Brentford wrote another extraordinary chapter in their Premier League tale after registering a famous first win over Liverpool since 1938, as an own goal from Ibrahima Konate and strikes from Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo sealed a remarkable 3-1 victory.
Konate met the same fate as Leicester’s Wout Faes did on Friday night, inadvertently turning the ball into his own net for the opener (19), before Wissa deservedly doubled the hosts’ lead from a Mathias Jensen cross (42).
Liverpool sparked into action after the break, following a dramatic triple substitution from Jurgen Klopp, in which Virgil van Dijk was withdrawn, prompting a change of shape and brief change of fortune.
Brentford players celebrate after going ahead against Liverpool
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, breathing renewed life into his Reds career, glanced a header beyond David Raya from a pinpoint Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery (50), but Brentford withstood the remainder of Liverpool’s half-hearted pressure, ending any hope of an improbable comeback .
“After two super intense games it didn’t look like the belief was there any more,” Klopp conceded in the aftermath of their fifth defeat of the season.
Mbeumo put the gloss on a historic triumph seven minutes from time, bullying feeble Konate off the ball, before effortlessly side-footing past Alisson.
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Highlights from Brentford’s 3-1 win against Liverpool in the Premier League
Bees capitalize on Liverpool’s defensive frailties
Ibrahima Konate’s own goal was the first time Brentford had benefitted from an own goal in a Premier League home game
The writing was on the wall when an incensed Klopp substituted Van Dijk at half-time, choosing to revert to a back three in order to chase down a 2-0 scoreline, despite the damage having already been done.
Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings were laid bare against a Brentford side who, without top scorer Ivan Toney, tore the Reds’ flailing backline to shreds with their sharp counter-attacking style.
Konate’s own goal was the stroke of good fortune they needed, as Mbeumo’s corner squirmed past Alisson at his near post, via the shin of the France international – the first time Brentford have benefited from an own goal in 28 home Premier League games.
Deliveries from wide continued to cause chaos during a particularly dominant first half, where Brentford’s Wissa had the ball in the net twice before his third attempt actually stood, powering a superb header narrowly over the line from Jensen’s delivery. Liverpool protested, but Stuart Attwell’s wrist watch signaled the ball had fully crossed the line.
The luckless Nunez, who added considerably to his growing catalog of wasted opportunities in front of goal, looked to have reduced arrears shortly after the break, getting the better of Raya in a one-on-one, only for VAR to rule him offside – the Uruguayan has missed more ‘big chances’ (15) than any other player in the division this term. “Darwin cost us chances,” Klopp admitted post-match.
Oxlade-Chamberlain did pounce moments later, but it was Mbeumo who had the final say, brushing aside Konate to score his fourth of the campaign.
Brentford can add their Liverpool scalp to their shock 4-0 win over Manchester United in August, and their 2-1 triumph at champions Manchester City in November, with manager Thomas Frank saying “it’s right up there” in terms of most satisfying wins of his four-year tenure.
Klopp bemoans fading belief
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Jurgen Klopp reacted to Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford and questioned referee Stuart Attwell’s decision to allow Bryan Mbeumo’s goal as he felt the forward clearly pushed Ibrahima Konate in the back.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“Of course I’m not happy [with set-piece defending] – we’ll have to watch it back – the two corners they scored, one was offside or whatever it was, and the other one. Of course we don’t behave perfectly but, like I said, they stretch the rules in these moments, they’re really pushing, really holding and everything.
“We should have played better – through set-pieces Brentford always have the chance to create chaos. They do that well. I respect that.
“Not a top-class game, but we still had chances. The second goal is a present to Brentford, which I’m really angry about. It doesn’t feel great. It’s not that we didn’t fight, in the end we are responsible for the defeat.
“The defending around the second goal didn’t surprise me, it’s just not right. The second goal we should have defended better, that’s it. Brentford have all my respect. You have to use all your opportunities.
“After two super intense games, it didn’t look like the belief was there any more.”
Frank: It shouldn’t be possible to beat Liverpool
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Thomas Frank spoke pitch-side with Dave Jones, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after Brentford’s 3-1 win against Liverpool and praised his players for the performance they produced and said they keep impressing him.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank:
“These players keep surprising me. They keep massively impressing me with mentality, effort and willpower as a group. It shouldn’t, in a way, be possible as Brentford to beat Liverpool. But with everything together we managed to do this.
“Set-pieces, we know, we are good. Against Liverpool, they are very successful but it’s no secret we can get in behind them. The way we defend is incredible. Clear structure but brave to go high sometimes.
“Konate is a big lad, and pretty strong – in a dual with Bryan [Mbeumo] I would back Konate to win that nine out of 10 times. So well done to Bryan.
“We’re confident but humble. We need to have confidence we can beat any team in the world. We are very difficult to break down. The second goal is a good example of that, we are brave and aggressive.
“It’s so impressive we managed to win [without Ivan Toney].”
What’s next?
Saturday 14th January 5:00pm
Kick off 5:30pm
Brentford are back in action on January 14, hosting Bournemouth live on Sky Sportskick-off 5.30pm, while Liverpool next face Brighton and Hove Albion on the same day, with a slightly earlier kick-off time of 3pm.