Liverpool answered their critics with a 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday, a result that matters as much for the mood around the club as for the points it delivered.
The City setback
The previous weekend had been painful. Manchester City came to Anfield on 11 October and won 3-0, with Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scoring in a devastating 13-minute spell midway through the second half. It was the kind of defeat that invites questions about whether a side has the defensive steel to compete for the title.
Goals at both ends in Europe
Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Austria did little to calm those concerns at the back, but it did show the firepower of this squad. They won 6-3 at LASK in the highest-scoring game of Matchday 2, a result that was thrilling to watch but worrying for anyone focused on clean sheets.
Liverpool’s recent run
- Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)
- LASK 3-6 Liverpool (Champions League)
- Brentford 1-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
Why Brentford mattered
Brentford’s ground is never a comfortable place to visit. The Bees narrowly missed out on European football last season, strengthened with signings including midfielder Mamadou Sangare, and had already shown their quality by beating Chelsea 3-0 in September. Leaving with all three points is a genuine statement.
The right wing question
One issue that keeps coming up is balance on the right. Liverpool do not have a natural right winger in the squad, and that gap has been widely discussed ahead of the January transfer window, with Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh among the names linked. Until then, the coaching staff will need creative solutions.
Where they stand
Liverpool are not where they want to be in the table, with Manchester City setting a relentless pace at the top. But two wins from two since the City defeat suggest this team has the character to respond. The coming weeks, with Champions League and league fixtures arriving thick and fast, will show whether it has the consistency too.