Brentford 3-2 Liverpool Player Ratings: The Bees Shock Liverpool to Clinch a Thrilling Victory

It was a chaotic game of football that we witnessed. The Premier League fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium was an absolute rollercoaster ride. Brentford ultimately emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over Liverpool, as they deserved every bit of it. From our perspective, Liverpool just never looked settled.

Brentford came out of the blocks flying. Dango Ouattara capitalized on some shoddy defending to score inside five minutes. It set the tone for the entire match. Liverpool looked shell-shocked. Before they could even regroup, Kevin Schade made it two just before the halftime whistle with a clinical counter-attack.

Liverpool did manage to pull one back through an unlikely source in Milos Kerkez right at the death of the first half, giving them a glimmer of hope. However, the second half saw more of the same defensive frailty. A clumsy challenge from Virgil van Dijk led to a penalty, coolly dispatched by Igor Thiago. Mohamed Salah grabbed a late consolation, but it was too little, too late. This match was a stark reminder of Liverpool's vulnerabilities. Here are the Brentford vs Liverpool Player Ratings.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Brentford

Goalkeeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili - 6.0: A tough day at the office for the keeper. He conceded three goals but also made five saves, a couple of which were quite impressive. What stood out to us was his save from Igor Thiago in the second half. Despite that, letting in three goals is never a good look. He couldn't do much about the penalty, but maybe he could have organized his defense better for the first two goals.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk - 5.0: A performance to forget for the captain. He looked like a shadow of his usual self. Conceding the penalty was the nail in the coffin for his rating. While he made plenty of clearances, he seemed slow to react to Brentford's quick counters. We noticed his body language seemed off; he looked frustrated throughout. A really poor outing from one of the world's best.

Ibrahima Konaté - 6.0: He was probably the better of the two center-backs, which isn't saying much. He won most of his duels and was physically imposing. However, he was part of a defense that was carved open too easily. From our perspective, he was often left exposed by his teammates. A mixed bag of a performance.

Milos Kerkez - 6.5: Scored a goal, which was a huge plus, giving his team a lifeline they barely deserved. But he also picked up a needless yellow card and looked shaky defensively. He was subbed off just after the hour mark. He offered something going forward, but was a liability at the back. It was a chaotic performance that summed up Liverpool's day.

Conor Bradley - 5.5: A difficult afternoon for the young fullback. He really struggled against the pace and trickery of Brentford's attackers. He lost most of his aerial duels and was caught out of position multiple times. It was no surprise to see him substituted. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Midfielders

Florian Wirtz - 5.5: We expected so much more from him. He was largely anonymous and struggled to impose his creative will on the game. Missing a big chance in the first half really summed up his day. He just couldn't find the key to unlock Brentford's defense. A very quiet and disappointing game.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.5: One of the few Liverpool players who can hold their head high. He was everywhere, driving forward with the ball and winning his battles in midfield. His energy was infectious, and he tried to drag his team back into the game single-handedly. He was a bright spark in a dismal team performance.

Curtis Jones - 7.0: He was neat and tidy in possession, with an impressive pass accuracy. He was doing a solid job of recycling possession before his unfortunate injury. His departure was a blow to Liverpool's midfield control. He was playing well and didn't deserve to have his game cut short.

Forwards

C. Gakpo - 6.5: He showed flashes of his quality, creating a couple of big chances for his teammates. However, he drifted in and out of the game. From our perspective, he needed to be more involved. He was substituted after an hour, and you feel he could have offered more if he'd stayed on.

Mohamed Salah - 6.0: He got his goal, as he so often does, but this was a poor performance by his lofty standards. He missed a big chance and lost possession far too many times. His decision-making was questionable, and the yellow card was just silly. It felt like he was trying too hard to make something happen on his own.

Hugo Ekitiké - 5.0: A really frustrating performance to watch. He had several chances to score but was incredibly wasteful. His movement was good, but his finishing was woeful. He needs to be more clinical if he wants to lead the line for a team like Liverpool. Just not good enough.

Substitutes

Andy Robertson - 6.0: Came on and provided a bit more stability on the left.

Federico Chiesa - 6.0: Looked lively but couldn't produce a decisive moment.

Alexis Mac Allister - 6.0: Tried to get on the ball, but the game was already slipping away.

Rio Ngumoha - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Joe Gomez - N/A: Came on late to see out the game.

Manager

A. Slot - 5.0: His team looked completely unprepared for Brentford's intensity. The defensive setup was a shambles, and they were torn apart on the counter. His substitutions didn't have the desired impact. A very poor day at the office for the manager, who was tactically outclassed.

Brentford Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 6.5: Conceded two goals, but there wasn't much he could do about either. He made a couple of key saves, including one from Curtis Jones in the first half. He looked composed and commanded his area well. A solid performance against his former club.

Defenders

Sepp van den Berg - 7.5: An excellent display against his parent club. He was solid as a rock, making crucial blocks and interceptions. He read the game beautifully and was a key part of Brentford's resilient defense. He showed Liverpool what they're missing.

Kristoffer Ajer - 7.5: A commanding presence at the back. He won almost everything in the air and was strong in the tackle. He marshaled the backline with authority and made life very difficult for Liverpool's attackers. A top-class defensive performance.

Nathan Collins - 8.0: The captain led by example. He was immense, making a staggering eight clearances. He put his body on the line time and time again. What stood out to us was his leadership and organization. A true captain's performance.

Michael Kayode - 8.0: What a player. He was a menace down the flank, providing quality crosses and causing all sorts of problems. Defensively, he was just as good, winning all his duels. An all-action performance from the fullback. He was simply outstanding.

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson - 7.0: A typically industrious performance against his old team. He worked his socks off in the middle of the park, breaking up play and keeping things simple. His experience was vital in managing the game. A very solid, professional display.

Kevin Schade - 9.0: Our Man of the Match. He was absolutely electric. He scored a crucial goal, created five chances, and was a constant threat with his pace and dribbling. Every time he got the ball, you felt something was going to happen. A phenomenal performance that tore Liverpool apart.

Dango Ouattara - 8.5: He set the tone with his early goal and was a nightmare for Liverpool's defense all game. He won the penalty with his clever movement and was unlucky not to score more. His energy and directness were key to Brentford's win. A fantastic outing.

Mikkel Damsgaard - 8.0: He pulled the strings in midfield. His assist for Schade's goal was perfectly weighted, and he was always looking to create. His vision and passing range were a joy to watch. A very intelligent and effective performance before being substituted.

Yegor Yarmolyuk - N/A: His game was cruelly cut short by an early injury. It was a real shame as he looked ready for the battle.

Forwards

Igor Thiago - 8.0: He led the line brilliantly. He held the ball up well, brought others into play, and was a real physical handful. He showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty. He kept Van Dijk and Konaté busy all afternoon. A top center-forward display.

Substitutes

Vitaly Janelt - 7.0: Came on early for the injured Yarmolyuk and slotted in seamlessly. He was disciplined and effective.

Keane Lewis-Potter - 6.5: Added fresh legs and energy late on.

Mathias Jensen - 6.5: Helped see out the game with his composure on the ball.

Manager

K. Andrews - 9.0: A tactical masterclass. He set his team up perfectly to exploit Liverpool's weaknesses. The game plan to counter-attack with pace worked a treat. His players were motivated, organized, and clinical. He completely outwitted his opposite number.

Sportsdunia's Player of the match goes to Kevin Schade.