Without star strikers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane and also without midfielder Naby Keita, Liverpool have booked a simple victory over Brentford in the Premier League: 3-0. The trio is absent due to obligations at the Africa Cup for Egypt, Senegal and Guinea respectively.
The last time Liverpool played without both Salah and Mane was in May 2017. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota on the attack, the home side started patiently at Anfield.
Just before half time ahead
The Reds quickly stepped up their game, but they had to wait for a goal. Brentford, with a lot of height in the back, was defensive and gave little away. When the ball was not headed away from a corner just before half time, Fabinho also punished it mercilessly.
Bryan Mbeumo smelled the 1-1 after the break, but after Oxlade-Chamberlains 2-0 the game was decided. Japanese substitute Takumi Minamino made it 3-0 after a clumsy loss of ball in the heart of the Brentford defence.
Virgil van Dijk played the entire match for Liverpool.
