English Premier
2024-02-17 - Brentford vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 17th February 2024 - Kick Off 12:30pm
This game is live on TV
Brentford
The results were becoming increasingly difficult to find and Brentford were slumping towards the relegation zone so the 0-2 win at Wolves last weekend could prove to be a huge result for Thomas Frank and his players. Ivan Toney underlined the reason Brentford could not afford to let him leave him in the January transfer window and the three points secured at Molineux have just given Brentford a little buffer to the bottom three.
They are now 6 points clear of Everton in 18th place in the Premier League table and Brentford do have a game in hand, albeit at Manchester City. The manager will be well aware that Brentford need to secure a few more points yet if they are going to be planning for another campaign in the top flight and The Bees will be looking for the majority of those to be earned at home. The side have a 4-3-5 record at the Gtech Community Stadium this season.
Brentford are out of both the League Cup and FA Cup and so the Premier League is the only focus for the players, but they had lost 7 of 8 League games before the win at Molineux. They have lost 4 of their last 7 home Premier League games too, although the exceptions have been wins for Brentford over Luton Town and Nottingham Forest, two of the teams below them in the current League table.
Aaron Hickey and Kevin Schade may both miss the rest of February with injury. Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa had strong African Cup of Nations tournaments, although both fell short of lifting the trophy, and should be available for selection.
Liverpool
An illness removed some of the options available for Jurgen Klopp last weekend, but the Liverpool squad always looked to have too much for a struggling Burnley team. Mental pressure had been put on the Liverpool players by Manchester City, who had won earlier in the day, but the team responded and this weekend they have a chance to play before the defending Champions.
With a 2 point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League table, this feel like a big opportunity for Liverpool to really try and build some pressure hours before City play host to Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp will mainly be focusing on his side improving their 6-4-2 away record in the Premier League, especially as Liverpool failed to win their last game on their travels.
Liverpool have reached the League Cup Final and the FA Cup Fifth Round over the last few weeks and they have won 5 of their last 6 Premier League games following the 3-1 victory over Burnley, However, they were beaten 3-1 at Arsenal earlier this month and that result snapped a run of 4 away Premier League victories in a row for The Reds.
Both Alisson and Joe Gomez missed out with an illness last weekend, but should be fit ahead of this early kick off. Trent Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn at half time last weekend with a knock and is a doubt, while Conor Bradley is still grieving the passing of his father and could be given more time out of the limelight. Mo Salah is edging closer to a return, but may have to wait a few more days before getting back into the thick of the action. Ibrahima Konate is back from a suspension.
Head to Head
Liverpool beat Brentford 3-0 at Anfield in November, but it was a far more competitive game than the final scoreline may reflect.
Last season, Brentford crushed Liverpool 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford scored the opening goal in September 2021 when hosting Liverpool too, but had to fight back twice in an eventual 3-3 draw.
Prediction
In a tight title race, many ex-pros would suggest that playing first is an advantage...
As long as you can keep winning!
Last weekend Liverpool lost their lead of the Premier League table when Manchester City won the early game on Saturday, but they responded with a 3-1 win over Burnley to move back to the summit.
This weekend they get to play first, although this looks a tough test of their title credentials, and Jurgen Klopp will be looking for his players to lay down the gauntlet to Manchester City and Arsenal. The defending Champions look the bigger threat with a game in hand, but all Liverpool can do is win here and move 5 points clear of both of those teams who play later on the same day.
Winning at the Gtech Community Stadium has been tough for many teams, but Liverpool have yet to do that here.
Brentford's recent form has been sketchy, although they may come into this fixture in a much better frame of mind having secured a clean sheet and the three points at Molineux last weekend. Thomas Frank will know his team still needs to do more if they are going to avoid being dragged back into the relegation fight, but it is a victory that will have everyone sitting a bit more comfortably.
Last time out here, Brentford led against Manchester City before wilting in the second half and they will feel they can cause problems for this Liverpool team.
In more than half of their away games played in the Premier League, Liverpool have conceded first so Brentford may feel they can get on top in this one. Of course the attacking qualities of Liverpool have seen them fight back for wins at Newcastle United, Wolves and Crystal Palace when doing so, but the home fans will be looking for a fast start.
Prior to the defeat at Arsenal, Liverpool had won 4 away Premier League games in a row and kept clean sheets in 3 of those, but they were given a test by the likes of Bournemouth.
Both teams scoring really would not be a surprise with that in mind, but Brentford are still a touch vulnerable at the back and that is expected to be on display in the early kick off.
Liverpool have shown they can find the spaces to exploit, even without Mohamed Salah, and the suggestion is that they will win a relatively high-scoring game in West London to set the marker to the other title chasing teams in the top flight.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Brentford 1-3 Liverpool
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Liverpool to Win & Over 1 Total Goal (Bet Builder) at 1.72 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
