Liverpool’s defensive nightmare continues
Liverpool crashed to a shock 3-1 defeat against Brentford as a series of defensive blunders damaged their bid for a top four finish in the Premier League on Monday.
Jurgen Klopp's side endured a nightmare start to 2023 and they had only themselves to blame for the horror show in west London.
Ibrahima Konate's first half own goal set the tone for an evening scarred by mistakes at the back from Liverpool.
Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford's lead and although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got one back, Bryan Mbeumo wrapped up Brentford's first victory against Liverpool since 1938.
In his first appearance since playing in France's World Cup final defeat against Argentina in December, Konate took a large share of the blame for Liverpool's woeful defensive performance.
But the centre-back was far from alone in deserving criticism for a Liverpool display that left them in sixth place, four points behind fourth placed Manchester United who play their game in hand against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Although seventh placed Brentford are on a six-game unbeaten run in the league, including an impressive win at champions Manchester City just before the World Cup, it was still surprising to see Liverpool torn apart so easily.
Darwin Nunez, signed from Benfica for £64 million last year, was another poster-boy for Liverpool's struggles.
The 23-year-old had 13 shots without scoring in his previous two league games and was out of luck again in the early stages at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Mohamed Salah's superb pass unhinged the Brentford defence and Nunez looked certain to end his barren run when he rounded David Raya.
But Ben Mee scampered back to clear his shot off the line as Nunez held his head in disbelief.
Mbeumo went close with a blistering strike that Alisson Becker turned away for a corner.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Liverpool as Thomas Frank's team went in front from the resulting set-piece in the 19th minute.
Mee tried to flick on but it was Konate who got the final touch as the ball ricocheted off his knee and squirmed past the wrong-footed Alisson.
Liverpool were fortunate to avoid more set-piece 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 left unmarked to drill home from yet another dangerous corner before an offside flag against Mee once again spared Liverpool's blushes.
In disarray at the back, Liverpool were unable to deal with Brentford's aerial threat and Wissa finally got on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute.
Mathias Jensen's cross picked out Wissa and the Congo forward got in front of Trent Alexander-Arnold for a header that just crossed the line before Alisson could claw it out.
-
50 Places to Eat and Drink Before You DieCoronavirus: Federal judge blocks Kansas rule limiting religious gatherings.YouTube TV's missing channels are back after Google and Disney made a dealFloridians pack beaches as coronavirus cases continue to increase.21 Caves That Offer Otherworldly ExperiencesMutual aid: how Britons are taking the coronavirus response into their own hands.Samsung reveals longYoon apologizes to nation over Itaewon crowd crush古物:回望时间的印记YouTube TV's missing channels are back after Google and Disney made a deal
- ·The Weird, Wonderful World of Water Towers
- ·鲜味十足!浩洋食品多款水产加工品亮相辽宁农博会
- ·Apple quietly releases MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12
- ·Apple's iPhone 14 event is officially confirmed for Sept. 7
- ·Microwave technique recovers 87% of batteries' lithium in 15 minutes
- ·WHO investigating reports of coronavirus patients testing positive again after recovery.
- ·YouTube TV's missing channels are back after Google and Disney made a deal
- ·U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for the coronavirus.
- ·13 Unbelievable Underwater Wonders in Florida
- ·Trump: Obama was ready for war with North Korea
- ·Kansas Republicans undo governor’s coronavirus order prohibiting large religious gatherings.
- ·Moon seeks international support for inter
- ·Yoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threats
- ·Atthaya named Rookie of the Year
- ·Protesters demand end to lockdowns ccross U.S.: “Fire Fauci!”
- ·Trump's coronavirus social
- ·Republicans on abortion
- ·Joe Biden says Facebook is 'killing people' with COVID misinformation
- ·Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried on the coronavirus pandemic and Ron DeSantis.
- ·Coronavirus Diaries: My partner is in prison, and I can’t visit.
- ·13 Unbelievable Underwater Wonders in Florida
- ·GETTR, that site for Twitter rejects, is mad Twitter won't let it import tweets
- ·Joe Biden says Facebook is 'killing people' with COVID misinformation
- ·Moon seeks international support for inter
- ·共同推动雅安职工思想政治引领数智化发展工作做深做实
- ·Coronavirus Diaries: My partner is in prison, and I can’t visit.
- ·If aliens harnessed solar power, could we detect them? NASA investigated.
- ·S. Korea to hold memorial event in Busan for UN war veterans
- ·Trump keeps promoting unproven drug for coronavirus.
- ·20 Snapchat tips and tricks you might not know about
- ·New image shows the North Star is changing. And it has spots.
- ·方便患者就医 雅安仁康医院增设专家门诊
- ·Some jabroni brought the coronavirus to a Kentucky “coronavirus party.”
- ·Samsung reveals long
- ·18 Places for Epic Outdoor Adventure Across Colorado
- ·Elmo is the first viral celebrity of 2022