Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League updates | The Independent

6 mins: Shandon Baptiste fouls Curtis Jones and Liverpool have the chance to whip the ball into the box. Trent Alexander-Arnold floats the free kick over to the back post where Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk are waiting. Matip recovers the ball and knocks it behind off a Brentford defender. Liverpool think they’ve won a corner but the assistant referee raises the offside flag against the Reds’ centre-back.

3 mins: Jordan Henderson wins the ball in the middle of the pitch and slots a pass up to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He goes on a fine run through the inside right channel with Diogo Jota providing an option to his left. Oxlade-Chamberlain continues his run towards the box and Christian Norgaard slides in from the left to win the ball. It’s a great tackle and Brentford come away with the ball.

Kick off: There’s a slight delay to ensure the referee’s are all wired up with the communications devices and then Bretnfrod get the match started. They send the ball long, over the top of the Liverpool defence, as Bryan Mbeumo makes a run through the lines. He looks to bring the ball under control on the left side of the box but he’s flagged offside.

Liverpool will move up to second if they avoid losing to Brentford today. The teams make their way out onto the pitch at Anfield, can the Reds step it up in the absence of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah?

Less than 10 minutes to go until kick off at Anfield, can Liverpool get back to winning ways or will Brentford shock the Reds again after drawing the reverse fixture 3-3 back in September?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not write off their rare goalless performance as he believes it will provide valuable help in preparing for the visit of Brentford.

The 0-0 draw with 10-man Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg was the first time since April the Reds had not scored in a home match and only the second occasion this season they had drawn a blank.

Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in his last three league appearances against promoted sides, having scored just four times in his previous 27 such games.

Brentford have conceded the opening goal in 12 of their last 13 top-flight fixtures, while a league-high 20 of the 30 goals they have let in have been in the first half.

Their 10 most recent Premier League goals have been scored by 10 different players, including a Jamaal Lascelles own goal.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has had “a long talk” with Curtis Jones as he believes it is now time for the academy graduate to step up and start fulfilling his potential.

The 20-year-old has endured a difficult time since October, with a freak eye injury in training being followed by a Covid-enforced absence.

However, he had previously shown flashes of his brilliance, dominating the game in the 5-1 Champions League win over Porto, and with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – at the Africa Cup of Nations – and hip-injury victim Thiago Alcantara all absent his creativity could be an important factor in the coming weeks.

Liverpool have lost their first home league match in just one of the past 16 calendar years but the Reds have dropped points in five of their seven Premier League matches against London opposition this campaign.