Game Week 7 Predictions: Liverpool must beat Brentford

It's a battle the Bees and the former champions, with Caomin Kelleher up against his former teammates. How will it pan out at the G-Tech...

It's a battle the Bees and the former champions, with Caomin Kelleher up against his former teammates. How will it pan out at the G-Tech Stadium. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 

Brentford vs Liverpool

G-tech Stadium

3:00pm

One of the intriguing games at 3:00pm on Saturday is Liverpool's visit to the G-Tech Stadium, where the former champions will face Brentford.

We don't know what to expect from Andoni Iraola's Liverpool. The Spanish manager seems to be a draw specialist, but putting six past LASK in the Champions League on Tuesday could make people change their minds about what to expect.

Brentford has proven to be a giant-killer again this season. The Bees beat Chelsea 3-0 before the break and remain tough to beat with a disciplined approach to games. You can't tell that the team has lost huge players in recent times; they're a well-coached side.

Liverpool's inconsistencies beg for concern. The Reds lost scandalously at home to Manchester City last weekend, but you can put the result down to the dismissal of Ryan Gravenberch early in the second half.

Liverpool didn't have answers to everything Jeremy Doku threw at them. Brentford can follow the same template of a tricky winger to trouble Liverpool's fragile fullbacks. Kevin Schade could be the key in this regard.

The Reds will be without Gravenberch but could welcome back Dominik Szoboszlai to the fold. The Hungarian sat out the loss to Manchester City and the big win at LASK. His hamstring issue will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Liverpool will also be without Alexander Isak, who continues to nurse an injury he sustained during the international break. Andoni Iraola was coy during his presser about potential team fitness, but we expect some of the injured players back.

How will they both approach this game? Keith Andrews is known to set up his team to compete fearlessly. He will take the game to Liverpool and fight for every duel, and he's afraid of conceding, as he knows they can inflict harm at the other end too.

Igor Thiago hasn't been fantastic this season, but you won't leave your defense unguarded with the Brazilian around. Brentford has also found ways to score goals without their big striker, which means Liverpool must be wary of surprises.

Liverpool is the favorite for the game, but they know what to expect from the Bees. This is one game that will excite neutrals, but anything short of three points in this game will send Liverpool completely out of the title race.

Verdict: Liverpool to win