Liverpool 2-0 Brentford – The Postmortem

This was a game that ended the weekend for the Premier League and allowed Liverpool to maintain their impressive 100%-win rate. Though it is only two games old, the season performance of the new Head Coach, Arne Slot, has been close to brilliant and this game once again showed a steel and imagination in equal measures. The tradition from Klopp to Slot will take many more months to fully evolve, however, the process looks supreme and something to be reveled within.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

LFC Starting Eleven

GK – Alisson Becker

RB – Trent Alexander Arnold

RCB – Ibrahima Konaté

LCB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

LB – Andy Robertson

CM – Alexis Mac Allister

ACM – Dominik Szoboszlai

CM – Ryan Gravenberch

RF – Mohamed Salah

CF – Diogo Jota

LF – Luis Díaz

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Subs

Darwin Núñez – Luis Díaz (71 mins)

Conor Bradley – Trent Alexander Arnold (71 mins)

Cody Gakpo – Diogo Jota (71 mins)

Harvey Elliott – Mohamed Salah (83 mins)

Wataru Endō – Ryan Gravenberch (90+3 mins)

Goals (Assisted by)

Liverpool 1 – 0 Brentford

Luis Díaz (Diogo Jota) – 13 mins

Liverpool 2 – 0 Brentford

Mohamed Salah (Luis Díaz) – 70 mins

Important Match Stats

Possession

Liverpool 63% – 37% Brentford

Total Shots

Liverpool 19 – 8 Brentford

Crosses

Liverpool 22 – 11 Brentford

Corner Kicks 

Liverpool 9 – 4 Brentford

Goalkeeper Saves

Liverpool 2 – 6 Brentford

First Half

The opening period of this game was an immediate show of territorial dominance, as the home side looked to control the game state from the opening bell. A strong defensive pairing and adventurous set of full backs (of Liverpool) allowed the middle double pivot both support and options, which took just thirteen minutes to create the game’s first goal.

As a corner was well defended by the hosts, Mohamed Salah was able to find a direct natured Diogo Jota, who tore through the centre of the pitch before assisting the venomous Colombian flyer, Luis Díaz. With a clinical yet thunderous strike thundering inside the opposing near post, it reminded us all the best breakaway goals under the illustrious era of the last man in the dugout, Jürgen Klopp.

The lung busting opening goal should have been added to before the break, as the rampaging Scotland captain, Andy Robertson, found himself driving a shot straight at the keeper and for a corner. The moments of superior play would arrive and recede through an entertaining opening half, as the match drifted towards half time and a deserved 1-0 lead.

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Second Half

On resumption of the second half, no changes were made this week, as the Liverpool Head Coach trusted in his initial starting eleven to get the job done. You could sense a shift upwards in tempo, as the likes of Trent Alexander Arnold and the Hungarian skipper, Dominik Szoboszlai, added urgency to their on-ball endeavours.

Ryan Gravenberch once again showed a better second half outing, whereas the twin towers of Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk, dominated a powerfully constructed backline. The giant Brazilian keeper, Alisson Becker, was able to make a super save on the hour, as a strong header needed dealing with as it headed for the back of the net.

As the tremendous moments of intricate one touch play saw the crowd elevate in excitement, so came the encounters match winning goal. Through strategic pressing and a superb assist by the eventual man of the match, Luis Díaz, came an outrageous finish beyond a helpless Brentford stopper. Mohamed Salah is the continuing champion that defies time and logic, with his wonderfully taken goal lifting over and around the on rushing Mark Flekken.

At 2-0, the changes started to ring and game management became the trait once more. A strong header by the superb Ibrahima Konaté, and well saved effort from Luis Díaz, and a shot that crashed into the car from the second half substitute, Cody Gakpo, all made for a dominant second half showing.

Final Thoughts

This was a game that showed more control than that which was too often viewed last season, as the want to strangle the game from the opposition became evident without giving away any big chances. The clarity of selection is forcing players to fight for their places and the strong leadership by Slot is very much a delight to behold.

An eventful week in the transfer window now awaits, as the clock ticks till its closure on Friday evening.

A trip to Manchester United comes next in another Super Sunday, as the season reaches it first major hurdle under a new reign.