Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola and Bradley Barcola
Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola and Bradley Barcola
Brentford and Liverpool meet at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday in the Premier League. Keith Andrews’ side sit fourth with 10 points after drawing 2-2 with Aston Villa, while Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool are ninth with nine points following six league games.
Liverpool have won just two of their last five visits to Brentford, losing twice, including a 3-2 defeat in west London almost exactly a year ago.
The teams’ 11 meetings in the capital have produced 46 goals, with both sides scoring in all but one encounter. Liverpool head into the fixture looking to build on Wednesday’s 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK after suffering their first defeat under Iraola in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City last Sunday.
The Reds have won just two of their six league matches, beating Ipswich and Bournemouth. Bradley Barcola stole the show against LASK, scoring a hat-trick to become the 13th Liverpool player to achieve the feat in European Cup history.
Andoni Iraola said after the game: “I’m really happy for Bradley because you were asking me yesterday about him not making the numbers, also Florian [Wirtz].
“I think both of them today played really, really well. I think they made a difference. Bradley apart from the hat-trick, I think he was a threat always – one-v-one, threatening in behind. Also Flo helped us a lot to control the game, finding the pockets. I’m happy for both of them.”
The France international could now become the first Red to score hat-tricks in consecutive matches since Jack Balmer in November 1946.
Barcola was named Champions League Player of the Week following his hat-trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over LASK on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool forward scored three goals in the Reds’ emphatic win in Linz. Barcola has made four Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season but is yet to register a goal or assist.
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