Liverpool made it two wins from two under Arne Slot as goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah sealed a 2-0 victory over Brentford in his first Premier League home game in charge.
The Liverpool supporters inside Anfield gave their new head coach a warm welcome and his team responded with an opening goal after only 13 minutes as Diaz finished emphatically from Diogo Jota’s pass following a scintillating counter-attack.
The breakaway goal was reminiscent of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp but Slot is trying to implement his own playing style and, as in the opening-weekend win over Ipswich at Portman Road, it was not until after half-time that his side hit their stride.
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Mohamed Salah doubles Liverpool’s lead over Brentford
Alisson was called into action to make a smart save from a Nathan Collins header but Brentford lacked a cutting edge without the absent Ivan Toney and Liverpool deservedly doubled their lead as Salah’s impressive start to the season continued.
The Egyptian’s second goal in as many games was superbly taken as he clipped a cool finish into the corner after narrowly beating Brentford’s offside trap from Diaz’s pass.
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Luis Diaz fires Liverpool ahead following a fast break
Liverpool could easily have been out of sight by then, with Mark Flekken having saved from Diaz and Andrew Robertson, among others. Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the bar directly from a corner, while substitute Cody Gakpo also hit the woodwork.
But the victory never looked in genuine doubt and ensures Slot can prepare for next weekend’s trip to Manchester United, live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday, on the back of two wins.
Carra: Good start just what Slot needed
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher: “Arne Slot will be pleased. There is no doubt there would have been lots of questions asked had Liverpool not got off to a good start.
“Those questions of Jurgen Klopp and these group of players – who have won everything, league titles, European cups, domestic cup competitions.
“You want to put that narrative to bed as quickly as you possibly can, [and show] that these players are bedding in and listening and learning from this new manager and buying into his methods going forward.
Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s second goal
“So it does help, having this good start that Arne Slot has had. But the first really big game of his tenure comes next week.
“You think of what that game did to Liverpool’s title chances, there should be a lot of motivation from his players to put that right.”
Analysis: More control, less chaos from Liverpool
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:
“That’s a Klopp goal,” said Jamie Carragher on co-commentary after Luis Diaz buried Liverpool’s breakaway opener following a blistering counter-attack.
Those devastating moments of directness are deeply ingrained in these Liverpool players but there was evidence of their changing approach under new head coach Arne Slot.
The emphasis is on control. Liverpool dominated Brentford. For the most part, though, their approach play was patient. Sometimes, the passing and moving was mesmerising. But it was not gung-ho. Carragher later called it a “Man City-like” performance.
“There wasn’t any jeopardy in the game,” he said. It might take some getting used to for the club’s supporters but it is no bad thing – not when they are winning as comfortably as this.
Their passing numbers told a tale. In addition to having 63 per cent possession in the game, Liverpool completed 92 per cent of their passes – their highest success rate in a Premier League game since Opta started taking records in 2003/04.
Alexis Mac Allister admitted the players will need time to adapt. “Sometimes we should be patient but instead we are quite direct,” he told Sky Sports. But the new era is here, and the signs of Slot’s approach taking hold are already clear to see.
