Brentford brought their best to the table as Liverpool arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday evening, earning a 3-2 victory over the reigning champions of the Premier League.
Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade, and Igor Thiago took apart the guests in West London, and even though the Reds rallied at the end of the game, Brentford looked like they could score at will.
Here are four things we learned from another big performance from the Bees.
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Convincing continuity from Brentford
Brentford suffered a significant exodus of talent in the summer. Thomas Frank moved on to Tottenham, while a trio of big pillars in their system saw it fit to depart with the head coach.
Firstly, club captain and experienced six Christian Norgaard signed for Arsenal. Top scorer Bryan Mbeumo set sail for Man United and his partner in crime, Yoane Wissa, left for Newcastle United.
There were worries that Keith Andrews, the set-piece coach for the side, would not be a sufficient replacement for Frank to sustain the excellence of the side. However, he is proving doubters wrong.
The Bees had a brilliant record at their ground in the 2024/25 campaign as the foundation for their success, topping the table for ‘home’ form as they headed into the new year. So far, they are fifth in that same set of rankings this season, having earned some memorable scalps against the ‘Big Six.’
After the September international break, the team earned a last gasp 2-2 draw against Chelsea. Then came a 3-1 defeat of Man United at the end of the month. And now they have topped it off with a triumph over the Premier League title holders. Known as a tricky opponent for the best in the division under Frank, the club continue to exceed expectations with familiar patterns in their results.
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The route one approach reaps dividends
The continuity for Brentford is embedded in the processes and patterns that lie in their preparation.
Their physicality, directness and detailed approach to set plays were all things seen as marginal gains when the team first returned to the top tier in 2021. But as Arsenal are showing, the biggest sides in English football can benefit from these strengths, and they can be a sustainable platform for success.
The latest visitors to the Gtech Community Stadium were primed for a physical beatdown. The Reds are full of offensive options in the roster, but the midfield balance has been breaking down, while the fullbacks are vulnerable and Virgil van Dijk has appeared human again in the centre of the defence.
The Bees doubled down on doing the things that have created headaches for the champions, looking for long balls and transitions that unsettled their spine. But the biggest danger came from aerial duels.
Michael Kayode did a brilliant job of hurling long, flat throw-ins into the danger zone and as the hosts kept getting the first contact in the air, the Reds remained rattled, losing the little momentum they generated in the first half. The right back produced the right type of delivery to instigate chaos before the first goal from Ouattara, and Liverpool never looked like getting to grips with the problem.
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Striker recruitment deserves respect
There were lots of chances for the Bees to have put this game to bed. Ouattara might have scored, but a couple of missed free headers from close range in the penalty area were big blunders on the night.
However, the killer touch did arrive from a pair of players who are credit to the club’s recruitment.
Schade scored 11 times in the Premier League last year, and he has notched crucial strikes against Chelsea and Liverpool this term. Quick across the ground and a threat in the air, he was a brilliant outlet against the Reds, and the German has demonstrated that he has an eye for the back of the net.
Even more impressive is the work of Igor Thiago, who has now scored six times in the Premier League after his second half penalty. A nuisance with a proficient all-round game, he is level in the scoring stakes with Antoine Semenyo, and only bettered in the division by Erling Haaland.
It is not the first time that Brentford have found effective forwards to make themselves a competitive outfit. Before Wissa and Mbeumo, Ivan Toney took the next step in his career in the Championship with the Bees, Ollie Watkins was their hotshot before he switched to Aston Villa in 2020, and Neal Maupay registered 25 goals in the 2018/19 season for the side. The track record is outstanding.
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Experienced heads helped manage the match
The game is decided in both boxes, and with the belief that the club can continue to unearth gems that have an influence in areas that matter the most, Brentford can continue to enjoy life in the topflight.
But there will always be a place for seasoned veterans to stabilise the ship. Especially after a summer with so many significant changes, the Bees have benefitted from the presence of two former Reds.
Caoimhin Kelleher played second fiddle to Alisson Becker at Anfield, and how much Liverpool would have liked his services in the absence of the Brazilian now. He has not looked back upon his move to West London, and he launched himself into critical situations in this showdown against his old club, smothering big chances for Mo Salah in the first half and Alexis Mac Allister in the second.
Eyes were also on Jordan Henderson, the former captain of Liverpool, who was playing against the Reds for the first time in over a decade. He has been a great replacement for Norgaard as a stable figurehead in the spine of the system, and he did not hold back against his former employers.
With his professionalism, leadership skills, and passing range, the midfielder was a launchpad for counters, helping to expose the instability that has now crept into the game of their opponents.
Both men will forever respect the Reds and be grateful for their time in Merseyside, but they are enjoying bringing happiness to the Brentford faithful, who are continuing to live the dream.
