Liverpool will be on the search for a third league win on the bounce following their return to top flight duty as they visit Brentford on Monday evening in the English capital.
Jurgen Klopp’s men get 2023 underway with their opening game of the new calendar year against Thomas Franke’s west Londoners who have recently put out a great run of results.
A 2-0 win over West Ham United in last week’s London derby meant that Brentford entered the New Year 10th in the league standings as they string together a four-game unbeaten run on home turf in Premier League action ahead of Liverpool making the travels.
The Reds, meanwhile, had to rely upon a pair of own goals from Leicester City’s central defender Wout Faes to secure a 2-1 success at Anfield against the Foxes who took an early lead, with Liverpool’s defensive frailties on the show as has been evident this season, through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Four wins on the bounce in the Premier League has certainly come as a shot in the arm for a Liverpool side that had started the season inconsistently and with injuries piling up in the Anfield camp, Klopp would be delighted to see how his players have responded since the World Cup break got over.
Brentford are yet to emerge as winners over Liverpool since November 1938 and recent outings, barring the 3-3 draw last season, have gone Liverpool’s way including a 3-0 rout of the Bees in January 2022.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Monday 2 January 2022
Time: 6 PM GMT
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
TEAM NEWS
A return to the starting team sheet for Ibrahima Konate is widely tipped to be on the cards following the World Cup runner up making his way back to team training last week.
Konate’s inclusion in the XI could mean that Joel Matip drops down the bench in what should be the sole change to the four-man Liverpool backline.
Fabinho should be reinstated after he missed out on the win over Leicester due to family reasons while skipper Jordan Henderson could be in line for rest.
Curtis Jones and James Milner are closing in on their return from injuries but are not expected to make the matchday squad for the game against Brentford.
KEY BATTLE
Yoane Wissa vs Ibrahima Konate
Brentford are set to miss out on the services of their dangerman Ivon Toney who is not tipped to be a part of the starting XI after picking up a knee issue.
With Toney sidelined, Thomas Franke’s Bees have Yoane Wissa as their most potent threat up top on the pitch who will be looking to make life difficult for the returning Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
The French defender, who was granted an extended break following his World Cup duty with the runners-up France, is set to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Reds defence with the Anfield faithful awaiting his return to club football.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool’s winning streak makes them the strong favourites to clinch the win over the home side Brentford but expect a tightly contested game in west London between these two sides.
Brentford 1-3 Liverpool
