Brentford v Liverpool: Preview, predicted line-ups and team news

Liverpool arrive in west London in need of a response. They were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at Anfield last Sunday, a result that left them with two wins, three draws and a defeat from six league games.

Brentford are heading the other way. Unbeaten through six matches, they sit fourth and have already beaten Tottenham and Chelsea 3-0 at home this season.

The hosts have not been beaten this term, but only two of those six games have ended in victory. Saturday offers a chance to turn a run of draws into something more convincing against a side that is short of goals.

Brentford's record reads W2 D4 L0, and the two wins were emphatic. Tottenham went down 3-0 on 22 August, and Chelsea lost by the same score on 18 September. In between came four draws: 1-1 at Leeds, 1-1 with Sunderland, 2-2 at Bournemouth and, most recently, 2-2 away from home on 10 October.

The home and away splits are stark. At the Brentford Community Stadium they have scored seven and conceded one in three games. On the road they have drawn all three, scoring five and conceding five. Defending late in games has been the problem: three of their six goals conceded have come between the 76th and 90th minutes.

Liverpool have 9 points from six games, one fewer than Brentford, and their numbers point to a team struggling to score. They have mustered seven goals in total, an average of 1.2 per game, and have failed to score in two of their three home games.

The away record is far healthier. They have won twice and drawn once on their travels, scoring five and conceding two, including a 2-0 win at Ipswich and a 1-0 win at Bournemouth on 20 September. Only three of their six league games have gone over 2.5 goals, and they have kept three clean sheets, so this is a side that wins narrowly or not at all.

Over their last six league games Brentford have won two, drawn four and lost none, scoring 12 and conceding six. Liverpool have won two, drawn three and lost one, with seven scored and seven conceded. On raw results the hosts are in better shape, and Liverpool's most recent outing was the 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City. The caveat is that Brentford have drawn four of their six, and they have not kept a clean sheet away from home. Liverpool have more of the ball, averaging 55% possession to Brentford's 46.2%, so the draw is a live outcome.

Brentford are fourth on 10 points from six games, with a goal difference of +6. They are level on points with Everton and Chelsea and three behind third-placed Brighton on 13. Manchester City lead the table with 18 from six, a full maximum.

Liverpool are on 9 points from six games, one behind Brentford. A win would take Brentford to 13 and put them level with Brighton in the Champions League places. A Liverpool win would lift them above Brentford and into the pack chasing the top four, while defeat would extend a run of one win in their last five games.

Liverpool have the clear historical edge. In 10 meetings they have won six, Brentford two and two have been drawn, averaging 3.3 goals per game. Five of the 10 produced goals at both ends (50%) and six went over 2.5 goals (60%). The last meeting finished 1-1 at Anfield on 24 May 2026, on the final day of last season.

The pattern has shifted lately. Brentford won 3-2 at home on 25 October 2025, and drew 1-1 on the last day of last season, after Liverpool had won the two meetings before that by a combined score of 4-0. The H2H points to goals, with a 60% over 2.5 rate, but both sides' current scoring numbers are lower than their history suggests. Liverpool's average of 1.2 goals per game is the figure that keeps the Under 2.5 price at 6/4. A tight home win or a draw looks the likeliest correct score range.

The biggest gap is in front of goal. Brentford average 2.0 goals per game and an expected-goals figure of 1.83, against Liverpool's 1.17 and 1.55. Brentford have not failed to score all season, while Liverpool have drawn a blank twice.

Liverpool dominate the ball, with 55% possession to Brentford's 46.2%, and they have kept three clean sheets to Brentford's two. Brentford take 15.83 shots a game to Liverpool's 14.83. Liverpool put 5.0 on target to Brentford's 4.5, so Liverpool are not lacking in chances. The difference is in finishing, and the hosts are the more clinical side.

Both sides have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 in all six league games, and neither is likely to change. Brentford have three midfielders in doubt, so the engine room is the main selection question. Liverpool's attack needs a response after the Manchester City defeat.

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry; Jensen, Janelt; Schade, Lewis-Potter, Ouattara; Wilson

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Gomez, Kerkez; Nyoni, Mac Allister; McConnell, Wirtz; Koumas

The game kicks off at 15:00 BST on Saturday 17 October 2026. It is NOT shown live on TV or streaming in the UK because it falls inside the Saturday 3pm blackout. Highlights will be on Match of the Day, and you can follow the action on our live blog.

The strongest angle is Brentford's home record. Seven goals scored and one conceded at their own ground, set against Liverpool's one win in their last five league games, makes the hosts the value at 11/8. The goals markets are priced short, so the best prices sit in the result and scorer markets. The builder leans on a Brentford win, goals at both ends and Ouattara.