Liverpool aiming for Premier League first in bid to extend lead over Man City
If Liverpool want to extend their lead over Manchester City to five points on Saturday afternoon they'll have to do something they've never done - win at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Reds will head to west London to take on Brentford, who have proved a tough nut to crack since their promotion. Liverpool have won at more Premier League grounds than any other club but have yet to leave the Bees' home with all three points.
In Brentford's debut campaign, they held Jurgen Klopp's side in an entertaining six-goal thriller that ended with a late equaliser. Last term, Liverpool were then undone 3-1 in the capital. The visitors therefore are hoping to make it third time lucky and ensure that City don't close in.
The champions will play several hours after Klopp's men, giving them the chance to put some pressure on, but the German knows the task that awaits. He said: "It's super, super-tricky, super-tricky there. The way they play, the way they set it up with or without [Ivan] Toney makes a difference, [having] all the guys back from the Africa Cup of Nations makes a difference. [Neal] Maupay found his feet, [he] makes a difference.
"[They are] well organised, set-pieces, cheeky, whether it's rhythm-breaks... obviously when you are good at set-pieces it makes sense you get set-pieces, so they want set-pieces. That's how it is. How can you defend Brentford for 95 minutes by avoiding any kind of set-piece? That's not possible in football.
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"On top of that, they are not only set-pieces but just really good at it, very compact defending, very good in counter-attack, very brave in these moments. [They] have the speed and a clear idea, a well-coached team and the atmosphere in the stadium they can create is really good.
Brentford's home is just one of four grounds Liverpool have failed to win at in the Premier League era. In total they've managed to win at 48 of the 52 venues they've visited as a Premier League side. Among the stadiums to repel them are the City Ground with Nottingham Forest enjoying a positive record against the Reds in their six visits.
Brentford have drawn with and beaten Liverpool in their two home Premier League matches (Getty Images)That could yet end with Liverpool due to play them in March, but last term Forest secured a surprise win. Their draw with Luton Town at Kenilworth Road means they failed to win on their only visit to the Hatters' Kenilworth Road stadium. The Reds also came away empty handed when they travelled to Blackpool more than a decade ago, losing at Bloomfield Road.
City will host Chelsea in the evening kick-off, by which point Liverpool could be five points ahead, albeit they'll have played two games more. Alternatively, should their poor record at Brentford continue, then the champions could leapfrog their title rivals.
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