The Premier League fixture bandwagon rolls into west London on Monday evening as Brentford host Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Thomas Frank’s Bees have picked up where they left off prior to the World Cup, extending their unbeaten run with a point against Tottenham on Boxing Day before downing struggling West Ham at the London Stadium.
Liverpool have also hit the ground running, first dispatching Aston Villa on their own turf before earning an unconvincing win over Leicester at Anfield, courtesy of two Wout Faes own goals.
Here’s 90min’s preview of their New Year clash.
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Brentford team news
Brentford are sweating over the fitness of star striker Ivan Toney, after he was stretchered off in the latter stages of Friday’s 2-0 win over West Ham.
Shandon Baptiste, Frank Onyeka and Thomas Strakosha remain sidelined, while the game will also come too soon for Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey.
Brentford starting 11 (3-5-2): Raya; Zanka, Mee, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Dasilva, Henry; Mbeumo, Wissa.
Liverpool team news
Jurgen Klopp’s medical team must assess the knocks picked up by Harvey Elliott and Andrew Robertson during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Leicester.
Cody Gakpo could make his debut for the Reds after officially joining the club from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, albeit as a second half substitute.
Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, James Milner and Curtis Jones are all injured.
Liverpool starting 11 (4-3-3: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Keita; Salah, Nunez, Carvalho.
With Ivan Toney potentially ruled out through injury, Brentford’s attacking bite has certainly been blunted. But there’s no disputing that Liverpool’s backline is fragile and lacking in confidence, which should offer up hope to Thomas Frank and his side.
Indeed, Liverpool may have picked up all three points against Leicester on Friday, but they were opened up time and time again at Anfield to further illustrate their problems in defence and, more pressingly, in midfield.
Fortunately for Jurgen Klopp, his side still possess plenty of firepower up front – despite many criticising Darwin Nunez – and finding ways to win is what every top side is able to do when performances are a little below-par.
That threat may get Liverpool over the line in what could be a thoroughly entertaining game.
Score prediction: Brentford 1-2 Liverpool
Credit: 90min.com
