Liverpool v Brentford team news: Van den Berg and Carvalho to return

Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Brentford at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, we look at this weekend’s opposition and the line-up Liverpool fans can expect to see from Thomas Frank’s side. 

Having secured the signing of Fabio Carvalho last week for a fee of £27.5 million, the Bees brought in another member of Arne Slot’s squad yesterday in the form of Sepp van den Berg. 

The Dutch defender departed Anfield five years on from his arrival under Jurgen Klopp, ending a stint on Merseyside in which the 22-year-old struggled to find consistent game time. 

Read more: Brentford sign Sepp van den Berg

However, Van den Berg’s consistent presence at the back for Mainz 05 last season could be enough to earn him a spot in the starting line-up against his former side. It is likely that Sepp will be partnered with the aforementioned Fabio after a successful cameo against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, making it his first start in the Premier League in Brentford colours. 

Whilst there haven’t been any significant new injuries or suspensions of late, Brentford remain without a small number of injured personnel who will remain unavailable for this fixture. 

Brentford injuries and suspensions v Liverpool

Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry, both of whom missed out on a substantial amount of the last Premier League campaign, remain unavailable for the foreseeable future, with Frank declaring before the start of the season that the pair were ‘progressing very well, but both of them could be tight to be involved in the first game of the season’. 

The Bees will also be without Josh Dasilva and Igor Thiago, the latter of whom is expected to be out of action until the end of the year. 

Alongside the handful of injuries, it remains uncertain whether Ivan Toney will have any involvement in Sunday’s fixture due to recent developments relating to his potential departure. 

Speaking before his side’s victory over Crystal Palace, Toney’s current boss declared he was left out due to ‘transfer interest’, and Al-Ahli are likely to be snapping up the England international. 

In similar fashion to Liverpool, The Bees began the 2024/25 season with victory and two goals added to their tally for the season, overcoming Palace in what proved to be a controversial beginning to the campaign. 

The result means Brentford are yet to lose on the opening day of a Premier League season. 

Frank will be wary of the Reds after their winter meeting, in which Liverpool brushed past Brentford, 4-1, in West London. The result ensured an emphatic double over the Danish manager’s side as well as an aggregate score of 7-1, providing Frank with plenty to ponder regarding potential team selection for Sunday. 

Van den Berg and Carvalho to start v Liverpool

Brentford have often adopted a 4-3-3 formation of late, as seen in their most recent encounter, it is likely that the visit of Liverpool will encourage an alteration to this particular set up. 

In their meetings with Liverpool, The Bees opted for a 5-3-2 and a 3-5-2, the latter of which was used in the most recent fixture between the two. 

Read more: Predicted Liverpool XI for Brentford clash

It is also likely that Frank will wish to make a number of alterations based on both the formation in place and individual performances last time out. 

Liverpool fans can expect to see ex-Kopite Van den Berg involved for his new club, potentially at the expense of Ethan Pinnock, who conceded an own goal at home to the Eagles last Sunday. 

Brentford predicted line-up v Liverpool

Van den Berg may not be the only former Liverpool player set to start in red and white; Carvalho is likely to be in contention in place of either Mathias Jensen or Kevin Schade, the former of the two players being taken off for the introduction of Fabio last time out.

Below is how Brentford lined up in their last match and how we expect them to line up on Sunday:

(4-3-3): Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer, Norgaard, Jensen, Janelt, Wissa, Mbeumo, Schade.

(5-3-2): Flekken, Roerslev, Collins, Van den Berg, Ajer, Norgaard, Jensen, Janelt, Wissa, Mbuemo, Carvalho.