Liverpool finally shook off the burden of four consecutive losses in all competitions with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Frankfurt midweek, and hopefully that result will inspire the team to secure their first Premier League victory in over a month on Saturday.
Brentford are typically tricky opponents, so what will the Reds need to do to secure all three points in London?
1. Post a clean sheet
Keeping a clean sheet on Saturday feels absolutely essential, given Liverpool have managed just two in eight Premier League games this season.
Holding a home side goalless is never easy, but since Brentford have shown only middling attacking form—ranking ninth in the league with 11 goals—the Reds should feel confident about keeping the Bees off the scoresheet if their back line stays solid.
Virgil van Dijk has been a constant source of reliability this season, and while Ibrahima Konaté’s performances have fluctuated greatly, his goal and overall solid showing against Frankfurt should give the Frenchman a boost to deliver another strong display versus Brentford.
It would be surprising if Slot altered the successful fullback pairing from the aforementioned Champions League match.
That means Andrew Robertson, who played a brilliant ball to Hugo Ekitike and has looked sharp going forward, will need to tighten his markings to make a greater impact defensively this time out.
The Scotsman has been caught ball-watching at the back post on both Chelsea’s late winner and Frankfurt’s lone goal, and Slot will likely need to rely on his veteran presence to help keep the back four steady.
Lastly, while Giorgi Mamardashvili hasn’t been directly at fault for recent goals conceded, earning his first clean sheet as a Red would go a long way toward helping him settle on Merseyside.
It would also be encouraging to see him grow more vocal and commanding—traits Alisson has long embodied—confidently directing his defense and taking more initiative in playing progressive passes forward.
Brentford certainly have quality that can’t be overlooked, but if Liverpool are to end their poor league run, a win accompanied by a clean sheet would do wonders for restoring this group’s belief moving forward.
2. Trust Florian Wirtz to command the midfield
Like the back four, I expect the recent midfield trio of Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Florian Wirtz to start again following their excellent display vs. Frankfurt as Ryan Gravenberch continues to recover from a knock.
While Alexis Mac Allister was Liverpool’s all-purpose midfielder last season, he’s struggled to find form so far this campaign, paving the way for Florian Wirtz to occupy the No. 10 role at Gtech Community Stadium.
The marquee signing finally delivered a pair of long-awaited goal contributions back in his home country on Wednesday, and after achieving what must have been a major relief, I expect Wirtz to follow it up with another commanding performance.
Beyond his two assists against Frankfurt, Wirtz showcased the elite vision Liverpool fans anticipated upon his arrival.
He completed 89% of his passes, connecting on both of his long-ball attempts, and creating four chances. It was the type of display supporters should get used to seeing.
Wirtz won’t have to shoulder the midfield work alone, either.
With Curtis Jones setting a club record for most completed passes in a Champions League match (122) and Dominik Szoboszlai contributing a goal and an assist in a dual standout performance vs. Frankfurt, the German can count on both in-form teammates to provide steady support as he looks to create more chances for the frontline.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Wirtz chasing his first goal, either. He very feasibly could have found the back of the net on Wednesday if not for a bit of selfish play from Mo Salah (more on him in a moment), and he’s shown a clear eagerness to push into the final third—an instinct that could easily pay off against Brentford.
Now that the overblown criticism of such a young player can finally be put to rest, Wirtz looks ready to become the midfield maestro FSG invested so heavily in.
3. Keep Mohamed Salah on a short leash
Arne Slot faces a tough decision: start Mohamed Salah or bench him for a second straight match. I think Salah deserves another chance to find his rhythm and remind everyone why he’s been the face of the club for so long.
However, as painful as it is to admit, if his first-half display falls flat again, he’ll need to be pulled.
Salah is going through arguably his most challenging spell at the club, having failed to score in his last six matches and producing some notably costly misses, including against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Now that the albatross of four straight losses has been lifted, perhaps this will inspire Salah and help him regain the confidence he’s lacked this season.
But if he isn’t showing his usual marauding quality after 45 minutes, Federico Chiesa would be more than justified in coming on as his replacement.
The Italian may not have recorded a goal involvement in Germany, but the attack remained fluid after he came on for Alexander Isak—unlike Salah, who tended to force things a bit vs. Frankfurt.
Granted, the match was settled by the time the Egyptian was introduced, but he must play for the team rather than himself if he’s to start against Brentford.
Especially considering Chiesa has just one fewer league goal involvement than Salah despite playing roughly one-tenth of the minutes, it’s hard to imagine Slot hasn’t noticed.
I’ve praised the skipper’s faith in continuing to deploy a player who essentially delivered last season’s title, but it’s reaching a point where Mo may soon be viewed more as a rotation option than a guaranteed starter.
It’s tough to watch a club icon and my personal favorite player enter a period where his seemingly superhuman consistency has begun to waver.
But if Salah truly wants to help Liverpool win another title, he’ll either rediscover his usual form on Saturday; or, he’ll have to accept whatever decision Slot deems best for the team.