'It's going to be a challenge,' Arne Slot says ahead of Liverpool's first home game.

2024-09-15

Liverpool host Brentford at Anfield this Sunday, with both sides aiming to build on their strong starts to the Premier League season in an enticing clash of form and strategy.

Liverpool

Arne Slot got off to a flying start on his first day on the job in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over newly promoted Ipswich Town. Diogo Jota (60’) and Mohamed Salah (65’) were on the score sheet as Liverpool handed the Tractor Boys a bitter harvest.

Slot is now looking to pick up back-to-back Premier League victories and a first win on home turf when they host Brentford on Match Day 2. "Looking forward to it, but I'm looking forward to every game I've played in the past as a manager and also to this one," he said.

While hoping to start their Premier League campaign with two opening wins for the first time since 2021/22, an impressive home record will leave Slot confident of seeing his side pick up maximum points. "They [Brentford] played a real good first game, as well as a good pre-season, so it's going to be a challenge for us to play them on Sunday," he said in a pre-match press conference.

Liverpool have only lost two of their last 61 home games (46W, 13D, 2L). In addition, the Reds are on a five-game winning run against Brentford and will look to keep six consecutive home shutouts against the Bees, having picked up a clean sheet in five such games in a row.

A 4-2-3-1 with Diogo Jota in attack is expected. Darwin Núñez, who failed to come off the bench last time out, is expected to make a cameo against Brentford.

Brentford

Brentford also got off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. With this hard-fought win, the Bees remained unbeaten in their four Premier League opening games, recording 2 wins and 2 draws.

Picking up consecutive Premier League victories at Liverpool’s expense this weekend ranks high on their bucket list as they make the trip to Anfield. However, a less-than-impressive record of one win in six games at Anfield (1 win, 1 draw, 4 losses) could dampen the mood ahead of the trip.

Thomas Frank is expected to keep last weekend’s 4-3-3 formation, with goal scorers Yoane Wissa and Mbeumo teaming up with Kevin Schade in attack. No fewer than four players, including Josh Dasilva and Aaron Hickey, are ruled out of this Match Day 2 encounter.

New arrival Sepp van den Berg could be available to play for the Bees after his switch from Liverpool, having signed a five-year deal. Meanwhile, Ivan Toney's availability remains uncertain.