The Premier League odds market might be winding down to a close, but plenty of issues remain to be addressed in the top flight of English football. This bank holiday weekend will see Liverpool vs Brentford in a 5:30pm BST kick-off on Saturday evening from Anfield. The home team know that they need a win to keep their outside chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive.
Salah Leading Liverpool Charge
It’s been an extraordinary improvement in form for Liverpool over this second part of the season. The Merseysiders looked in deep trouble just a couple of months ago with the club sitting in mid-table and facing the prospect of no European football next season. It appears their exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid back in March ignited a resurgence in domestic results.
Liverpool have now won their last 5 league games in a row and are unbeaten in 7 league matches. This form has seen the club move up to 5th in the table and just 4 points outside the top four. The Reds are now priced at 7/2 with BetUK to qualify for next season’s Champions League. This is a tempting price given Manchester United’s recent downturn in form.
Mohamed Salah has been key to recent results for Jurgen Klopp’s men with the Egyptian scoring in each of his club’s last 8 home matches across all competitions. The last player to pull off such a feat was Luis Suarez back in 2013/14. It’s no surprise he’s available at 4/1 to be first goalscorer with William Hill and 11/10 with Bet365 to score anytime.
Bees Not Buzzing Off to the Beach
There is a fair argument to suggest that a lot of the Brentford players are probably mentally on their holidays already. The club secured safety from relegation a while ago now and with the team down in 9th position it looks like qualifying for European football this season is just a stretch too far. Still, Thomas Frank’s side aren’t going quietly into this end-of-season period. The Bees are undefeated in their last 3 league games and have won back-to-back league matches.
It was 6 league games without a win for Brentford before these two victories over Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. The team scored twice in both of those games and they are listed at 12/5 with Paddy Power to score 2 or more goals once again here. That’s not beyond the realms of possibility given Liverpool have conceded at least 2 goals in 3 of their last 4 home league games.
In terms of an anytime scorer pick then you might want to take a look at frontman Ivan Toney. The prolific striker has scored 20 league goals this season and has now scored in 4 of his last 7 appearances for the club in the top flight including scoring twice in his last 3 league appearances.
Head-to-Head Meetings
If you’re a Brentford fan then you’ll want to look away at this point of the preview. Liverpool have only lost 1 of their 10 home matches played against Brentford down the years and that came way back in 1937… before World War II had even started! In Brentford’s defence, they’ve not really had many opportunities to improve that record given their years spent down in the lower divisions.
There are crumbs of comfort for the travelling side though because Brentford did actually win the last league meeting between these two with a 3-1 victory at home back in January. There’s no doubt that Liverpool appear to be in a healthier position now than they were back then but it’s certainly something to bear in mind.
Liverpool vs Brentford Betting Tips
In a game like this, it’s always important to consider what both teams are playing for. Liverpool know a win is mandatory if they want to have any chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. The club are available at ½ with SpreadEx to win and it’s a price that is getting shorter by the minute. It offers very little value and shows exactly how much confidence the bookies have in a home win.
Brentford are listed at 6/1 with Unibet to get a win here and even their odds of 9/5 with the same bookmaker as a double chance bet isn’t very appealing. I’m going to have to back Liverpool to win with both teams to score because I feel Brentford will offer an attacking threat and I’m definitely backing Salah to grab a goal at some time.
Liverpool to Win & BTTS @ 7/4 with Bet365
Anytime Scorer: Mohamed Salah @ 11/10 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
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