Liverpool travels to Brentford on Saturday looking to get its Premier League campaign back on track following last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, but the Reds are dealing with several injuries
Andoni Iraola is under pressure at Liverpool
Andoni Iraola is under pressure at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola leads his Liverpool players to Brentford on Saturday as they aim to revive their Premier League campaign following last Sunday's deflating 3-0 loss to Manchester City at Anfield.
A midweek 6-3 triumph over LASK in the Champions League will have helped rebuild player morale, but Keith Andrews' Bees present a far tougher challenge than the Austrian outfit. Sitting comfortably in the table, Brentford remains undefeated thus far this season and will be eager to cause an upset with its third home victory of the campaign.
With Liverpool anxious about the availability of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, some of the game's leading pundits sense an opportunity at the Gtech Community Stadium.
TNT Sports analyst Ally McCoist is tipping the Bees for victory. Speaking in a video discussion with Steven Gerrard and commentator Darren Fletcher, the former Rangers striker said: "I'm actually, believe it or not, going to go for a Brentford home win.
"Is Steven out of shot, there? Oh no, no, I'm sorry mate, I'm going for a Brentford 2-1 victory."
Anfield legend Gerrard replied by saying: "What I would say is that I think it's a really difficult game for Liverpool in the circumstances, with a lot of forward players out and injured. There are rumors that Szoboszlai could scrape through, which would be a big help.
"And I think all things considered, I think it could be a score draw. 1-1."
Keith Andrews is eyeing up a win against Liverpool
Keith Andrews is eyeing up a win against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
McCoist's view is echoed by Match of the Day stalwart Alan Shearer.
The Premier League's all-time leading marksman told Betfair: "I'm going to go for a home win.
"I think Brentford are brilliant in what Keith Andrews has got them all doing. They showed that when 2-1 down last week, they still got the point at Villa Park.
"I think with Liverpool playing in Europe, then traveling to London and then in Europe again on Tuesday night, I'm going to go for a home win.
"Andoni Iraola has got injuries, so I guess that in itself will make it tough for them. Liverpool can't afford a defeat, but I think Brentford will beat them and pile on the pressure."
The Reds fell to defeat against the Bees on their previous visit to the Gtech Community Stadium last October, having claimed victory in each of their five prior meetings.
The two clubs' most recent encounter, on the final day of last season, ended in a 1-1 stalemate at Anfield.