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Liverpool fell to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday as Arne Slot's side was beaten 3-2 by Brentford.
This was another frustrating game for the champions with all the hallmarks of the problems that have dogged performances this season. A more determined and resolute Brentford ensured it was a scrappy match, one that suited the hosts but made it difficult for Liverpool to make a serious impact.
The Bees earned a well-deserved three points with goals from Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, while Milos Kerkez netted Liverpool's only goal. Here are five of the big talking point from an infuriating night for the Premier League champions
Salah underwhelms
Liverpool's no.11 has been a major talking point this week, following the winger's peculiar social media activity. With Salah dropped against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday and heading straight down the tunnel after full-time, one of the big pre-match questions was whether Slot would start last season's star man. The Liverpool coach did indeed opt to select him in the line-up, a choice perhaps made easier given Alexander Isak's injury. But Salah failed to convince at the Gtech. He looked sluggish and often his touch let him down. He wasn't alone. Kerkez was also poor, Giorgi Mamardashvili didn't impress in between the sticks, while even Virgil van Dijk was far from his best levels.
Recurring issues
Liverpool, set-pieces and defensive fragilities; it's a theme that can't help but pop up in matches this season. Slot hasn't shied away from the Reds' deficiencies, and once it came back to bite the champions as Kristoffer Ajer flicked on from a long throw and Ouattara fired home in the early stages. As for the second goal, Mikkel Damsgaard exploited the enormous gap at the heart of the back four and fired a superb through ball in behind for Schade.
Starting slowly
Another alarming habit Liverpool has developed is starting slowly. Remarkably, this was the fourth Premier League game in a row the Reds have conceded a goal in the opening 15 minutes, something the team hasn't done since January 1996.
Busy night for the officials
Those in black were very much in the spotlight on Saturday, with two controversial moments in the first half. Cody Gakpo was tripped in the area not long before Schade's goal, which on another occasion could have easily resulted in a penalty. Then, referee Simon Hooper antagonized the home fans by allowing Liverpool's goal to stand in the fourth minute of three allocated for first-half injury time. Brentford fans, players and the bench were furious, with Hooper booed off at half-time. Although it was a different referee who took center stage after the break, with fourth official Tim Robinson replacing the injured Hooper at half-time. Either way, Brentford's supporters booed all of the officials as they re-emerged for the start of the second period. VAR then had to get involved to overturn Robinson's decision of awarding a free-kick against Van Dijk, and opting to give a penalty instead.
Injury concern
Curtis Jones dropped to the turf midway through the second half and was immediately replaced by Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool's no.17 had a brief conversation with Slot and appeared to indicate he was in discomfort - which is a worrying update given Ryan Gravenberch's current absence.
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