Liverpool felt they’d turned a corner in mid-week when they thumped Frankfurt 5-1 in the UEFA Champions League, but they were brought firmly back down to earth with a bang in West London.
They were undone inside the opening five minutes in the simplest of fashions, as Michael Kayode’s long throw into the area was flicked on by Kristoffer Ajer and thumped in on the volley by Dango Ouattara.
Mohamed Salah came close to an instant response for the Reds, but he was thwarted by former Liverpool stopper Caoimhin Kelleher before Florian Wirtz missed the chance to score his first goal for the Reds when he sliced a half-volley wide.
Brentford weren’t keen to sit on their one-goal lead and continued to probe for some added breathing space. Jordan Henderson whistled an effort wide of the target shortly after the half-hour mark, and as the Bees continued to come forward, Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced to make a stunning one-handed save to deny Mikkel Damsgaard.
Having been denied, Damsgaard turned provider, producing a defence-splitting pass that sent Kevin Schade racing through on goal, and he made no mistake in doubling their advantage.
Keith Andrews’ side didn’t manage to take their 2-0 lead into the break, though. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Milos Kerkez popped up at the far post to sweep home Conor Bradley’s delivery.
The Bees continued in the ascendancy after the break, and after a stunning Mamardashvili save against Damsgaard, Brentford were awarded a controversial penalty when VAR deemed Virgil van Dijk had fouled Ouattara right on the line of the penalty area.
Igor Thiago assumed responsibility from 12 yards and coolly slotted home to restore the Bees’ two-goal cushion, with that his fourth strike in as many matches.
Arne Slot turned to his bench instantly after conceding a third, making four changes in the space of 10 minutes in a desperate bid to get back into the game.
It was one of his mainstays in Salah who gave them a late lifeline when he hammered in off the underside of the bar to end a six-game scoring drought at club level, but that goal arrived too late.
Liverpool have now lost five successive games in London for the first time since 1970, while they stand to lose yet more ground in the title race tomorrow.
It proved to be a famous evening for Brentford, who climbed into the top half with a third win in four PL matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kevin Schade (Brentford)
