Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool were unable to tackle Brentford’s “chaos” theory in a shock 3-1 defeat on Monday that damaged their bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Klopp’s side had a nightmare in 2023 and they had only themselves to blame for the West London horror show. Ibrahima Konate’s own goal in the first half set the tone for an evening marked by mistakes at the back of Liverpool. Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford’s lead and although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got one back, Bryan Mbeumo secured Brentford’s first win against Liverpool since 1938.
In his first appearance since playing in France’s final defeat to Argentina in December, Konate took much of the blame for Liverpool’s dismal defensive performance.
But the centre-back was far from alone in earning criticism for a performance from Liverpool that left them in sixth place, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who play their game against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Shaken by Liverpool’s first defeat in five league games, Reds boss Klopp admitted Brentford’s clever set-piece tactics were too much for his players.
“Brentford creates chaos with set pieces. When I say they stretch the rules, they do it in attacking set pieces,” said Klopp.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s smart, but they do. If you could pick all the situations, you’d find five fouls, but because it’s so chaotic, nobody sees it in the end.”
Although seventh-placed Brentford has a six-match unbeaten run in the league, including an impressive victory over champions Manchester City just before the World Cup, it was still surprising to see Liverpool come apart so easily.
“You know before the game how strong they are from corners. The second goal decided the game and that was our mistake,” said Klopp.
“We are not awake, they cross the ball and score the second that decided the game. The third goal should not have been allowed, but we should have played better.”
Darwin Nunez, acquired from Benfica for £64 million ($77 million) last year, was another front-runner for Liverpool’s struggles.
The 23-year-old had gone 13 shots without scoring in his previous two league games and again missed in the early stages.
Mohamed Salah’s superb pass unbalanced the Brentford defense and Nunez looked certain to end his barren run as he outplayed David Raya.
But Ben Mee ran back to clear his shot off the line as Nunez held his head in disbelief.
– Fragile Liverpool –
As a harbinger of damage to come, Thomas Frank’s team went ahead from a corner kick in the 19th minute.
Mee tried to tap, but it was Konate who got the final touch as the ball ricocheted off his knee and squirmed past the wrong-footed Alisson.
Liverpool were lucky to avoid more misery when Wissa struck from close range after the Reds went all out to clear a corner only for offside to deny Brentford.
Moments later, Wissa remained unmarked to drill home from yet another dangerous angle before an offside flag against Mee again spared Liverpool’s blush.
In disarray at the back, Liverpool could not cope with Brentford’s aerial threat and Wissa eventually came on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute.
Mathias Jensen’s cross picked out Wissa and the Congo striker came in front of Trent Alexander-Arnold for a header that went just over the line before Alisson could claw it out.
Klopp stood on the sidelines furiously as he ranted at his shocked players.
The German responded by sending in Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson and Naby Keita at half time, with Virgil van Dijk being replaced after a leg injury.
Klopp’s changes briefly got Liverpool going, who narrowed the deficit in the 50th minute when Alexander-Arnold’s pointed delivery was headed home by Oxlade-Chamberlain.
But Brentford’s knockout blow was a self-inflicted wound from Liverpool as Konate fell forward while failing to field a long ball to Mbeumo, who ran off to slide past Alisson.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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