Can Bees Cause Yet Another Premier League Shock?

Liverpool vs Brentford

In terms of money spent and depth of squad, this Saturday teatime match should be a home banker.

The 19-times champions of England against a club which has spent all bar seven years of its existence outside the top flight.

Yet the Premier League has proved to be a playground the Bees of Brentford have found to their liking, including victories this term over Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, so they should head north to Liverpool with no fear.

Talking Points

Boosted by a last-gasp win at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Thomas Frank and his men still have an outside chance of European football next season.

A realist would suggest that hope was ended by a six-game winless streak in recent weeks, but it is still possible and Frank’s side seem determined to give their supporters an exciting denouement to the season.

They followed up their victory over Chelsea just over a week ago with that late home victory and also have a marksman who continues to defy the doubters.

That is Ivan Toney who has become the first Brentford player in almost a century to score 20 goals in a top flight campaign.

Of course, Liverpool are used to Premier League highlights themselves and a fifth victory in succession at home to Fulham on Wednesday night means they are currently enjoying their best run of the season.

Their 1-0 victory also marked another milestone in the glittering Anfield career of Egyptian Mohamed Salah.

The penalty which separated the sides meant he became the first player to score in eight consecutive Liverpool home games.

Gordon Hodgson and Luis Suárez scored in eight consecutive home appearances for the club in 1927-28 and 2014 respectively, but their sequences were interrupted by injury and suspension respectively.

Salah now stands fifth on the club’s all-time league goalscorers’ list and one behind former captain Steven Gerrard’s tally of 186 in all competitions.

He is clearly their talisman, even accounting for the wealth of attacking talent the home side can call upon.

Team news wise, Diogo Jota overcame a fresh knock to make the bench in midweek and could force his way back into the frontline alongside Cody Gakpo, while left-back Andrew Robertson enjoyed a rest so could replace Kostas Tsimikas.

Similarly, Brentford also have a quintet of injury concerns to factor in as Malmo-bound captain Pontus Jansson (thigh) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) are facing races against time to return before the campaign concludes.

Two substitutes in Frank Onyeka and Josh Dasilva combined for the latter to break Forest hearts last weekend, and while the former is unlikely to be rewarded with a start, Dasilva – who also completed all four of his dribble attempts successfully on the day – could challenge Mikkel Damsgaard’s spot.

History

They may have only enjoyed top flight football in two years out of the past three quarters of a century – the past two seasons – but they have shaken the Merseysiders up on more than one occasion.

Not least in January when the Bees ran out worthy winners against their exalted but often abject opponents on what evolved into a very special night in West London.

On that occasion, Ibahima Konate had a torrid time as he scored an own goal before being shoved off the ball for Bryan Mbeumo’s decisive third goal.

Yoane Wissa netted the other with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replying for the Reds.

In the corresponding fixture last term, they also displayed qualities in abundance as the hosts twice came from behind to draw 3-3.

On that occasion, Ethan Pinnock, Vitaly Janelt and Wissa were the marksmen with Jota, Salah and Curtis Jones finding the net for the away team.

The corresponding match last season saw Liverpool win 3-0, courtesy of goals from Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino.

Overall, Liverpool have 10 wins with four Brentford victories and a further four draws.

That was their first league visit to Anfield since October 1946 in Division One.

The only time Brentford have won there was in 1937 when they recorded a 4-3 success.

Betting Tip

The Bees have been buzzing for some time now and, along with Brighton, are the team of the season for me.

The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds naturally back Liverpool who are on offer 1X2 @ 1.47 and Asian Handicap – 1.25 @ 2.07.

Brentford are available 1X2 @ 5.0 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.13.

The Draw @ 4.40 may tempt some, while a repeat of last season’s meeting in this fixture – Correct Score 3-0 – will pay out @ 11.00.

Given there’s only ever been one goalless draw between the two sides, and that was 87 years ago, then you may look at total goal 0-1 @ 5.20 with a degree of scepticism.

Then there’s Total Goal 2-3 @ 2.10, 4-6 @ 2.57 and over 3.25 @ 2.13.

It really is difficult not to anticipate a number of goals so I am going to plump, as a *** tip, Total Goal 4-6 @ 2.57.

 

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