Liverpool fall to fourth straight league defeat as Brentford stun champions 3–2
Liverpool’s struggles deepened on Saturday as the defending Premier League champions slumped to a 3–2 defeat against a spirited Brentford side at the Gtech Community Stadium their fourth straight loss in the competition.
Goals from Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago sealed a memorable victory for the Bees, who climbed into the top half of the table.
Mohamed Salah’s spectacular late finish proved only a consolation for an out-of-sorts Liverpool side that once again looked bereft of confidence and cohesion.
The result leaves Arne Slot’s men sixth in the standings, potentially seven points behind leaders Arsenal by the end of the weekend, and intensifies scrutiny on the Dutchman’s management after a summer of heavy spending that has yet to translate into results.
Brentford, known for their set-piece prowess, took full advantage of Liverpool’s defensive lapses.
The home side’s opener came from one of Michael Kayode’s trademark long throw-ins — a weapon that unsettled the visitors all evening.
Kristoffer Ajer flicked the ball on, and Ouattara reacted quickest to volley past Giorgi Mamardashvili, giving Brentford a deserved early lead.
Liverpool briefly threatened an equaliser through new signing Florian Wirtz, who fired narrowly wide from close range after good work by Conor Bradley.
But the warning signs remained, and Brentford struck again before half-time.
Mikkel Damsgaard’s incisive through ball split the Liverpool defence, allowing Schade to race clear and finish low beyond Mamardashvili to make it 2–0.
Slot’s team, who have now conceded at least twice in six of their nine league fixtures, were again undone by poor defensive organisation an issue that has haunted them throughout the campaign.
Liverpool pulled one back deep into first-half stoppage time when Milos Kerkez, under pressure to justify his £40 million move from Bournemouth, converted Bradley’s cross from close range.
Brentford’s players protested as the referee had signalled only three minutes of added time, but the goal stood.
However, any hope of a comeback evaporated on the hour mark when VAR overturned an initial free-kick decision, ruling that Virgil van Dijk had fouled Ouattara just inside the area.
Thiago stepped up to send Mamardashvili the wrong way, restoring Brentford’s two-goal cushion.
Salah, who returned to the starting lineup after missing midweek Champions League action, battled hard to spark a revival.
His first attempt was blocked heroically by former Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg, but the Egyptian finally broke his six-game goal drought in emphatic fashion.
Controlling Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross, Salah smashed a right-footed shot off the underside of the bar in the 89th minute to make it 3–2.
Yet the late strike came too late to alter the outcome.
Liverpool’s performance mirrored the uncertainty that has defined their season a squad still adapting to major summer changes and the emotional toll of forward Diogo Jota’s tragic death in a car accident in July.
Slot cut a dejected figure at full-time, acknowledging Brentford’s physical dominance and his side’s growing crisis.
“We need to rediscover our rhythm and confidence. Right now, we’re not playing like champions, ” the manager said.
Brentford’s victory lifts them to 10th place, continuing their impressive record against top opposition at home.
For Liverpool, the defeat extends a run of five losses in six matches across all competitions and leaves their title defence in serious jeopardy.
With Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea all showing consistent form, Slot’s side must rediscover their resilience quickly if they are to remain in the championship conversation.
