Brentford sting Liverpool: Reds stumble to a fourth straight Premier League defeat

First half

Liverpool’s form continues to dip as they suffered a fourth straight league loss, beaten 3-2 by Brentford in a pulsating ninth-round fixture. Brentford burst out of the blocks with tempo and intent, pinning the visitors back from the outset.

In the fifth minute Brentford struck first, Dango Ouattara guiding a smart finish into the net after a quick ball into the box caused confusion in the Liverpool defense.

Just before halftime, Brentford doubled their lead as Keven Shadé produced a decisive strike inside the area, hammering home a first-half goal that left the Reds chasing the game at 2-1 as the break approached.

In added time of the first half, Igor Jesus converted from the spot, giving Brentford a 3-1 cushion and forcing Liverpool to rethink their approach after the restart.

Liverpool did manage to pull one back late in the period when Milos Kerkisz struck from close range following a cross to make it 2-1 at halftime, setting up a frantic second period.

Before the interval, the visitors had sporadic moments of attack, but Brentford’s defense held firm at key moments, keeping Liverpool at bay as the half drew to a close.

Second half

The second half opened with Liverpool pressing higher but still looking vulnerable on the counter. A flurry of changes by Brentford helped to stabilise their momentum and keep the Reds at bay for a time.

In the 60th minute, aVAR-assisted decision confirmed a foul on the edge of the box and Igor Jesus tucked away the resulting penalty to restore a two-goal lead for Brentford.

At 61 minutes, Brentford’s momentum continued as Liverpool boss Arne Slot made three substitutions, inserting Andrew Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, and Federico Chiesa in an attempt to spark a fresh attacking spark.

Liverpool then pushed for a lifeline, and in the 64th minute Mohamed Salah had a promising moment, but his shot was instinctively blocked by Brentford’s defense.

Despite Liverpool’s territorial dominance, Brentford remained dangerous on the break. In the 66th minute, Ouattara wasted a clear opportunity to kill the game off with a shot wide of the target, keeping the result in doubt for a while longer.

In the 70th minute a 17-year-old substitute for Liverpool added youth and energy to the attack, but Brentford’s backline held firm to maintain their advantage.

As the minutes wore on, Liverpool had several chances to level, including a late corner routine that produced pressure but no decisive finish, leaving the scoreline at 3-2 for the hosts.

The best moment of the closing stages came in the 83rd minute when Salah cut inside and fired a left-footed effort that skimmed the bar, leaving Brentford relieved and Liverpool chasing late drama. In the 84th, Brentford almost sealed it again when Ouattara sent a header narrowly wide from a well-delivered cross.

With the clock running down, Salah finally found the net in the 89th minute, turning in a rebound to make it 3-2, but the late rally fell short as Brentford held on for a memorable victory that extends Liverpool’s setback in the league.