Brentford vs. Liverpool: Premier League 2026-27 Preview & Team News
LIVERPOOL, October 17th League Stadium 3PM BST/10AM EST Injured pair Kevin Schade and Jannik Schuster have been training on grass this week and both will face a late fitness test to determine their availability to face the Reds. Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool player Sepp van den Berg, who has recently been sidelined with a groin injury, was on the bench last weekend and could make his return against his former club.
As for other injuries, Mikkel Damsgaard and Nathan Collins are unlikely to feature though also inch closer to a return, though Brentford boss Keith Andrews was elusive in his press conference and provided no clear confirmation of fitness for any players nearing return. Kaye Furo and Josh Desilva definitely remain out, however.
Last year Brentford won this fixture, and Liverpool will need to be alert to danger to stop this from happening again. Brentford are unbeaten this season, winning four and drawing two, and their unbeaten run of eight matches stretching back to last season is the longest such run.
They're a group that are effective at disrupting opposition build-up, with Vitaly Janelt key in the midfield - should he be called upon. Trey Nyoni's passing could be key here.
The Bees are also hard to nullify, having nine different goalscorers thus far this season. Having just faced Erling Haaland, we know that having a known threat doesn't necessarily make things easier, but the pure variety in Brentford's attack means that complacency will be punished.
Brentford have had an effective defensive approach thus far, and that sort of approach was a frustration for the Reds early on this season. Liverpool's showing at LASK was one with creativity and intent against a side seemingly unprepared for the onslaught; in contrast, the team the Reds will meet at the Gtech will likely remind us all why the Premier League is so challenging.
Brentford's extremely low shot conversion rate this season - of their average of 14.5 shots conceded per match, less than 7% have been scored - is the headline. The Bees want to limit their opponents to shots from distance (keep refreshing the Dominik Szoboszlai fitness updates friends), and will make it difficult to create in the final third.
What Liverpool were really good at against LASK was this constant creativity in dangerous areas. Can they reprise the role against more challenging opponents?
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1) Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister,Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas Echoing Andrews, Andoni Iraola, too, refused to fully confirm fitness availability for Liverpool's most recently sidelined first team players. Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlaicouldfeature on Saturday, but uncertainty reigns.