Brentford is currently in 14th place on the league table, with a lead of 6 points over the relegation zone. The team has not performed too well this season, but in their previous outing, they managed to secure a victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, beating them 2-0 away. On the other hand, Liverpool has bounced back after a disappointing loss to Arsenal, and has easily overcome bottom-placed Burnley 3-1 at Anfield. Liverpool’s win has helped them maintain their first place on the table, extending their impressive run of the campaign and putting them 2 points ahead of the defending champions, Manchester City.
In the first round of the fixture between Brentford and Liverpool, it was Jürgen Klopp’s side who emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline in November. They will be hoping to secure a double win over the London club. Meanwhile, the hosts will hope to make the most of their home advantage.
When and Where?
Date: Saturday, 17 February, 2024.
Time: 12:30 pm BST
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Assistants: Stuart Burt & Dan Cook
Fourth official: Graham Scott
VAR official: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Tim Wood
Team news
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The hosts will miss the services of Bryan Mbeumo, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, and Josh Dasilva, as all of them will remain sidelined and out of selection for the fixture.
The visitors will also be without some of their key players, including long-term absentees Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, and Stefan Bajcetic. Fresh concerns will sideline Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Match Analysis
Thomas Frank is likely to opt for the usual 3-5-2 formation against Liverpool, with Mark Flekken starting in goal. The three-man defensive combination will feature Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, and Ben Mee. In midfield, a congested five-man setup will see Mads Roerslev and Sergio Reguilon on wingback duties, while Mathias Jensen will partner with the duo of Christian Norgaard and Vitaly Janelt in the center. Upfront, skipper Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay are expected to lead the attacking line for the team.
Jurgen Klopp is managing his last season with Liverpool, and is sticking to their attacking 4-3-3 lineup, with star shot-stopper Alisson Becker set to return in goal. In the backline, Connor Bradley will step in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the reliable Scotsman, Andy Robertson, at left-back. The center-back pairing will feature Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Curtis Jones are expected to hold the fort. The attacking trio will see Darwin Nunez as the striker, flanked by Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz on the wings.
KEY PLAYERS
Ivan Toney
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The 27-year-old seems unstoppable when it comes to finding the back of the net, boasting an excellent scoring touch with three goals in all of his previous four Premier League outings. Despite missing half of the season due to a prolonged suspension, he has hit the ground running. Toney would be eager to leverage his attacking prowess to make a significant impact for his side.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Brentford’s predicted lineup: Flekken; Collins, Pinnock, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay
Liverpool’s predicted lineup: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
