Liverpool vs Brentford preview: team news, lineups, TV, kick-off time, referee & VAR

After two torrid performances on the trot, Liverpool find themselves under pressure to deliver this Sunday when they welcome Brentford to Anfield in the Premier League.

Last weekend was one to forget for the Reds, Luis Diaz's emotional stoppage-time equaliser the only positive from a dreadful display against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Jurgen Klopp would have been hoping for a positive reaction against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night, but he was offered the exact opposite.

Liverpool slumped to a dismal 3-2 defeat in France and, despite some late VAR drama, the Reds were largely outfought and outplayed by the Ligue 1 side.

Liverpool need to get back to winning ways in the final match before the November international break, with Thomas Frank's in-form Brentford side arriving on Merseyside this Sunday.

The Bees have won three successive matches but Liverpool will be aiming to bring that run to an end.

Here's your guide to Liverpool vs Brentford ahead of this weekend's clash.

DATE, KICK-OFF TIME, STADIUM, REFEREE & VAR

• Date: Sunday, 12 November 2023

• Kick-off time: 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 06:00 PT

• Stadium: Anfield

• Referee: Paul Tierney

• Assistants: Nick Greenhalgh & Mark Scholes

• Fourth official: Tim Robinson

• VAR: Stuart Attwell

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Liverpool's clashes with Brentford may date all the way back to 1906, but the two clubs have only met 19 times in the past.

Unsurprisingly, the Reds have enjoyed the greater success in this fixture, winning 11, drawing four and losing four of the encounters.

There have only been four meetings between Liverpool and Brentford since the turn of the 21st century, all of which have come since the Bees were promoted to the Premier League in 2021.

Of those four games, Liverpool have won two - both of which have come at Anfield. Last season's was a narrow 1-0 win over Frank's side, with a more comfortable 3-0 victory the season before.

However, a 3-3 draw and a 3-1 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium highlights Brentford's ability to cause Liverpool problems this Sunday.

WHERE TO WATCH LIVERPOOL VS BRENTFORD ON TV

Unfortunately, those in the United Kingdom will be unable to watch Liverpool's 14:00 (GMT) clash with Brentford this weekend. The Reds' game is not part of Sky Sports' Super Sunday billing, with the broadcaster opting instead for Nottingham Forest's trip to West Ham United.

However, Liverpool vs Brentford will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, for those of a more vintage persuasion.

For those across Europe, Sky Sports will have the rights in some countries, while Viaplay will also be broadcasting the game for much of northern and central Europe.

In the United States, the game will be on Peacock, while those in Canada can watch on fuboTV.

Match commentary, highlights and full match replay will be available after the game on LFCTV.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Klopp has plenty of selection dilemmas ahead of the visit of Brentford, the majority of which come in midfield.

Alexis Mac Allister is suspended after picking up five yellow cards in the Premier League and will return after the international break to face Manchester City. Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Curtis Jones will also be missing for the Reds, although the latter is expected to return later in November.

Ryan Gravenberch missed the trip to Toulouse with a minor knee injury, with Klopp having claimed that the Dutchman could be available for the weekend clash. However, the former Bayern Munich midfielder could be rested as a precaution, with the Liverpool boss stating that he will definitely be fit after the international break.

As a result, it's slim pickings in midfield for Liverpool, with Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott the only senior midfield options.

Klopp has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold could feature there this Sunday, while Cody Gakpo was also used in a deeper role at the beginning of the season.

Andy Robertson remains sidelined with his shoulder injury, but whether Klopp brings Kostas Tsimikas into the starting lineup after his costly first-half display against Toulouse remains to be seen. Joe Gomez could take residence on the left-hand side as he did against Luton.

Virgil van Dijk also missed the journey to France with illness but is expected to be fit for the weekend, while Conor Bradley is still injured.

Luis Diaz started against Toulouse after the news that his father has been released by kidnappers and is now safe in Colombia, although Diogo Jota could start after his impressive cameo and goal against Toulouse.

BRENTFORD TEAM NEWS

Brentford have plenty of fitness concerns and absentees as well, something the Reds will be aiming to take advantage of on Sunday.

Ivan Toney is still suspended, good news for Liverpool after his wonderful performance in defeat at Anfield last season. Kevin Schade is also unavailable up top, while the same is likely to be the case for Keane Lewis-Potter.

Josh Dasilva and Mikkel Damsgaard are back in training but the visit to Merseyside could come too soon for the pair. Shandon Baptiste could be involved from the bench after getting some minutes for the Brentford B team recently.

Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry are both out in the full-back positions, meaning Frank could opt for five at the back.

Mark Flekken is expected to return between the sticks after suffering a dead leg against West Ham last weekend.

PREDICTED LINEUP

It will be intriguing to see how Klopp lines up his midfield given the dwindling options he has in central areas. Hopefully, Van Dijk will be fit to return too, while left-back may also be an interesting area to keep an eye on. Darwin Nunez and Salah will start, but whether they are joined by Diaz or Jota remains to be seen.

(4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Endo, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Jota.

PREDICTION

Despite Liverpool's recent woes on the road, the Reds have still won every single game at Anfield this term. That shouldn't change on Sunday afternoon, although confidence won't be as high as it was two weeks ago.

It's become worryingly apparent that you can't bet on Liverpool clean sheets this season, home or away, so it's likely that the pace of Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa up top cause Klopp's backline problems. The midfield deficiencies are a slight concern as well, but Brentford also find themselves light on numbers.

Liverpool's formidable attacking line always offers hope, with the Reds perhaps able to slink over the line this Sunday before the international break.

Liverpool 2-1 Brentford