Anfield will host a pivotal Premier League clash this Sunday, with Liverpool facing Brentford in a match that could secure the Reds a top-five finish and Champions League qualification for 2026-27. With kickoff set for 4 p.m. BST, here’s an exclusive breakdown of 17 must-know stats ahead of the fixture.
head-to-head dominance and recent form
In 24 competitive meetings between the two sides, Liverpool holds a commanding record—15 wins to Brentford’s five, with the Reds finding the net in all but one of those encounters. Their last Premier League outing against the Bees ended 3-2, yet Liverpool has never endured consecutive league defeats to Brentford in their history.
high-scoring trends and milestone moments
Nine of the past 12 matches between these teams have featured at least one side scoring three goals, hinting at an attacking spectacle. Should Liverpool net twice on Sunday, they’ll reach a landmark 150 goals in Premier League games under Arne Slot’s leadership. Adding to the intrigue, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister could make his 150th appearance for the club.
The Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah remains a thorn in Brentford’s side, boasting seven goals in eight meetings—more than any other player in this fixture. His strike rate here stands at one goal every 95 minutes. Another feather in his cap? He could become the first player since Sadio Mané in 2020 to net Liverpool’s final league goal of a season for a second consecutive campaign.
van dijk’s ironman streak and defensive resilience
Defensive rock Virgil van Dijk has played every minute in 74 of Liverpool’s 75 Premier League games under Slot, including all 37 this season. At 34 years and 320 days old, completing 90 minutes here would make him the oldest outfield player to log 100% of minutes in a single Premier League season, surpassing John Terry’s 2014-15 record (34 years, 168 days).
Van Dijk has amassed 4,851 minutes across all competitions this term—the highest total for an outfield Liverpool player since Sami Hyypiä’s 5,205 in 2005-06. The Reds have also gone unbeaten in their last 18 home league campaigns, stretching back to a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in 1988-89. Their streak includes 15 wins and three draws since a 6-1 defeat at Stoke City in 2014-15.
brentford’s struggles and individual brilliance
Brentford arrives at Anfield on the back of a dismal run, having won just one of their last nine Premier League matches (six draws, two losses). Their sole victory came in a 3-0 drubbing of West Ham earlier this month. Historically, the Bees have fared poorly at Anfield, going six straight away trips without scoring or securing a win since a 1936-37 draw.
Striker Igor Thiago has been Brentford’s talisman this season, netting 22 of their 54 Premier League goals—41% of the total. This marks the highest single-campaign share by a player since Harry Kane’s 43% for Tottenham in 2023 (30 goals in 70 matches).
managerial clashes and historic context
New Brentford boss Keith Andrews brings a personal connection to this fixture, having scored against Liverpool as a player for Blackburn Rovers in a 2-1 defeat back in February 2010. Under his guidance, Brentford is poised to achieve its best-ever Premier League finish, currently sitting on track for their fifth consecutive top-flight campaign.
