Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and reaction from fixture today
Follow all the latest updates in the Premier League this afternoon at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp burst towards the Kop, furiously fist-pumping to illustrate the importance of victory against Brentford. This wasn’t a blockbuster game, nor blockbuster opponents but Liverpool’s manager knows the fight and three points can be vital signs for the rest of the season.
A first win in four league matches came on his 350th outing in charge of the club, catapulting them above Chelsea in second, but it wasn’t without heaps of toil.
Virgil van Dijk kissed Fabinho’s head, a symbol of relief as Anfield broke into rapture. They had probed and probed some more. They had come close and then started to come unstuck as Brentford began to show aggression beyond defensive resistance in their own box.
Finally, on 44 minutes, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner had evaded the visitors’ defiance and was headed in at the back post by Fabinho. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino wrapped up the win in the second half.
Follow all the match reaction and analysis from Anfield, plus reaction from West Ham vs Leeds below:
Liverpool rediscover scoring touch to sweep past Brentford and move up to second
Jurgen Klopp reveals ‘long talk’ with Curtis Jones over his potential at Liverpool
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp learns useful lesson from Arsenal stalemate
Jurgen Klopp looking for Liverpool ‘solution’ in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s absence
Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
54 mins: Nice work from Shandon Baptiste to bring the ball across the pitch for Brentford. He shakes off two attempted tackles and carries the ball into the right side of Liverpool’s final third before flicking a cross into the box. Alisson comes out to claim the ball and plucks it out of the air before it drops to Bryan Mbeumo.
GOAL! West Ham 2 - 2 Leeds⚽️
52 mins: West Ham are level again after a fine goal from Pablo Fornals. The ball came up the pitch to Michail Antonio who brought it down and held off the Leeds centre-backs before sliding a pass into the box for Fornals. He brings the ball into a more central area from the left and then coolly slots home with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
51 mins: It’s an early change for Thomas Frank and Brentford. Rico Henry seems to have taken a knock and gets replaced with Sergi Canos. It may be a forced substitution but could work out for the Bees. Canos is a more naturally attacking player and will work hard to get the ball into Liverpool’s final third.
Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
48 mins: A wild, early chance for Alexander-Arnold who latches onto a half clearance from Brentford and boots a long-ranged effort well over the crossbar. The Liverpool right-back has been impressive today but that wasn’t one of his better efforts.
Henderson makes a run over to the right of the Brentford penalty area. He’s fed the ball and whips a cross into the six-yard box. Jota is waiting for it but the pass evades him and is claimed by Fernandez in goal.
Second half: Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
Kick off: We’re back underway at Anfield. There hasn’t been any changes from either manager. Jordan Henderson kicks off the second half for Liverpool. As things stand the Reds are moving up to second in the table. Can Brentford earn themselves an equaliser?
Rafa Benitez sacked by Everton
Under Rafael Benítez, Everton earned just 19 points in 19 Premier League matches, their lowest tally at the halfway stage of a season since 2005-06 (17).
The Toffees lost nine of their final 12 league matches under the Spaniard.
Rafa Benitez sacked by Everton
Some breaking news coming out of the Premier League: Everton have parted ways with manager Rafa Benitez. In a statement released on the club’s website they said:
“Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as First Team manager. Benitez, who joined Everton in June 2021, has left the Club with immediate effect.
“An update on a permanent replacement will be made in due course.”
Benitez joined the club in June 2021 and led the Toffees to nine defeats in their last 12 games.
Everton sack Rafa Benitez as manager after only six and a half months in charge
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss was unable to turn around the club’s fortunes
Tottenham vs Arsenal: Premier League in a mess over Covid postponements amid Tottenham fury
When Tottenham Hotspur learned that their match against Arsenal was off, there was “fury” within the club. That comes across in a strong statement, of which the stand-out line is this: “We may now be seeing the unintended consequences of this rule.”
Many will be furiously nodding their head. The argument being made around much of the game is that this is “a mess”.
There is some irony to the fact that the announcement of the postponement was delayed so as not to distract from another televised game, just as that match was pretty much finishing the title race.
Premier League in a mess over Covid postponements amid Tottenham fury
As Spurs called for ‘clarity and consistency’ from the Premier League on its rules, there appears to be no easy solution to solve the growing discontent in the top flight
Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
Fabinho’s goal gives Liverpool the lead at half-time. It’s been hard work for Brentford who have been forced to defend deep in their own half. Ivan Toney and Vitaly Janelt have had a couple of shots from range but the Bees haven’t offered much else in front of goal.
Half-time: Liverpool 1 - 0 Brentford
45 mins: Liverpool take a one goal lead into half-time at Anfield. Fabinho scoring right at the end of the half. It’s a deserved one though as Liverpool have been thoroughly dominant in the opening 45 minutes. Brentford had a decent 10 minute period just before the goal but they’ve been penned into their own half too often to challenge the Liverpool goal.
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