Liverpool lost 3-1 against Brentford as a series of defensive errors damaged their bid to finish in the Premier League’s top four on Monday.
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Jurgen Klopp’s side are having a nightmare start to 2023 and have only themselves to blame for the horrors of west London.
Ibrahima Konate’s first-half own goal set the tone for an evening marred by mistakes at the Liverpool back.
Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford’s lead and although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled one back, Bryan Mbeumo completed Brentford’s first win over Liverpool since 1938.
In his first appearance since playing in France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina in December, Konate took a large share of the blame for Liverpool’s woeful defensive performance.
But the centre-back was far from the only critic worthy of Liverpool’s display which left them in sixth place, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Although seventh-placed Brentford are unbeaten in six league games, including an impressive win over champions Manchester City ahead of the World Cup, it was still a shock to see Liverpool collapse so easily.
Darwin Nunez, signed from Benfica for £64 million ($77 million) last year, is another poster-boy for Liverpool’s struggles.
The 23-year-old had gone 13 shots without scoring in his previous two league games and was unlucky again in the early stages at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Mohamed Salah’s brilliant pass tore through Brentford’s defense and Nunez looked confident of ending the barren run as he rounded David Raya.
But Ben Mee raced back to clear his shot off the line as Nunez held his head in disbelief.
– Liverpool is fragile –
Mbeumo came close with a blistering attack that Alisson Becker turned for a corner.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Liverpool as Thomas Frank’s side went ahead from a set-piece in the 19th minute.
Mee tried to flick it in but it was Konate who got the last touch as the ball ricocheted off his knee and squirmed over the wrong-footed Alisson.
Liverpool were fortunate to avoid further misery when Wissa struck from close range after the Reds made a hash of clearing a corner, only for an offside call to deny Brentford.
Klopp’s side failed to heed the warning and Wissa was unchecked to drill home from another dangerous corner before an offside flag against Mee once again saved Liverpool.
Trouble at the back, Liverpool were unable to deal with Brentford’s aerial threat and Wissa finally got on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute.
Mathias Jensen’s cross picked out Wissa and the Congolese striker got in front of Trent Alexander-Arnold for a header that just crossed the line before Alisson could clear it.
Klopp was furious on the touchline as he raged at his stunned players.
The Germans responded by sending on Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson and Naby Keita at half-time, with Virgil van Dijk replaced after picking up a leg injury.
Klopp’s change briefly cost Liverpool and Nunez had an effort disallowed for offside before reducing the deficit in the 50th minute.
After being tormented by crosses in the first half, Liverpool took to the air when Alexander-Arnold’s pin-point delivery was headed home by Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Instead of spurring Liverpool to a grandstand finish, this goal was too good for the Reds, who lost their way as the half wore on.
Of course, Brentford’s blow to defeat was a wound inflicted by Liverpool as Konate collapsed when he failed to pass a long ball to Mbeumo, who ran past Alisson.