Brentford: Liverpool’s Unconquerable Rivalry – 86-Year Winless Streak Unveiled!
Liverpool’s upcoming league match against Brentford is set to reignite a historic rivalry that dates back 86 years. The Reds have faced Brentford a total of 15 times, emerging victorious in seven of those encounters. However, their track record away to the Bees is less than stellar, with their last win at Brentford occurring back in 1938.
The Brentford hoodoo has haunted Liverpool for decades, as they have struggled to secure a win in their league visits to the London-based club. In fact, their last victory at Brentford came in 1938, a staggering 86 years ago. Despite their recent success in the Premier League, Liverpool has been unable to break this winless streak at Brentford.
Liverpool’s last visit to Brentford was marred by a 3-1 defeat in the opening game of 2023. This match saw Liverpool make three changes at half-time, a rare occurrence for the team. Naby Keita, Andy Robertson, and Joel Matip were brought on in place of Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas, and Virgil van Dijk. Unfortunately for Liverpool, these changes did not result in a victory.
Recent history shows that Liverpool has struggled in their visits to Brentford, failing to secure a win in their last four league matches. The team has managed to score and concede goals in all seven of their previous league visits to Brentford, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this rivalry.
Liverpool’s fortunes in London have been inconsistent this season. While they were victorious at Crystal Palace with a score of 2-1, their visits to Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal ended in draws and defeats. Remarkably, Liverpool’s only defeats in the past 10 months have come when playing in the capital.
It’s worth noting that Liverpool has performed well in early kick-off games this season, remaining unbeaten in four matches played at 12:30 p.m. They have secured victories at Wolves and Crystal Palace, drawn against Manchester City, and defeated Everton at home.
The corresponding fixture earlier this season saw Liverpool’s Mo Salah achieve a significant milestone. Salah scored his 200th goal in English club football, equaling the record set by Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, and Thierry Henry for scoring in his club’s opening six home games of a league season. This achievement solidifies Salah’s place in Liverpool’s history books as the first player to accomplish this feat.
On the other side of the pitch, Brentford has faced its own struggles recently. The Bees have lost seven of their last nine league matches, leaving them in a precarious position. Their home form has been particularly concerning, with only four wins in 12 home league games this season. Additionally, they have suffered defeat in three of their last four home league matches.
Brentford’s recent victory against Wolves was a much-needed boost for the team, as it was their first clean sheet in 15 games and the first time in seven matches that they did not concede at least two goals. However, Brentford has lost 26 points from winning positions this season, further highlighting their inability to maintain a strong position.
Despite Brentford’s struggles, their star players Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay have shown excellent form. Toney has scored in three of his four appearances since his return, while also finding the net in four of his last five home league games. Maupay has also been a key contributor, scoring in five of Brentford’s six games played in 2024.
The referee for this highly anticipated match is Michael Oliver from Northumberland. Oliver last officiated a Liverpool game during a goalless draw with Manchester United at Anfield in December. Interestingly, three out of his last five matches involving Brentford were against Everton.
In terms of goalscorers, Liverpool’s attacking prowess has been well-documented this season. Salah leads the pack with 18 goals in the league, followed by Diogo Jota with 14 goals. Other notable contributors include Nunez, Gakpo, and Diaz. Brentford’s goals have been spread among Maupay, Mbeumo, Jensen, and Wissa.
As Liverpool prepares to face Brentford once again, the weight of an 86-year winless streak hangs heavy over them. Will they finally break the Brentford hoodoo and secure a victory at the Bees’ home ground? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – this rivalry is far from over.