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Liverpool’s hopes of building momentum in the Premier League took another hit on Saturday night as they fell 3-2 to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Despite a late push and a goal from Mohamed Salah in the dying minutes, the reigning champions came up short after a frustrating evening marked by defensive lapses, missed chances, and what manager Arne Slot described as “a performance far below our usual level.”
A Disappointing Night in West London
Coming off a midweek Champions League win, Liverpool arrived at Brentford looking to carry their European form back into domestic competition. Instead, they were undone by a determined home side and their own lack of sharpness.
Goals from Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade gave Brentford an early cushion before Milos Kerkez pulled one back for the Reds just before halftime. But when Igor Thiago converted a second-half penalty following a VAR review, Liverpool’s uphill battle became even steeper.
Salah’s late strike in the 89th minute offered brief hope, but the Reds couldn’t find an equaliser. The result marked their fourth straight league defeat, a run that has left both fans and the manager searching for answers.
“We Were Far From What We’re Used To”
Speaking to the media after the game, Arne Slot didn’t mince words about his team’s display.
“Disappointing, again,” he began. “When you win a game during the week, even with only two days’ rest, you hope for a better result, but more importantly a better performance. Tonight was far from what we’re used to. Even in games we’ve lost before, our performances were better than this.”
Slot pointed to a lack of basic execution as one of the key reasons behind the defeat. “Doing the basics right that’s where we failed,” he said. “Brentford won more duels, more second balls, and when a team does that, it’s very difficult to win. Credit to them, but we made it easier for them by not matching that intensity.”
The Set-Piece Struggle
Brentford’s opening goal came from a long throw-in something Liverpool had specifically worked on defending in training. Slot admitted it was especially frustrating to see his players undone by something they had prepared for.
“It’s the only thing we did yesterday on the training pitch,” he revealed. “We talked about it again today. We know Brentford are very strong in set-pieces and throw-ins, and they showed it again.”
He also criticised the penalty decision that allowed Igor Thiago to make it 3-1, calling it “a very soft penalty” but refused to use it as an excuse. “If I say it was soft, I hope you won’t say I’m using excuses,” Slot added with a hint of frustration. “It’s just one of those moments that didn’t go our way.”
Tactical Changes and Missed Chances
Slot made several adjustments at halftime, moving Mohamed Salah to a wider position to create more space for crosses and one-on-one situations. He also asked Florian Wirtz to drift inside to help with link-up play.
“In the first half, Mo played more central like he did against Frankfurt,” the coach explained. “But when you’re 2-1 down, you expect the opposition to sit a bit deeper, so it made sense to put Mo wide where he can create.”
Despite the tweaks, Liverpool couldn’t completely turn the tide. “It wasn’t as if the second half was ours,” Slot admitted. “We scored, we had moments to make it 3-2, but they also had chances to make it 4-1.”
“One of the Most Disappointing Performances”
Asked whether this was among his most disappointing nights as Liverpool boss, Slot didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, it’s up there,” he said. “Normally, even when we’re behind, we show fight and quality. The only period I really liked tonight was the 20 or 25 minutes after we went 1-0 down. We created some good moments, especially with Florian, but we didn’t take advantage.”
He pointed to key turning points in the match that didn’t go Liverpool’s way. “Just before they scored their second, Cody Gakpo dribbled inside the box and I think that should’ve been a penalty. If you show both that moment and the one they got to any referee, most would probably give ours. But that’s football.”
Slot suggested that some of that “bad luck” might have stemmed from the team’s overall poor play. “When you play like we did, those moments tend to go against you,” he said.
Searching for Consistency and Solutions
The Dutchman also reflected on the team’s wider struggles in recent weeks, acknowledging that Liverpool haven’t been able to adapt quickly enough to opponents’ strategies.
“Teams have found good ways to play against us, and we haven’t found the right answers yet,” he admitted. “Going 1-0 down early in so many games doesn’t help either. Even today, when we didn’t play well, we scored two goals and created more chances. But you can’t compete if you keep conceding too many goals.”
Slot emphasised that defending is a collective responsibility, not just down to the back line. “It’s not only about our defence,” he said. “We defend as 11 players, and right now we’re not doing that well enough.”
He also pointed out that Liverpool’s summer of transition has played a role in their inconsistency. “When you change quite a lot in the summer, it’s normal that things take time to click,” Slot explained. “But I didn’t expect it to lead to four straight losses. That’s not acceptable.”
Another factor, he noted, is the demanding fixture schedule. “From our last six games, five have been away,” he said. “That’s not an excuse, but it doesn’t help when you’re trying to rebuild confidence.”
Injury Update: Curtis Jones
Slot confirmed that Curtis Jones was forced off with an injury, though the initial signs were not alarming.
“We have to wait and see,” he said. “He asked to come off but walked off without needing treatment, so that’s at least positive. There are a lot of games coming up, so we’ll check him again soon.”
With another fixture just a few days away, the manager is hoping the midfielder’s issue isn’t serious. “We play again in three or four days, so it’s important he’s not out for long,” Slot added.
Looking Ahead
Liverpool’s defeat at Brentford leaves them in a difficult spot in the Premier League, with confidence fragile and performances under scrutiny. While there were brief flashes of quality, Slot’s comments reflected the need for a reset both mentally and tactically.
“It’s a bumpy road when you make changes,” he said. “But four losses in a row is too much. We have to start by doing the simple things right again winning duels, defending set-pieces, and showing the energy and hunger that has always defined this team.”
For the fans, it was another tough night to swallow. For Arne Slot, it was a reminder that even champions can be made to look ordinary if they lose their edge. The task now is to rediscover it before the season slips away.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at Brentford wasn’t just about missed chances or debatable refereeing decisions. It was a game that exposed deeper issues lack of rhythm, poor defending, and an inability to impose themselves physically. Arne Slot’s honesty after the match summed it up best: this was not the Liverpool anyone expects to see.
The road ahead won’t be easy, but with the right response, the Reds still have time to steady the ship. As Slot put it, “You can’t compete if you don’t do the basics right.” The message is simple. The response now has to be just as clear.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com