Liverpool vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Mohamed Salah winner
Liverpool 1-0 Brentford: Mohamed Salah’s early goal helped the Reds move a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who have two games in hand
An early goal by Mohamed Salah was enough to give Liverpool a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford on Saturday that keeps the pressure on fierce rivals Manchester United in the hunt for Champions League football next season.
Their sixth league win in a row left the Merseysiders in fifth spot on 62 points, one behind fourth-placed United, but the Red Devils have two games in hand over Liverpool. Brentford are ninth on 50 points.
Before the game got underway, the Liverpool fans loudly booed, whistled and chanted their team’s name as the national anthem was played to mark the coronation of King Charles in London earlier on Saturday.
Brentford strung five across the back in an effort to thwart Liverpool’s array of attacking riches, but they still went behind in the 13th minute as Virgil van Dijk headed Fabinho’s cross back for Salah to bundle home his 100th goal at Anfield.
Bryan Mbeumo out-sprinted and out-muscled Van Dijk to fire home in the 40th minute for Brentford, but the flag went up for a marginal offside that was confirmed by VAR and the goal was disallowed.
Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo both wasted good chances to increase Liverpool’s lead, but with Brentford only managing a single shot on target, Salah’s goal proved enough for the home side to claim the victory.
Relive the day’s action after Liverpool defeated Brentford and Man City returned to the top against Leeds:
Man City vs Leeds - the return of Sam Allardyce
Today also sees the return of ‘Big Sam’ to the Premier League. The 68-year-old hasn’t been seen in the dugout since May 2021 after he left his role as manager of West Brom. He was unable to keep them up that season but the Leeds hierarchy will be hoping for a different outcome this time around with just four games to go.
One thing is for sure, he certainly is confident:
Sam Allardyce claims he’s as good as Guardiola and Klopp: ‘Nobody ahead of me’
Sam Allardyce claimed he is as good a manager as Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta as he was unveiled as the new Leeds boss on Wednesday. “I might be 68 and look old but there’s nobody ahead of me in football terms,” the former England manager said. “Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta. So it’s all there with me... they do what they do and I do what I do.” Allardyce, who will take charge of Leeds until the end of the season, has been tasked with keeping them in the Premier League. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Man City vs Leeds - starting line-ups
We’ll have to wait until the teams come out but it’s most likely that 18-year-old Rico Lewis will partner Gundogan in the centre of midfield, fulfilling the role that John Stones has done so well these last few months.
For Leeds, the big note is the return of Joel Robles in goal. Meslier has endured a tough couple of weeks in between the sticks but today’s game will be Robles’ first start in the Premier League since May 21st 2017 when he played for Everton in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
The Spaniard signed for Leeds in the summer from Real Betis and has only started a couple of cup games this season.
Man City vs Leeds - starting line-ups
A few changes for both sides then.
Guardiola, perhaps with an eye on the Real Madrid game on Tuesday, makes seven changes. Ederson comes back in for Ortega in goal while Laporte, Lewis and Akanji come into defence replacing Dias, Walker and Stones. Rodri, Silva and Grealish also move to the bench with Foden, Gundogan and the returning De Bruyne starting for City.
Allardyce makes four changes as he names his first Leeds line-up. Robles starts in goal as Meslier is moved to the bench while Firpo and Wober start in defence instead of Cooper and Koch. The final change sees Forshaw come into central midfield with Summerville dropping to the bench.
Man City vs Leeds - starting line-ups
Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland.
Man City subs: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Grealish, Rodri, Silva, Gomez.
Leeds XI: Robles, Kristensen, Wober, Firpo, Ayling, McKennie, Forshaw, Roca, Harrison, Bamford, Gnonto.
Leeds subs: Meslier, Koch, Aaronson, Summerville, Rodrigo, Stuijk, Rutter, Greenwood, Gray.
Elsewhere in the Premier League
We have three other 3 pm kick-offs today alongside Man City vs Leeds.
Tottenham look to bounce back after their agonising 4-3 last-minute defeat against Liverpool as they host Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. A win today would move Ryan Mason’s side up into sixth before Brighton’s game on Monday.
Aston Villa sit a place below Spurs but on the same amount of points as they look to regain momentum in their title charge after a 1-0 loss to Manchester United. They travel to Wolves who need one more win to reach 40 points and essentially guarantee Premier League safety.
And finally, on the south coast, Bournemouth host Chelsea with Frank Lampard still searching for his first win since his return to the club as caretaker manager after Graham Potter’s sacking.
Why is Man City vs Leeds on TV today?
Manchester City’s Premier League match against Leeds United is still set to be broadcast on television despite being moved to a 3pm kick-off on a Saturday.
The fixture, originally scheduled for Sunday May 7, has been brought forward a day because of City’s first-leg Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Tuesday May 9.
The clash was scheduled to be shown on Sky Sports and that remains the case despite it now being in the Saturday afternoon blackout period.
Why is Man City vs Leeds on TV today?
An extreme set of circumstances have prompted the relaxing of the blackout subject to consultation with stakeholders
Man City vs Leeds - predicted lineups
We should have team news in around 20 minutes but here are the predicted starting XI’s. City face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday so Pep Guardiola may have one eye on that with his team today.
Today is Sam Allardyce’s first game in the Leeds dugout, but with little time on the grass with his new team, the veteran manager may opt against wholesale changes from Leeds’ last game.
Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Foden, Gundogan, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland.
Leeds Predicted XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Roca, McKennie, Forshaw; Summerville, Rodrigo, Gnonto
Man City vs Leeds early teams news
Kevin De Bruyne has missed Manchester City’s last two games but is expected to return to the squad. Pep Guardiola opted to rotate a little against West Ham, but Ederson should return in goal and Phil Foden could press for a first start since returning from a medical procedure.
Sam Allardyce’s fresh eyes could prompt changes for Leeds, who remain without Luis Sinisterra, Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper and Tyler Adams. The new manager has also said that there are a few niggles with which to contend.
Man City vs Leeds
Odds
Manchester City win 2/11
Draw 8/1
Leeds win 18/1
Prediction
Sam Allardyce should immediately tighten Leeds up defensively, but Manchester City should still win in relative comfort. Manchester City 2-0 Leeds
Man City vs Leeds
Manchester City vs Leeds is due to kick off at 3pm BST on Saturday 6 May at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage from 2pm BST. Subscribers can stream the game via the Sky Go app.
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