Game Week 2 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Brentford

Liverpool vs. Brentford preview: Arne Slot's Anfield debut. Salah leads attack as Liverpool seeks a home win against a spirited Brentford side.

 

Liverpool will hope to continue with a win at home in what will be Arne Slot's home debut. Can Brentford rain on his party? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Liverpool vs. Brentford

Anfield Stadium

4:30pm

Arne Slot is making his home debut, a game he'll love to impress the Anfield supporters, and he can be sure the team will make the loudest noise he has ever heard when they file out on Sunday.

Liverpool beat Ipswich Town last weekend, a performance that wasn’t at their renowned best but was enough to dispatch the new boys, with Mohammed Salah scoring one and setting up Diogo Jota for the other.

Brentford had a great opening-day experience in front of the G-Tech Stadium fans. Despite an early scare when the referee ruled out Ebere Eze's goal before the ball hit the back of the net, the Bees managed to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1.

Liverpool remains the only team in Europe's top five leagues to have not made a single signing this season, with Arne Slot confident in his squad and ready to do the job with what he has, even if they don't eventually welcome a new face when the window slams shut.

A few names left the Kops this summer; one of them is Fabio Carvalho, who is now a Brentford player and could make his debut against his former employers. It would be great for him to impress the away fans with a strong performance against the team he came from.

Liverpool will line up as usual, with Salah and Luiz Diaz flanking Diogo Jota in the front line. Ibrahim Konate could replace Jarrel Quansah, who sustained an injury in the win at Portman Road, in the defense.

Brentford is still expected to be without Ivan Toney, who has been subjected to a move to the Saudi Professional League. The England striker was absent from the opening day match against Palace, but Bryan Mbeumo filled in for him, just as he did during the striker's suspension last season.

Yoan Wissa is another name Liverpool must be wary of; the Congolese is fast and decisive in the final third, and he could be a handful against the hosts on Sunday. Liverpool must also find solutions to Brentford’s aerial prowess, especially from set pieces; that will be key.

Liverpool’s right wing will be quite powerful; Thomas Frank might seek to double up on Salah; his style is more focused on recycling as fast as possible; and the midfield trio of Vitaly Yanelt, Oliver Norgaard, and Mathias Jensen will have a lot to do to curtail runs and progressions into their final third.

Verdict: A straight win for Liverpool