Liverpool travel to Brentford on Wednesday evening with the aim of moving within one point of the top four in the Premier League. The Reds, who currently sit in sixth place, have not had the best start to the season but have recently found their form with four consecutive wins. Their opponents, Brentford, are 10th in the league and are unbeaten in their last five games.
New signing Cody Gakpo could make his official debut for Liverpool on Wednesday. The Dutch winger joined the club from PSV Eindhoven in the summer and has been impressive in his limited appearances thus far. He will be hoping to make an impact and help Liverpool to victory at Brentford.
Brentford, on the other hand, will be led by top scorer Ivan Toney. The striker has found the back of the net 12 times in the league so far and will be a key player for the home side. Brentford will also be boosted by the return of Henrik Dalsgaard, who has missed the last two games due to injury.
Liverpool’s defense will have to be on alert to stop Toney and Brentford’s attack. The Reds have conceded 14 goals so far this season, the third highest in the top half of the league. However, they will have the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Nathaniel Phillips to help shore up the defense.
In midfield, Liverpool will rely on the creativity of Thiago Alcantara and the industry of Fabinho. The duo have formed a solid partnership in the center of the pitch and will be crucial in controlling the game for the Reds. On the wings, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold will look to provide the attacking threat and provide service to the front line.
Up front, Mohamed Salah will be the main man for Liverpool. The Egyptian forward has scored seven goals in the league so far and will be eager to add to his tally on Wednesday. He will be supported by Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota, both of whom have also found the back of the net on several occasions this season.
Brentford, meanwhile, are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with David Raya in goal. The defense will consist of Mads Bech Sorensen, Ethan Pinnock, and Pontus Jansson, while Rico Henry, Mathias Jensen, and Tarique Fosu will operate in midfield. Toney and Bryan Mbeumo will lead the attack.
Overall, this should be an entertaining and closely contested match between two sides who have had strong starts to the season. Liverpool will be the favorites given their quality and experience, but Brentford will be no pushovers and will be eager to cause an upset.