Brentford wrote another incredible chapter in their Premier League history after registering a famous first win over Liverpool since 1938, as Ibrahima Konate’s own goal and strikes from Yoan Visa and Brian Mbeumo sealed a remarkable 3-1 win.
Konate suffered the same fate as Leicester’s Wout Feys on Friday night, inadvertently turning the ball into his own net for the opener (19) before Wisa deservedly doubled the hosts’ lead from Matthias Jensen’s cross (42).
Liverpool went into action after the break, following a dramatic triple substitution by Jurgen Klopp that saw Virgil van Dijk withdrawn, resulting in a change in form and a brief reversal of fortunes.
Image: Brentford players celebrate after going ahead against Liverpool
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, breathing new life into his Reds career, headed beyond David Rya from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint pass (50) but Brentford withstood the rest of Liverpool’s half-hearted pressure, ending any hope of amazing comeback.
“After two super intense games, it didn’t look like the belief was there anymore,” admitted Klopp after their fifth defeat of the season.
Mbeumo brought the gloss to the historic triumph seven minutes from time, dispossessing the limp Konate of the ball before effortlessly slotting over Alisson.
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Highlights from Brentford’s 3-1 win against Liverpool in the Premier League
The Bees are taking advantage of Liverpool’s defensive weaknesses
Image: Ibrahima Konate’s own goal was the first time Brentford had benefited from an own goal in a Premier League home game
The writing was on the wall when an exasperated Klopp replaced Van Dijk at half-time, opting to revert to a back three to chase down a 2-0 lead, although the damage had already been done.
Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings were exposed against a Brentford side who, without goalscorer Ivan Toney, tore the Reds’ flailing backline to shreds with their sharp counter-attacking style.
Konate’s own goal was the luck they needed as Mbeumo’s corner went past Alisson at his near post, through the France international’s shin – the first time Brentford had benefited from an own goal in 28 home Premier League games.
Team news
- Brentford: Ivan Toni was missing as he has not recovered from the knee injury he picked up at West Ham on Friday.
- Liverpool: Jordan Henderson is out, but Fabinho is back in the starting line-up.
Passes from the flanks continued to cause havoc during a particularly dominant first half, where Brentford’s Wisa put the ball into the net twice before his third attempt was successful, curling a superb header just over the line from Jensen’s cross. Liverpool protested but Stuart Atwell’s wristwatch signaled that the ball had crossed the line completely.
The hapless Nunes, who added significantly to his growing catalog of missed opportunities in front of goal, looked to have reduced the arrears shortly after the break, beating Raya in a one-on-one, only for VAR to adjudge him offside – the Uruguayan missed more ” big chances’ (15) than any other player in the division this season. “Darwin cost us chances,” admitted Klopp after the game.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did pounce moments later, but it was Mbeumo who had the final say as he teed up Konate to score his fourth goal of the campaign.
Brentford can add their Liverpool scalp to their shock 4-0 win over Manchester United in August and their 2-1 triumph at champions Manchester City in November, with manager Thomas Frank saying “it’s right up there” in terms of of the most satisfying victories of his four-year tenure.
Klopp laments fading belief
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Jurgen Klopp reacted to Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat by Brentford and questioned referee Stuart Atwell’s decision to disallow Brian Mbeumo’s goal as he felt the striker clearly pushed Ibrahima Konate in the back.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“Of course I’m not happy [with set-piece defending] – we’ll have to look at it backwards – the two corners they scored, one was an offside or whatever and the other. Of course, we don’t behave perfectly, but like I said, they stretch the rules in these moments, they really push, they really hold and everything.
“We should have played better – through set pieces, Brentford always have the chance to create havoc. They do it well. I respect that.
“It’s not a top-class game but we still had chances. The second goal is a gift to Brentford, which I’m very angry about. It’s not a great feeling. It’s not that we didn’t fight in the end, we’re responsible for the defeat.
“The defense around the second goal didn’t surprise me, it’s just not right. The second goal we should have defended better, that’s it. Brentford have all my respect. You have to use all your options.
“After two super intense games, it didn’t look like the belief was there anymore.”
Frank: It shouldn’t be possible to beat Liverpool
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Thomas Frank spoke on the pitch with Dave Jones, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after Brentford’s 3-1 win against Liverpool and praised his players for their performance and said they continue to impress him.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank:
“These players keep surprising me. They continue to impress me with mentality, effort and will as a group. Somehow it shouldn’t be possible for Brentford to beat Liverpool. But with everything together we managed to do this.
“Standards, we know, we are good. Against Liverpool they are very successful, but it is no secret that we can get behind them. The way we defend ourselves is incredible. Clear structure, but courage to reach high sometimes.
“Konate is a big boy and pretty strong – in a duel with Bryan [Mbeumo] I’d back Konate to win this nine out of 10 times. Well done Brian.
“We are confident but humble. We have to have confidence that we can beat any team in the world. We are very difficult to break down. The second goal is a good example of that, we are brave and aggressive.
“It’s so impressive that we were able to win [without Ivan Toney].”
What next?
Saturday, January 14, 5:00 p.m. Start at 5:30 p.m
Brentford are back in action on January 14, hosting Bournemouth live on Sky Sports, kick-off at 5.30pm, while Liverpool next face Brighton and Hove Albion on the same day, with a slightly earlier kick-off of 3pm.
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