Brentford vs Liverpool LIVE commentary: Salah returns as Reds try to end London curse in dreaded kick-off time – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
Liverpool can widen their gap at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to London to take on Brentford this weekend.
The Reds are currently two points clear of city of manchester but a win will extend their lead to five before the champions play. Chelsea.
However, this will be easier said than done as Jurgen Klopp's side have won just two of their last eight top-flight away games in London.
Both LiverpoolThe Premier League defeats this season have come in the capital: 2-1 against Spurs in September and 3-1 against Spurs. Arsenal last month.
Liverpool also have bad memories of their trips to Brentfordhaving drawn 3-3 in 2021/22, before losing 3-1 in January last year.
To make matters even worse, the two teams face off in the dreaded start on Saturday at 12.30 pmand Reds boss Klopp is the most vocal critic of the first weekend lunch time.
But the Bees have endured a tough third campaign in the top flight due to injuries and suspensions and are just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Brentford vs Liverpool: Salah's back
Mohamed Salah is set to finally play his first game for Liverpool since New Year's Day. He returned to full training this week..
The 31-year-old scored twice in a 4-2 win over Newcastle on January 1 before leaving for the AFCON with Egypt.
Egypt fell in the round of 16, but Salah suffered a muscle injury during the group stage that sent him home early.
The striker remains the Premier League leader in goal involvement despite his absence, while Liverpool remain at the top of the tree.
Salah is the club's top scorer this season with 18 goals in 27 appearances and has missed the last eight games.
However, his return may be overshadowed by the way Diogo Jota who has enjoyed the most responsibility over the last month.
The Portuguese striker has scored five goals in his last six league games and is just one away from reaching double figures in a campaign for the second time.
Jota also scored in his only previous appearance at the Brentford Community Stadium in the top flight, after missing last season's 3-1 defeat through injury.
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- Brentford's Neal Maupay has been directly involved in exactly one goal in each of his six Premier League starts for Brentford (4 goals, 2 assists). In Premier League history, only two players have scored or assisted in their first seven home starts for a club: Alan Shearer for Newcastle (first 15, 1996-97) and Álvaro Negredo for Manchester City (first 7, 2013).
- Since Ivan Toney's first appearance in the Premier League this season on January 20, only three players have more goals in the division than him (3 in 4 games). However, Liverpool are one of the four teams they have faced without scoring goals in the competition. (3 games, 7 shots, 1 shot on goal).
- Liverpool have won just two of their last eight Premier League away games in London (D3 L3); in fact, both of their league defeats this season came in the capital (against Spurs in September and Arsenal in February).
Brentford vs Liverpool: team news
The hosts still have an extensive injury list, with Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumoand Kevin Schade with everything.
However, the Bees have seen their ranks bolstered by Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa following the end of the AFCON.
Liverpool were not only boosted by Salah's return to training, as both Joe Gomez and Alicia Becker recovering from an illness.
Conor Bradley has also appeared at the club facilities after mourning the death of his father but his availability is still unclear.
The visitors still have several injury problems, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlaiand Stefan Bajcetic remain sidelined along with long-absent Ben Doak, Thiago Alcantaraand Joel Matip.
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- Brentford have lost four of their last six home games in the Premier League, as many as in their previous 30 home games combined (15 wins, 11 draws and 4 losses).
- Liverpool have scored and conceded in all seven of their away league games against Brentford. They lost 3-1 last season, but have never before lost back-to-back such visits to the Bees.
- The home team has never lost a Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool (W4 D1), with the Bees winning that same match 3-1 last season.
Brentford vs Liverpool: What has been said?
Liverpool should be careful with appointments Xabi Alonso as your new manager for a reason, according to danny murphy.
Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, former Reds midfielder Murphy insists there is concern over his potential appointment, much like the manchester united faced when Mr Alex Ferguson left.
“I think in an ideal world, you'd want a coach to come in and take over.” Jurgen Klopp have a greater amount of work, even if you earn the Bundesliga.
“Like any footballer, you can have a bad streak, you can have a wonderful season and vice versa in management.
“You want a coach to come in who has had a great job, has been successful everywhere and has every chance to do what Klopp has done.
“Unfortunately, I don't think that candidate is there and stands out.
“So what you do next, you move on to the next cadre, which is someone who is potentially capable of doing it and has the capabilities.
“It's a bit like buying a good young footballer who looks like he's going to be a world champion.
“Alonso, at this moment, because of what he is doing in Bayer Leverkusen“Because of the style he is doing, he seems like a super young coach with many qualities.”
“He's got a team playing for him; he's got a good style, he's easy on the eyes, very articulate, calm and he's been to Liverpool before.
“It meets many requirements, but not all.
“The problem you have is that no one does it, especially whoever comes to mind.
“That's why I say I think Alonso is going to get the job, and probably rightly so, in my opinion.”
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- Starting the night before this match (February 16), Liverpool will have spent every night since Boxing Day at the top of the Premier League (53 nights in a row); There are exactly as many nights as they spent at the top of the table from the start of the 2020-21 campaign until Christmas 2023.
- Brentford have lost their last two Premier League home games after scoring the first goal (1-2 vs Aston Villa, 1-3 vs Man City); They had only lost one of their first 25 home games when they scored first in the competition (W17 D7).
- Liverpool have 15 more points at this point in the Premier League season (54) than after 24 games last season (39). On three of the last four occasions in the top category they have added 54+ points after 24 games, they have finished 2nd (1990-91, 2018-19 and 2021-22); The other was in 2019-20, when they added 70 and won the league.
Brentford vs Liverpool: talkSPORT coverage
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, February 17.
talkSPORT will have live, exclusive coverage from west London, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm
Reshmin Chowdhury will be your host, while commentary comes from Sam Matterface and the former England captain. Stuart Pearce.
talkSPORT.com will also provide the best reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 via the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen through the talkSPORT appon DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Brentford vs Liverpool: bet with talkSPORT BET
Match odds:
Brentford- 4/17
Draw – 16/5
Liverpool – 11/20
*odds correct as of 02/14/23
see more Premier League odds here
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