The Reds secured their position at the summit by defeating Burnley 3-1 last weekend, while Brentford eased relegation concerns with a 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This match against Wolves marked the fourth encounter between Brentford and Wolves in just two months, leaving Brentford fans perhaps tired of facing the same opponents repeatedly.
However, Brentford managed to exact revenge in their recent clash, with Christian Norgaard's goal putting them in the lead. Despite a disallowed equalizer from Wolves, Ivan Toney sealed the win for Brentford. This victory helped Brentford climb to 14th place in the league, a relief considering their recent struggles.
While Brentford still have a six-point gap from the relegation zone, they have a game in hand over most of the teams below them. Notably, their win over Wolves was crucial defensively, as it marked their first clean sheet in 14 games.
Looking ahead, Brentford will aim to improve their defensive record at home, where they've conceded multiple goals in their last four Premier League matches. However, they've shown attacking prowess at home, with only one of their last 25 home games resulting in them failing to score.
Liverpool, on the other hand, bounced back from a recent defeat to Arsenal with a convincing win against Burnley. With nearly 60,000 fans in attendance, Liverpool demonstrated their attacking prowess, securing a 3-1 victory.
Despite their strong form, Liverpool's away performances have seen them drop 14 points this season. However, they've yet to fail to score in an away game in the current campaign.
While Liverpool comfortably won their last encounter with Brentford at Anfield, Brentford has had success against Liverpool at home in the past. With both teams vying for points, this match promises to be an intriguing clash between two sides with contrasting styles and histories.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Following the match at Molineux, much attention understandably focused on Cunha's serious injury. However, Brentford's Mathias Jensen also had to leave the field in the 69th minute due to injury, though it's reported that his condition isn't believed to be severe.Brentford is set to receive a boost with the return of Yoane Wissa and Frank Onyeka from the Africa Cup of Nations. Onyeka returns with a runners-up medal from Nigeria's loss to Ivory Coast in the final.
Despite these returns, Brentford still has several players unavailable due to injury, including Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Aaron Hickey, and Josh Dasilva, who is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury sustained in training.
Meanwhile, Liverpool could see the return of Mohamed Salah to their attacking lineup this weekend, as he has resumed full training following a muscular injury. Updates on Salah's availability are expected from Klopp's pre-game press conference.
Additionally, Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez have recovered from illness, Ibrahima Konate returns from suspension, and Conor Bradley has returned to training after missing time due to personal reasons.
However, Liverpool faces defensive concerns with Trent Alexander-Arnold sustaining another knee injury against Burnley. It's anticipated that he will be sidelined until after the EFL Cup final on February 25th.
Alexander-Arnold joins Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, and Dominik Szoboszlai on the injury list, with Szoboszlai also being doubtful for the upcoming trip to Wembley.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Brentford possible starting lineup:Flekken; Collins, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Janelt, Jensen, Norgaard, Reguilon; Toney, Maupay
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Endo, Mac Allister; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
EXPERT PREDICTION
Brentford 1-3 Liverpool
While Liverpool's defensive performances have been criticized lately, they are expected to come out on top this time at the Gtech Community Stadium. This victory would help them solidify their position at the top of the table.
