Brentford vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Gtech Community StadiumAttendance17,163.
Free highlights and match report as Ibrahima Konate scored an own goal; Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo netted either side of the break; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a consolation goal on his 100th Liverpool appearance
Tuesday 3 January 2023 10:23, UK
Brentford wrote another extraordinary chapter in their Premier League tale after registering a famous first win over Liverpool since 1938, as an own goal from Ibrahima Konate and strikes from Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo sealed a remarkable 3-1 victory.
Konate met the same fate as Leicester's Wout Faes did on Friday night, inadvertently turning the ball into his own net for the opener (19), before Wissa deservedly doubled the hosts' lead from a Mathias Jensen cross (42).
Liverpool sparked into action after the break, following a dramatic triple substitution from Jurgen Klopp, in which Virgil van Dijk was withdrawn, prompting a change of shape and brief change of fortune.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, breathing renewed life into his Reds career, glanced a header beyond David Raya from a pinpoint Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery (50), but Brentford withstood the remainder of Liverpool's half-hearted pressure, ending any hope of an improbable comeback.
"After two super intense games it didn't look like the belief was there any more," Klopp conceded in the aftermath of their fifth defeat of the season.
Mbeumo put the gloss on a historic triumph seven minutes from time, bullying feeble Konate off the ball, before effortlessly side-footing past Alisson.
The Reds forwent the chance to close in on the Champions League spots, and are now four points adrift of Manchester United in fourth, while resolute Brentford rise to a lofty seventh - two points shy of their Merseyside counterparts.
The writing was on the wall when an incensed Klopp substituted Van Dijk at half-time, choosing to revert to a back three in order to chase down a 2-0 scoreline, despite the damage having already been done.
Liverpool's defensive shortcomings were laid bare against a Brentford side who, without top scorer Ivan Toney, tore the Reds' flailing backline to shreds with their sharp counter-attacking style.
Konate's own goal was the stroke of good fortune they needed, as Mbeumo's corner squirmed past Alisson at his near post, via the shin of the France international - the first time Brentford have benefited from an own goal in 28 home Premier League games.
Deliveries from wide continued to cause chaos during a particularly dominant first half, where Brentford's Wissa had the ball in the net twice before his third attempt actually stood, powering a superb header narrowly over the line from Jensen's delivery. Liverpool protested, but Stuart Attwell's wrist watch signalled the ball had fully crossed the line.
The luckless Nunez, who added considerably to his growing catalogue of wasted opportunities in front of goal, looked to have reduced arrears shortly after the break, getting the better of Raya in a one-on-one, only for VAR to rule him offside - the Uruguayan has missed more 'big chances' (15) than any other player in the division this term. "Darwin cost us chances," Klopp admitted post-match.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did pounce moments later, but it was Mbeumo who had the final say, brushing aside Konate to score his fourth of the campaign.
Brentford can add their Liverpool scalp to a shock 4-0 win over Manchester United in August, and a sensational 2-1 triumph at champions Manchester City in November, with manager Thomas Frank saying "it's right up there" in terms of most satisfying wins of his four-year tenure.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
"Of course I'm not happy [with set-piece defending] - we'll have to watch it back - the two corners they scored, one was offside or whatever it was, and the other one. Of course we don't behave perfectly but, like I said, they stretch the rules in these moments, they're really pushing, really holding and everything.
"We should have played better - through set-pieces Brentford always have the chance to create chaos. They do that well. I respect that.
"Not a top-class game, but we still had chances. The second goal is a present to Brentford, which I'm really angry about. It doesn't feel great. It's not that we didn't fight, in the end we are responsible for the defeat.
"The defending 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 opportunities.
"After two super intense games, it didn't look like the belief was there any more."
Brentford manager Thomas Frank:
"These players keep surprising me. They keep massively impressing me with mentality, effort and willpower as a group. It shouldn't, in a way, be possible as Brentford to beat Liverpool. But with everything together we managed to do this.
"Set-pieces, we know, we are good. Against Liverpool, they are very successful but it's no secret we can get in behind them. The way we defend is incredible. Clear structure but brave to go high sometimes.
"Konate is a big lad, and pretty strong - in a dual with Bryan [Mbeumo] I would back Konate to win that nine out of 10 times. So well done to Bryan.
"We're confident but humble. We need to have confidence 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 we managed to win [without Ivan Toney]."
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
"Jurgen Klopp's trademark toothy grin has become a much rarer sight this season. It materialised briefly on Friday, but its re-emergence was ultimately short-lived after Brentford served the latest blow to Liverpool's dented top four hopes, just three days later.
"More frequently, the German has worn the look of a man with mounting concerns, perhaps having come to the crushing realisation that this Liverpool team are nearing the end of their cycle.
"Football owes Klopp. And it owes Liverpool. For keeping the English top-flight interesting and honest when no other side could. Without it, Manchester City's dominance would have been even more pronounced than it otherwise has been.
"Liverpool have defied expectations in some ways, and in others not quite lived up to the hype - bar during 2019-20's Covid-ravaged season. Now, others have caught up.
"As Arsenal begin the exciting phase of their - what looks to be - seismic rise, to rival City, Liverpool are falling further and further behind. Perhaps now it's the Gunners turn to go toe-to-toe with the league's richest club, and try to overthrow their controlling influence. Maybe it was inevitable that other players would step up to occupy a seat at the table, but few would have predicted that Liverpool would fade away so limply.
"If ever there was a night for a whopping great big reality check, this was it."
Brentford are back in action on January 14, hosting Bournemouth live on Sky Sports, kick-off 5.30pm, while Liverpool next face Brighton and Hove Albion on the same day, with a slightly earlier kick-off time of 3pm.
