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Paul Merson and Alan Shearer have disagreed on their predictions for Liverpool’s game against Brentford today, with one of the pundits expecting another slip-up from Arne Slot’s side.
The Reds go in search of their first Premier League win in four games as they make the trip to London, having finally ended their recent losing streak against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
They’ll hope to continue the same form they showed in that 5-1 win in Frankfurt, especially with the chance to narrow the gap to current league leader Arsenal to just one point ahead of Mikel Arteta’s side’s game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Gunners’ former midfielder though thinks Liverpool won’t take its chance.
Merson has predicted a 1-1 draw for the Reds, telling Sportskeeda: “Brentford are really good from set-pieces, so I expect both Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo to start because of their height and how they can help out in them situations. I just think he [Slot] will go with [Mohamed] Salah as the third attacker and hope for the best here.
“Brentford play well at home and I have a feeling they will do Arsenal and Manchester City a huge favour by taking points off Liverpool here.”
Shearer, though, is expecting Liverpool to get back to winning form, having told Betfair: “Liverpool need to stop the rot - the pressure’s on them hugely.
“They cannot have another defeat in the league, or their title push might be over. I know that would be early to say that, but that's what it could come down to if they were to be beaten again.
“I would expect them to pick up and to be hurting from last weekend's criticism, as well as because of what they did in the Champions League - looking something near to their best, probably their best performance of the season.
“Whether [Alexander] Isak's fit and whether he's got decisions to make with regards to Mo Salah or not, we'll have to wait and see.
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“I would think Liverpool going there after this week, I think they might actually take the points - as tough as it may be.”
Liverpool will be without Jeremie Frimpong after the Netherlands international was forced off in the first half in Frankfurt with a hamstring injury, while there are doubts over Isak and Ryan Gravenberch.
The former was withdrawn at half-time in midweek with a groin problem, while the latter twisted his ankle against Manchester United last weekend. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains out with a hamstring problem.
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