Much has been made of the “Three Bs” early on in this Premier League season, and Liverpool head back down south to face the second team in this trifecta on Saturday, where a tough test against Brentford awaits.
If I’m being honest, I don’t think even the most optimistic Reds will be expecting an easy afternoon here, but it will be a great opportunity to see where we stand at the moment. And if we could grab all three points, it would be a HUGE statement.
So what are Brentford good at? And how can Liverpool set up for the best chance of success? Let’s dive deeper into Brentford’s tactics:
The Setup:
Brentford usually set up in a 4231, but have an interesting way of building up on the ball. The double pivot will often sit deep, almost within a half space between the first and second lines. In addition, the full backs will push high and wide to try and pin opposing players deep. This highlights their emphasis on wing play.
A visualisation of how Brentford set up in possession and where players like to run.
Crosses And Long Balls:
The Bees are known for their direct play, and will often be opportunistic in possession, attempting early crosses and long balls to exploit high lines and use the physicality of players like Igor Thiago.
The Set Piece Threat:
Ever since they came up to the Premier League under Thomas Frank, Brentford have been one of the most potent sides from set pieces, and this season is no exception, as they currently top the set piece xG table so far for 26/27.
They aren’t afraid to use long throws and clever routines, so Liverpool need to be on their A game aerially. The set piece factor is why I think Ronald Araujo absolutely has to start this game, even if Frimpong got 3 G/A in midweek.
An example of Brentford’s set piece intelligence, a 1-2 leaves a huge open space here.
The Mid Block And Liverpool’s Solutions:
When out of possession in a mid block, Brentford’s usual shape would be a 4141, which I do believe Liverpool can exploit via technique and sufficient line-breaking combinations, paired with positional rotations. This could be particularly effective in the left half space, where Wirtz and Barcola excelled against LASK.
A visualisation of Liverpool in possession vs Brentford’s 4141 mid block showing who can run into the left half space for overloads. Nyoni splitting the CBs can also provide opportunities between the lines.
