Liverpool travel to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (Oct 17) looking to bounce back from a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, which ended a run of three successive Premier League clean sheets. Brentford, unbeaten in the league and fourth in the table, sit a point above the Reds after six games.
Andoni Iraola's side warmed up with a 6-3 away win at Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday (Oct 14), with £123m signing Bradley Barcola scoring his first senior hat-trick.
Kelleher's form and Brentford's unbeaten run
Speaking to the ECHO, Reach's director of sport and lifelong Brentford fan Jake Murtagh praised former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who joined the Bees in the summer. "Caoimhin Kelleher has been rock-solid between the sticks and has established himself as one of the most reliable keepers in the Premier League," he said.
Brentford have the longest unbeaten home run in the top flight, last losing at the Gtech to Brighton in February. Keith Andrews' side are one of only three unbeaten teams in England's top flight, along with Manchester City and Everton.
Key battles and score prediction
Murtagh identified Virgil van Dijk's duel with Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade's pace down the left as key battles, if Schade passes a fitness test. He predicted a 3-1 home win.
On Liverpool's season under Iraola, Murtagh said: "I think everyone would've probably expected more from Liverpool than the two wins they have to their name so far. That being said, they are a team in transition and still boast quality throughout their squad and on the bench."
