Liverpool continued their impressive start under Arne Slot with a second Premier League victory of the season against Brentford.
After a successful opening match against Ipswich Town, Liverpool was determined to secure another win as they faced Brentford at home, reaffirming their strength and ambition in the Premier League.
To achieve this goal, the Dutch manager made just one change to the starting lineup from the previous weekend. Young center-back Jarell Quansah was on the bench, with Ibrahima Konate starting alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defense.
The central midfield duo remained Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, while the attacking quartet consisted of Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and forward Diogo Jota.
Playing at home with a strong lineup, Liverpool pushed forward immediately after the whistle, taking the lead with a goal from Diaz in the 13th minute. They continued to dominate, producing a total of 19 shots throughout the match.
However, Liverpool also faced occasional counter-attacks from Brentford. It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the home fans could breathe easy with Salah’s second goal, sealing a 2-0 victory.
Here are the three Liverpool players who stood out the most against the Bees last night:
Ryan Gravenberch
Arne Slot had concerns about the “number 6” role heading into the new season, but his experiment with compatriot Ryan Gravenberch has yielded positive results. The former Ajax midfielder continued to perform well in this role last night, demonstrating effective ball-winning and distribution, thereby controlling the midfield for Liverpool.
Luis Diaz
The Colombian forward has been in stellar form under Arne Slot’s management. Diaz has consistently delivered impressive performances recently, including against Brentford. He scored, provided an assist, and terrorized the Brentford defense with his pace and dribbling. Diaz is likely to be one of Liverpool’s most crucial players this season.
Ibrahima Konate
The French international has faced numerous doubts about his future with Liverpool since the end of the 2023/24 season. Being trusted by Arne Slot with a starting role against Brentford was a chance for him to cement his place in the team.
In last night’s game, Ibrahima Konate proved Slot’s decision was spot-on. He delivered an impressive performance in central defense, neutralizing all threats from Brentford’s set pieces and contributing significantly to the team’s overall victory.