The Brentford Community Stadium continues to provoke attacks among visitors, with Liverpool suffering defeat on Monday. Brentford’s victory, another over the traditional ‘big six’, condemned Liverpool to a fifth defeat of the season. That’s three more than he totaled last season when he finished second.
However, despite the 3-1 scoreline, this was much more than just Liverpool’s capitulation to the loss to Brentford. The Bees played magnificently. In fact, there was an argument that Brentford could have scored more than three.
Despite the visitors having 73% of the ball, Brentford managed seven shots on target. That doesn’t include Yoanne Wissa’s two disallowed goals after VAR decisions. However, the Congolese international finally found a goal that he counted in the 42nd minute, and Alisson almost avoided it.
That goal, Brentford’s second, became the eventual winner.
Liverpool is not the first to lose to Brentford
That puts Brentford on 26 points, just two behind these Reds they beat on Monday. Of course, Liverpool have one game less and a much higher goal differential. Still, the win showed remarkable progress on Brentford’s part this season.
This season, Brentford defeated Manchester United, Manchester City and now Liverpool. He also has draws against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Much of Brentford’s success comes at home, with the club to four wins, four draws and just one loss at the Brentford Community Stadium. That loss was also against Arsenal.
Thomas Frank continues to apply clinical tactics against more talented teams. Brentford average 44% possession per game, and that will drop after 27% against Liverpool. Still, Brentford are in the middle of the group in shots on goal per game and goals scored.
No Tony, no problem.
More impressive still, Brentford edged Liverpool by three without one of the league’s all-time best scorers. Ivan Toney, sidelined through injury, is third in the Premier League with 12 goals scored this season.
To be fair, Liverpool aren’t short of injuries either. Luis DÃaz is left out, like Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino. Finally, Cody Gakpo is not quite ready to make his Liverpool debut.
However, Toney is perhaps Brentford’s most important player. Toney has a third of Brentford’s goals in the league this season, with four of them coming in Brentford’s last three before the game against Liverpool. The fact that Brentford could beat a team like Liverpool, and in relative comfort, speaks volumes for the management of the Bees under Thomas Frank.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Focus Images
