Premier League (12) | Anfield
November 12, 2023 | 2pm (GMT)
Liverpool are hoping to boost the mood before the international break with a home win over Brentford.
Klopps team drew their last Premier League fixture, against Luton, and lost in the Europa League, so supporters could do with some reassurance of Liverpool 2.0s potential.
Ahead of the Reds clash with Brentford, weve put together everything you need to know.
Since promotion in 2021, Brentford have proved a thorn in the side for the Premier Leagues top teams.
Of the four fixtures between the teams in that time, Liverpool have won two, drawn one and lost one.
The most recent meeting was in May, when the Reds managed a 1-0 win at Anfield thanks to Mo Salahs tap-in following a Fabinho floated pass to Virgil van Dijk, who headed the ball perfectly across the box.
We would take the same result again, Id say.
The key question this weekend is whether Ryan Gravenberch will be available.
On Wednesday, Klopp said the Dutchman had a little niggle knee and he was running, before adding there is a chance for Brentford and he will definitely be back after the international break.
News on Curtis Jones hamstring problem was less positive. The manager explained: After the international break, he will be back, but not before. Low, low grade hamstring.
Virgil van Dijk is expected to return from illness.
Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajcetic, Andy Robertson and Thiago are also all still missing.
Another midfielder who wont be playing is Alexis Mac Allister.
The Argentine misses this one through suspension, due to receiving his fifth booking of the season against Luton last weekend.
Fortunately, the ban is just one game long and he will be able to face Man City after the international break.
Klopps biggest conundrums come on the left for this one.
Whether Kostas Tsimikas keeps his place, after being withdrawn at half time against Toulouse, is of interest, with Joe Gomez likely to come back in for the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota is expected to start on the left wing after Luis Diaz started on Thursday.
Elsewhere, there is the potential for Cody Gakpo to play deeper than usual, but we expect Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai to form the midfield three.
Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Elliott, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Jota
Once again Liverpool havent been picked for broadcast on UK television.
The game was originally scheduled for a 3pm Saturday kick-off, but the Reds Europa League participation meant the game was pushed back to 2pm on Sunday.
In the UK, Liverpools only Premier League home game broadcast so far this season was the Merseyside Derby.
Well have everything covered here on This Is Anfield, though!
Thomas Franks team continue to prove themselves as dangerous Premier League opposition, despite their relatively low budget.
Brentford are in great form coming into this one, having won their last three matches, against West Ham, Chelsea and Burnley.
Their last away fixture was that 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge, so Liverpool will need to make sure any backdoors are firmly closed due to the counter-attacking threat the Bees possess.
Brentford could be without nine players for their trip to Anfield, but goalkeeper Mark Flekken should be able to start after being withdrawn at half time last weekend.
Shandon Baptiste and Myles Peart-Harris are close to being available for possible selection, Frank said. However, they are not expected to play from the start.
Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter, Kevin Schade and Josh Dasilva will all miss out with longer-term problems. Ivan Toney is, of course, still out due to his ban.
The four most recent encounters between the teams have seen 14 goals scored with Brentford scoring six to the Liverpools eight.
Liverpool have scored in each of their last 27 matches since their 0-0 draw at Chelsea in early April.
The Reds havent won successive league meetings with Brentford since October 1946. Theyve played five league fixtures in the time since.
Klopps best mate Paul Tierney is the referee for this one yes, that was sarcasm.
The pair have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, most recently in April when Klopp said: I really dont know what he has against us, he has said there is no problem but that cannot be true.
These comments came after Liverpools 4-3 win over Tottenham in which tensions ran high on the touchline.
The assistant referees this weekend are Nick Greenhalgh and Mark Scholes, while Stuart Attwell is the lead VAR.
Liverpool vs. Brentford kicks off at 2pm (GMT) and isnt on UK television.
Fear not, though, TIAs matchday live blog will be up and running from 1.15pm, with Adam Beattie tasked with keeping you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
