Arne Slot will make his highly anticipated debut at Anfield on Sunday when Liverpool host Brentford to conclude Matchday 2 of the Premier League, hoping to join the ranks of 2-0 rivals Arsenal, Brighton and Manchester City.
WATCH LIVERPOOL vs BRENTFORD LIVE
Slot replaced legendary manager Jürgen Klopp in the summer, ending a nine-year reign that saw the Reds win five major trophies – two League Cups, an FA Cup and one each in the UEFA Champions League and Premier League. The bar has been raised for Slot, who ended his tenure at Liverpool with a 2-0 away win at newly promoted Ipswich Town last weekend.
Brentford were also victorious and quite impressive in their 2024-25 season opener, A new era began for them with a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace — after Ivan Toney. Bees boss Thomas Frank announced before kick-off that his star striker, whose contract expires at the end of this season, had been taken out of the team to pursue a transfer to Saudi club Al-Ahli. Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa then led the attack with a goal each to take three points.
How to watch Liverpool vs Brentford Stream link and start time
Start: 11:30 a.m. ET, Sunday (August 25)
stadium: Anfield
On-line: Watch live on Peacock
Liverpool team news, focus
Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota got on the scoresheet in the opening game, but the Reds didn’t look good until the second half. They had just three shots in the first half (all from outside the box – 0.09 xG overall) before firing 15 shots in the second 45 minutes (2.56 xG) and scoring twice. The slow start wasn’t too surprising given that five of Liverpool’s 11 regulars had only played once each in pre-season following EURO 2024 and the Copa America, nor was the explosion of quality and goal threat once they sorted out the issues.
Brentford team news, focus
- OUT: Igor Thiago (knee), Josh Dasilva (knee), Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh)
Toney has been a done deal for some time, with the Premier League’s top clubs frequently eyeing the now 28-year-old and Toney making no real attempt to hide his desire to move to a bigger club where he would obviously earn more. Mbeumo and Wissa showed last season that they can carry a lot of the load, with a combined 21 goals and 9 assists, with Toney and Kevin Schade suspended and injured for half the season respectively. Brazilian striker Igor Thiago subsequently signed for a club-record $39 million this summer and made a good start to pre-season before suffering a torn meniscus. Now the 23-year-old is expected to be out until the end of 2024. Fabio Carvalho is the next to break up the Mbeumo-Schade-Wissa trio, having left Liverpool for $35 million. At Brentford, it always seems to be “next man up”.
Liverpool vs Brentford prediction
Liverpool’s midfield and defence will be tested in a way that Ipswich could not and would not, and it will be interesting to see how they deal with Brentford’s relentless pressing. The game has all the makings of an instant classic. Liverpool – Brentford 3:2.
