot afford to take things for granted against Thomas Frank’s team. A win by two goals will take the Kops into second place above Arsenal; that's fair motivation.

Verdict: Liverpool to win