Monday 2nd January 2023: Premier League: Gtech Community Stadium: Brentford vs Liverpool
As the calendar ticked over into 2023 I decided to begin my year in church, my football church. Sneaking this visit in at the end of a long festive season of travel, whilst also sorting out a house move, I was perhaps less excited for the visit of the team who had come within 2 games of the quadruple last season.
Though the fact that Liverpool were in abysmal form and no longer a team for anyone to be afraid of may also have contributed to my low excitement levels. Whatever the reason, I took my seat convinced I was about to witness a 0-0 borefest. By the final whistle I had learnt my lesson in humility.
The corresponding confrontation last season was a barnstorming bananza of a game and it didn’t take long for everyone in attendance that this one would be just as good. Sure Brentford were without Ivan Toney, due to an injury niggle, and the visitors were playing a largely second-string team, also injury-forced, but both teams gave it there all from the second the ref blew his whistle.
Liverpool got us underway and immediately attempted to get on the front foot, forcing Zanka to commit a foul on Nunez within 2 minutes. Brentford were giving as good as they got though and, with the match still in it’s first 5, Norgaard rose highest in the area to head the games first clear cut change mere inches over the bar.
An end-to-end battle at 100mph erupted into being with both teams wasting presentable chances before the 10 minute mark, with Roerslev even nipping the ball of the waiting Janelt’s toes to mess up a decent chance at one point. Brentford were however limiting their chances to make intrudes behind the visiting defence by trying too many high balls at just the right height for the twin towers of Van Dijk and Konate to deal with without breaking sweat.
The reds were not without their own profligacy though especially when Nunez was sprung clear in behind the Bee’s backline in the opening exchanges. He did the hard work of taking it round Raya before bulleting it straight into the torso of the single covering defender from 5 yards out. Both teams were creating chances with ease and it was only through sheer dumb luck that the scores remained level for as long as they did. At times the Bees foolish decisions would smash closed a glorious opening whilst at other it was only the swarm of Bees sweeping back that choked out a certain goal for the visitors.
This ridiculous stalemate was finally broken in the 19th minute and I had no idea who scored it. I was too busy celebrating taking the lead and swimming in the deep relief of seeing a VAR referral for a possible handball come back all clear. I would guess that Ben Mee got the final touch, but on later review it turned out to be an own goal by Konate that had garnished the game with the goal it deserved.
Having weathered the storm that followed Bees had the ball in the net again 7 minutes later, but this one wouldn’t count. The linesman’s flag went up instantaneously to burn my elation to a crisp and the VAR review I was anxiously awaiting never arrived. We would have to settle for a 1-0 lead for now, but the visitors were now rattled. They continued to keep the pressure on the hosts though and pinned us back into our own half, until we doubled our lead.
That glorious second came courtesy of Wissa in the 42nd minute, just over a minute after his much more attractive finish had been ruled out for offside in the build up. The 2nd goal that counted was a scruffy ball bundled over the line, but they all count .With a comfortable cushion heading into half-time I expected the Bees to be able to hold-on after the restart, but knew that Liverpool would come at us like a pack of starving wolves at the start of the second half. If we got through that first 10 minutes unscathed I was confident we would keep the 3 points in London.
Klopp dredged his bench for options at half-time and came up with a triple substitutions that bore fruit almost immediately. As expected the visitors tore into the Bees and within 5 minutes their onslaught drew blood. Oxlade-Chamberlain, not one of the subs, got the final touch for the goal. Before that though it was the scousers turn to have a goal chalked off for offside by VAR. Nunez had won a foot race with the defender and flicked the ball into the net past Raya. The Bee’s defence were calling for the flag before the ball even hit the back of the net and they were proven right when VAR concurred with their assessment.
There was no such reprieve when the Ox nodded home at the far post, connecting with a glorious cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Raya was left flailing at thin air for that goal and the rest of the Bee’s team were all out of ideas for how to stem the tide. Particularly the tide of Andy Robertson who was constantly tormenting them down the left wing.
Deficit halved and with their tails up Liverpool kept coming at the hosts who were unable to lay a glove on them but they could do everything except score. It took a double sub in the 74th minute for the hosts to regain a proper foothold.
Ten minutes later this foothold had developed into a 3rd goal. We scored 3 against them last season, but this time it was enough for all 3 points. Our third this year came from the boots of Bryan Mbuemo, who has the simple task of sweeping the ball under Alisson, with the grace of a swan, after being picked out by a route one ball curved into his stride.
Brentford were able to see out the final 5 minutes no problem to secure a famous win against a team that had fallen into the abyss of mediocrity. It was their first win over the red scousers since 1938, but in my rush to catch the last train north from Euston I was unable to revel in the glory of the moment.
For my fellow Bee’s fans it must have been glorious to experience this victory and see our team move into 7th, the Europa Conference League position. For myself I hope to feel that pure elation on my next visit to church, for the derby against local high-flying rivals Fulham.
The Football tourist 