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:
Liverpool vs Brentford
The players are out on the pitch and gather around the centre circle for the national anthem following the coronation of King Charles III earlier in the day. As we expected, it’s met with a mixture of boos and chants from the Liverpool fans in the ground
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-1 Leeds
Nobody is ahead of Sam Allardyce. Not Jurgen Klopp, not Mikel Arteta and not Pep Guardiola. Or so argued Allardyce, anyway. A game into his comeback, just maybe Guardiola is slightly ahead of him.
The scoreline suggested as much, the match – as one-sided as a 2-1 can get – indicated they are separated by a gulf, in ambition and skill, in ability in possession and footballing philosophy. But, given the inferior players at his disposal and the difficulties he inherited, a man of Allardyce’s immense self-confidence may feel it supports his case they are equals.
Read Richard Jolly’s report from the Etihad Stadium:
Sam Allardyce as good as Pep Guardiola? Man City show they are separated by a gulf
Manchester City 2-1 Leeds: Rodrigo pulled a goal back late on to give the Premier League leaders a nervy ending, but this was as one-sided as a 2-1 can get
Liverpool vs Brentford - key stats
- Liverpool have lost just one of their 10 home meetings with Brentford in all competitions (W7 D2), winning the last six in a row since a 4-3 loss in November 1937 in the top-flight.
- Brentford have won their last two Premier League games. They’re looking to win three in a row for the first time since January, which included a 3-1 victory over Liverpool.
- Brentford have won just two of their 14 Premier League games against sides in the top five of the table (D5 L7), though both of these victories came away from home (4-1 v Chelsea in April 2022, and 2-1 at Man City in November this season).
Klopp speaking to Sky Sports
“Coaching all of a sudden is a joy again. We had nothing to lose a few weeks ago and started something new. Since then it is going well.
“We are not there - not even close. We know that. We have to learn a lot and improve a lot, and we have to keep going.”
Liverpool vs Brentford
For Liverpool, it’s three changes from their 1-0 win against Fulham. Robertson comes back in for Tsimikas at left-back while Gakpo and Jota return to the forward line. Henderson and Diaz drop to the bench.
Frank makes two changes to his Brentford side after their 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest as they move to a back five. Zanka comes into defence and Onyeka into central midfield with Damsgaard and Schade making way.
Liverpool vs Brentford
We now turn out attention to Merseyside as Liverpool host Brentford. A reminder of the line-ups:
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Nunez
Brentford XI: Raya; Hickey, Zanka, Mee, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen, Janelt, Onyeka; Mbeumo, Toney
Around the grounds
Elsewhere in the 3 pm kick-offs, Frank Lampard got his first win since returning to Chelsea with a 3-1 away victory against Bournemouth.
There were also 1-0 wins for Tottenham against Crystal Palace and for Wolves versus Aston Villa.
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-1 Leeds
With that win, City move four points clear at the top of the Premier League and are now unbeaten in 20 games in all competitions.
For Leeds, they remain above the drop only on goal difference. Nottingham Forest and Everton play on Monday, both with the chance to move above Leeds and out of the relegation zone.
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-1 Leeds
It’s nowhere near as comfortable as City would have liked in the end but it’s three points nevertheless with a 2-1 win against Leeds. A first-half brace from Gundogan in the first half set City on their way and they could have had more but Haaland failed to convert several good chances.
City should have moved 3-0 when Foden was hauled down in the 84th minute but Gundogan would hit the post with his effort from the spot.
And Leeds, who barely threatened throughout the encounter, then provided a late scare for the hosts after Rodrigo fired home less than a minute later.
City held on, though, and it’s another step closer to the Premier League title for Guardiola’s side.
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