This could have been the game that got Liverpool back on track in their defence of their Premier League title. Instead, it was the match that almost took it our of their reach.
Arne Slot's side lost just four times as they stormed to the title of champions just five months ago, and they have already hit that number this season. And all four of those defeats have come in a row.
The direct ball that has come to be Slot's nemesis reared its head again just five minutes into the game when Michael Kayode's long throw wasn't dealt with by the Reds, and Dango Ouattara opened the scoring.
Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago also scored before the hour, and strikes from Milos Kerkez and Mohamed Salah weren't enough for Liverpool to take anything back to Merseyside.
While the Reds are now stuck in a crisis, meanwhile, the Bees are looking up under Keith Andrews, having now hit their stride under their former set piece coach.
Daily Mail Sport's LEWIS STEELE was at the Gtech Community Stadium to run the rule over Brentford and Liverpool.
Andrews earning his keep
Three months ago, if you asked most non-Brentford fans for their pre-season predictions on who would be relegated this year – many would have opted for the Bees.
They had reasons: Thomas Frank, the manager who had led this club to their greatest era in modern history and brought them to the Premier League for the first time, left for Tottenham.
Star striker Yoane Wissa also parted company with the club in acrimonious fashion by forcing through a move to Newcastle, key man Bryan Mbeumo left for Manchester United and captain Christian Norgaard joined Arsenal.
So it was not wrong to expect Brentford to be in for a tough period but knowing how the Gtech Community Stadium club are run off the pitch, we should have all fancied them to put things right – and they have done.
Keith Andrews may not be a household name and he was perhaps unfairly mocked when he was promoted from set-piece coach to first-team manager. But he has certainly earned his keep, especially now he has settled.
They gave Liverpool as tough a task as any in the first half especially here, making the champions look nervous and defensively vulnerable. It came after a big win over West Ham – 2-0 but it should have been more – and they gave Manchester City a scare earlier this month.
It also happened when star striker Ivan Toney went to Saudi Arabia – many expected Brentford to struggle but they did not. The Bees look a well-coached, drilled unit under Andrews and it would be a surprise if they lived up to the pre-season predictions of relegation.
Mo's out of sorts
For the first time in his Liverpool career, Arne Slot was criticised this week after four losses in a row — and the same can probably be said about Mohamed Salah, who came here on a six-match goalless run that saw him dropped for the Champions League clash in Frankfurt.
Slot said he enjoyed seeing Salah frustrated because it meant the ‘fire’ of desire still burned in his belly. Though not at his best again here, he did pop up with a late consolation goal for Liverpool in the 88th minute.
Game of throw-ins
Slot was criticised for being too open in terms of discussing tactics this week which, in itself, seems a bit strange considering 95 per cent of people in high-level football are media-trained and give boring, non-insightful answers.
The Liverpool manager's honesty is to be praised and, when saying that his team struggle with long balls, it was hardly like Brentford's preparation consisted of watching his press conferences anyway.
However, it must be said, Slot was spot on. Liverpool were all over the place defensively and Brentford could have been out of sight with several chances early in the second half that should have put this game to bed with better finishing.
The problem with being champions is you are the team to beat for everyone – and who can blame teams for playing a direct style? Manchester United tried it and succeeded, so Brentford took note and their game-plan was perfect to floor a poor Liverpool.
Can Slot stop the rot?
Yes – but the next games do not get any easier with in-form Aston Villa and Manchester City up next, plus a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace in midweek, a team who have already beaten Liverpool this season.
Chants of 'you're getting sacked in the morning' from the Brentford fans were in jest, of course, and there is no chance of Slot's job being under threat any time. Saying that, though, he is not exempt from criticism and he could find himself seven points behind by Sunday afternoon.
After a 5-1 win in Frankfurt on Wednesday, this was two steps back after one forward. It is fair to say this blip is heading towards crisis territory.
my-blood-is-red
0
Slot was just lucky in his first season but with his second season after spending huge amount of money still the performance shows exactly who Slot is
Tell your coach to be lucky in his second season
zaudklntuz
0
the problem with slot is not him only but also his assistance also an issues they both did not have any new strategy all strategy built by klop tat cos him win the 1st title in his 1st season all the 4defeat was bcos defence is slow and out of position whereby during klop season, defence was just half of the field and he play long ball whereby attacker run fast & furious but slot is playing slow in motion there's lack of run back when come to opponent attacking we need 3 attacker like klop do 3 in midfield 4 in defence the whole entire field can sees the midfielder is running all over the field like gravenbach, szoboslai, maclister, Jones, Wirtz ,Endo defender must knows where they are rather then play upfront but late in rush back in defend this is wat I see in all competition we lack of good defend no point put a good defender like guehi but lack of support from other defender so put a stop in attack from defender midfielder play their roll attack end their job we have a good team sorry we have the best team and player but we lack of strategys and commitment slot must change his tactic let some of the academy player on the field whereby opponent did knows their capability play 1-2 is better then long ball but it don't work klop study opponent game b4 he proceed with his strategy to play who to put in the field hope next game change tactic and strategy tat can cause fear to opponent Goodluck LFC We never walk.alone
wewabelru
1
Klopp take time to built the Team but Slot came in first season and won the league and second season destroyed the club
wewabelru
0
Slot is useless
luneiopru
2
sack slot before it too late always telling the media teams know how to play Liverpool he don't have another solution to change system Liverpool are very soft the way they play in his era this is why i like klopp if teams play ugly you also play ugly to get the 3 points but having position is useless
kubblstz
1
Liverpool fans lets endure this time will come when we get into form,let me know if you are there liking and commenting
kubblstz
5
Inorder for slot to maintain his job, he should use the formation that he used against Frankfurt
kubblstz
1
why don't Slot try this!!!
Hipacdeny
2
From the beginning of the season, Slots have changed the high Press, that aggressive Liverpool we knew has completely varnish.. they players don't tackle, loses the ball so easily...no coherence in the the team.
Hiebcnosu
0
Even the Netflix FC coach is still there for many years with no EPL trophy 🏆 which is Mikel Arteta so never worries we know you are the best for the Job Slot YNWA 🔥
Hiebcnosu
0
Arne Slot la-la lala 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 we're behind you and you'll never walk alone, you came in and conquer in ur first EPL appearance which is not normal for most good and experience coaches even Pep suffered so we love you 🙏 and we're behind you ❤️ we win together and lose together, we're Liverpool YNWA 🔥🔥🔥
Mubdimopsu
2
The Management of the Club needs to decide Slot fate soon before he damages our beloved Club. He is not a good Coach. This was the same as Rafael Benitez.
Napaeknpy
0
should be fired now
He has already been fired automatically
Napaeknpy
1
Slit is the manager to manage Liverpool, he is a gambler. Let him go now
BonifaceDaniel
0
Amorim will come good!
Vibcempy
0
The champions also cry Manchester United for Life
Juebcdlms
0
slot won his maiden epl championship bcz he found a well oiled engine. very bad enuff tragedy befell, we lost jota. surprisingly he started to demolish Liverpool bit by bit with Arnold going, quansah and everybody. the worst mistake was the sale of diaz, a player who knew where the goal was. after that he started buying his useless wirtz and the others. his theory was that a player is very good if he is expensive. what has Liverpool gained after spending all that money on 4 players? aaaa no, let slot walk alone and leave the team to someone. how could he field sallah and wirtz? we won 5-1 in germany without them, why bring them ? slot must go now! we dont want a repeat of rafa benitez, plz. ibrahim in Malawi
MukisaGerald
1
Slot was just lucky in his first season but with his second season after spending huge amount of money still the performance shows exactly who Slot is
viycdkosuy
2
Bald head has to go,he is destroying Klopp's legacy
Redfan
4
Liverpool won the PL last season. They lost Jota to tragedy and TAA to a big club. All they had to do was to find good replacements and strengthen their defence.... Instead in their foolish arrogance, the tore apart a winning combination that Klopp had built over few years and spent obscene amount of monies to assemble a team of expensive strangers... they forgot that their star provider Saalah was used to a certain set of players and formation. He knew the other players by instinct. They say don't fix something that is not broken...Now that it is broken, it will take some fixing and I don't think Slot has that ability or commitment to do it.... Maybe we need to motivate Klopp for one more dance....
Edooo87
4
should be fired now