Final Thoughts: Liverpool held by Brentford in frustrating draw

Photo: IMAGO
By Steven Smith
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Liverpool 1 – 1 Brentford – Premier League Postmortem

After a season filled with frustration, inconsistency, tactical confusion, and growing supporter unrest, Liverpool closed out the Premier League campaign with a draw against Brentford that somehow managed to perfectly summarise the entire Arne Slot era.

There were moments of quality. There were periods of encouraging attacking football. There were flashes of intensity and freedom rarely seen this season.

But ultimately, Liverpool failed to control the game, failed to put the opposition away, and once again drifted into uncertainty as a result slipping from their grasp.

A draw felt inevitable.

And perhaps that says everything.

The Starting Eleven

Liverpool XI

• GK – Alisson Becker

• RB – Curtis Jones

• CB – Ibrahima Konaté

• CB – Virgil van Dijk (c)

• LB – Andy Robertson

• CM – Ryan Gravenberch

• CM – Alexis Mac Allister

• AM – Dominik Szoboszlai

• RW – Mohamed Salah

• LW – Rio Ngumoha

• CF – Cody Gakpo

Substitutes Used

Florian Wirtz → Rio Ngumoha (74’)

Jeremie Frimpong → Mohamed Salah (74’)

Trey Nyoni → Ryan Gravenberch (83’)

Milos Kerkez → Andy Robertson (83’)

Joe Gomez → Ibrahima Konaté (90’)

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Goals

Liverpool 1–0 Brentford – Curtis Jones (Mohamed Salah) – 53’

Liverpool 1–1 Brentford – Kevin Schade – 68’

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Match Statistics

• Possession – Liverpool 57% | Brentford 43%

• xG – Liverpool 1.72 | Brentford 1.14

• Total Shots – Liverpool 15 | Brentford 11

• Shots on Target – Liverpool 6 | Brentford 4

• Fouls – Liverpool 10 | Brentford 12

• Corners – Liverpool 7 | Brentford 4

First Half

The opening half was one of Liverpool’s better periods of football in recent months as the Reds attacked with greater purpose and freedom than has been evident for much of this dreadful campaign.

Mohamed Salah struck the post with a beautifully shaped free kick that had the entire stadium rising in anticipation, while Dominik Szoboszlai nearly caught out the Brentford keeper with a sharp effort from a difficult angle. Ryan Gravenberch also looked more adventurous in possession and forced a strong save with a curling strike from distance as Liverpool continued probing for an opener.

Rio Ngumoha was once again one of the brightest sparks on the pitch.

The teenage attacker repeatedly drove inside with confidence and saw a beautiful effort bend narrowly wide after some excellent footwork. His willingness to attack defenders directly brought an excitement that has often been missing from Liverpool’s football this season.

At the other end, Alisson Becker produced a world-class save late in the half to remind everyone exactly why he must remain Liverpool’s number one moving forward. The Brazilian stopper reacted brilliantly to preserve parity in what was otherwise a largely dominant first-half display from the hosts.

Liverpool looked sharper.

Liverpool looked freer.

But crucially, Liverpool failed to kill the game.

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Second Half

The second half brought the breakthrough Liverpool deserved.

Mohamed Salah produced one final moment of genius at Anfield, using the outside of his left boot to deliver a trademark pass directly into the path of Curtis Jones, who calmly finished into an empty net to send the Kop into celebration.

It was vintage Salah.

World-class vision. World-class execution.

Unfortunately, Liverpool once again failed to build on momentum.

Brentford gradually forced themselves back into the game and another difficult ball into Liverpool’s penalty area caused the kind of defensive confusion that supporters have watched all season long. Kevin Schade eventually headed home as hesitation and poor organisation again punished the Reds.

From there the game became stretched.

With Brentford throwing bodies forward knowing European qualification depended on victory, spaces began opening everywhere. Florian Wirtz should have scored late on but was denied by the returning Caoimhín Kelleher, who produced several excellent saves against his former club after rejoining Brentford earlier in the season.

The emotional weight of the afternoon became increasingly obvious.

Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson both left the field to standing ovations in what appears to have been their final Anfield appearances before departing at the end of their contracts. Meanwhile, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson also received a tremendous reception after returning to Merseyside with Brentford and finally saying his long-awaited goodbye after his controversial exit two years ago.

Final Thoughts

This was a performance that perfectly captured Liverpool’s season.

Some quality. Some promise. Some emotional moments.

But ultimately, not enough control, not enough authority, and not enough coaching clarity to consistently dominate football matches.

The supporters applauded their legends.

But the uncertainty surrounding Arne Slot only intensified.

Because if this truly was his final game in charge, it felt fittingly incomplete. Liverpool remains a side lacking identity, cohesion, and tactical structure despite possessing enormous talent throughout the squad.

A draw summed up the season.

And now the attention turns fully toward the review.

Was this Arne Slot’s final game as Liverpool head coach?

It absolutely should be.

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Steven Smith’s Pre-Match Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Brentford

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