The Brentford Community Stadium continues to cause fits for visitors, with Liverpool suffering defeat on Monday. Brentford’s win, another over the traditional ‘big six,’ doomed Liverpool to a fifth loss on the season. That is three more than what it totaled last season when it finished second.
However, despite the 3-1 scoreline, this was far more than simply Liverpool capitulating to defeat against Brentford. The Bees played superbly. In fact, there was an argument that Brentford could have scored more than just three.
Despite the visitors holding 73% of the ball, Brentford managed seven shots on target. That does not include Yoanne Wissa’s two goals disallowed after VAR decisions. Yet, the Congolese international finally found a goal that counted in the 42nd minute, and Alisson almost prevented that.
That goal, Brentford’s second, went on to be the eventual winner.
Liverpool not the first to slump to defeat against Brentford
That puts Brentford on 26 points, just two behind these Reds they defeated on Monday. Granted, Liverpool has a game in hand and a vastly superior goal differential. Still, the victory showed remarkable progress by Brentford this season.
This season, Brentford defeated Manchester United, Manchester City and now Liverpool. It also has draws against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Much of Brentford’s success comes at home, with the club on four wins, four draws and a single loss at Brentford Community Stadium. That loss was against Arsenal, too.
Thomas Frank continues to put out clinical tactics against more talented teams. Brentford averages 44% possession per game, and that will go down after the 27% against Liverpool. Still, Brentford is middle of the pack in shots on target per game and goals scored.
No Toney, no problem
More impressively, Brentford put three past Liverpool without one of the league’s best out-and-out scorers. Ivan Toney, out of the game with an injury, is third in the Premier League with 12 goals scored on the campaign.
To be fair, Liverpool has no shortage of injuries, too. Luis Díaz remains out, as do Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino. Finally, Cody Gakpo is not quite set to make his Liverpool debut.
Yet, Toney is perhaps Brentford’s most important player. Toney has a third of Brentford’s goal in the league this season, with four of those coming in Brentford’s last three entering the game against Liverpool. The fact that Brentford could beat a side like Liverpool, and relatively comfortably, speaks volumes to the direction of the Bees under Thomas Frank.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Focus Images
