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Arne Slot brands 3-2 defeat to Brentford as the WORST of his Liverpool career so far

Arne Slot brands the 3-2 Premier League defeat to Brentford on Saturday night as the WORST of his Liverpool career so far.

The Bees went ahead just 5 minutes in through Dango Outarra after Michael Kayode’s long throw caused havoc in Liverpool’s defence.

Kevin Schade then made it 2-0 on 45 minutes, but Milos Kerkez pulls one back in first-half stoppage time.

Brentford then restored their two-goal lead from the penalty spot through Igor Thiago, the spot kick awarded following video assistant referee (VAR) intervention, adjudging Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to have fouled Outarra on the line of the penalty area.

But then Mohamed Salah netted Liverpool’s second late with a fine finish. Brentford held on to clinch all three points.

Asked if it was the worst performance of his tenure, Slot said: ‘Yeah. I think it is up there, yeah. In my time here. In terms of losing a game. Normally when we are 1-0 or 2-0 down, by the way after we went 1-0 down that was the only moment I really liked.

‘After 30 minutes they took the game again with long throws and set-pieces and other moments where they were really good. They did many things well.

‘It is disappointing again. We hoped if we won a game during the week, of course you hope for a better result. I was also hoping and expecting a better performance. This was far from what we are used to. Even if we are losing, our performances have been better than tonight.

‘We did not do the basics right. If you are 1-0, 2-0 or 3-1 down, the energy in the stadium was helpful for them. They are a good team in winning duels and second balls, you must give them credit.

‘Teams have a certain playing style against us, which is a very good strategy to play against us. And we have not found an answer yet. Going 1-0 down after five minutes does not help. Teams know which strategy to play against us.’

Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaking to TNT Sports: “The performance was not so good. Maybe apart from 20-25 minutes in the first half. We were already 1-0 down by that moment in time but at that moment in those 20-25 minutes, I thought the result was possible. From the rest of the game, looking at the way we played and the way Brentford played – I don’t think it was ever in the game for us to get a result.”

On four straight Premier League defeats: “You cannot compare all of them but the most concerning thing is that you lose four times in a row. Afterwards you can judge the performance and today was the worst in my opinion from all the four. Again, conceding a set-piece and not scoring one makes it hard to win a game of football.”

On why it was the worst: “We didn’t do the basics right in the first half and parts of the second. They won more duels than us, they won more second balls than us and if you come here and you know if you are going to concede goals then one of them may be a set-piece and a counter-attack is also one of their biggest strengths and that’s how we conceded two goals. I’m not sure the referee would have give them the penalty but it turned out to be inside. After going 3-1 down we tried, made some substitutes but maybe if I am completely honest, them scoring at that moment in time was more likely than us to make it 3-2.”

On Mohamed Salah being back in the goals: “If Mo is going to go on a scoring run then that is definitely going to be important for the team. Football is about scoring goals but football is also about not conceding goals and for so many games now we have scored one, two, three goals and almost every time in the first five minutes. It would help the team if we have players that score goals but that only helps if, as a team, we can keep a clean-sheet and that is not only what the last line does but what we as a team needs to do better.”

On the injury situation: “You prefer to have all of your players available that is simple and clear but if that is not the situation then the players we do have available need to bring results in. This is something that you can have in a season and this is what is happening with us now. That is something I am not liking of course but something you have to accept.”

Slot speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “Disappointing result and a disappointing performance as well today.

“Conceding three goals is far too much if you want to win a game of football. First one was a set-piece. Second is a counter-attack which is one of the things [Brentford] are really good at. We didn’t defend that at all. To be in the game at half-time because we scored and in the second half, the penalty made it impossible to get a result today.”

On the penalty: “Difficult. Had the referee not given the free-kick, am not sure if he would have given the penalty for that. But he gives the free-kick and the VAR says its inside, then you have to accept it’s inside.”

“Then if the referee gives the free-kick, it’s overturned to penalty. If I look at same situation with Cody Gakpo in the first half, it was more than this. But you can’t compare the situations because the referee, I don’t think he was planning to give a penalty for it. But because it was inside, it was overturned to a penalty.”

On Mohamed Salah scoring: “Always positive he is scoring a goal. It was a great finish from Mo”

On four defeats in a row: “What i have to do is look at what we do wrong and what we do right. I have a clear idea of where we have to improve but that hasn’t been the case in other games. We didn’t do the basics right today.”

Brentford’s Keith Andrews said: ‘Fearlessness was one of the words I used in the build-up to the game, it takes a lot more than that really – structure, desire, resilience, character, how you react to situations. If you have a setback, you step forward not step back.

‘We’ve just beaten the Premier League champions. It ranks pretty highly (in his achievements)! There was a lot made about their form coming into it but if you strip it back they are world-class players. It is a big result for the football club, especially a big result for the nature of our next chapter.’

Andrews on the character his side showed: “It was in an abundance. We had to show it. We knew it would be a difficult game so we’re really, really pleased with how we showed our personality and character and the resilience in the group. It’s twice in a row we’ve had a disappointment just before half-time (conceding) but how we started in second half was excellent.”

On dominating the game: “Once we got a grip of the game after 10-15 mins we were excellent.”

On his booking just before half-time: “I felt we could have dealt with it (Liverpool’s first goal) initially a little bit better with how they got to that part of the pitch. We’ve worked a lot on how we defend that part of the pitch but I have to say how we defended – even the attacking players – everyone put their bodies on the line and we got what we deserved tonight.”

On Brentford’s improved form: “Our home record has been really good. The way we approach games we’re growing in confidence. We’re heading in the right direction. And (to win) against the Premier League champions it’s a pretty special evening.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk speaking to TNT Sports: “Disappointed about losing here. We know what their strengths were and what they were going to try to do. We needed to be spot on with the quality they had.

“It was a disappointing night overall for us. Tough to take but it’s the reality and we need to keep going.”

On the penalty: “I don’t know. The referee said the ball was on the line and then he marked the spot two metres outside the box. I didn’t know really what was going on. In the end he gives it and that is obviously not great.”

He continued: “It’s the reality that we lost today. We have the next game on Wednesday against an opponent [Crystal Palace] who already made our life difficult this season.

“We have to turn our mindset pretty quickly to be ready for that. They will come to Anfield to hurt us even more, but this is a tough one to take. We can’t deny that. It’s not an easy moment. We were trying to build on that performance iagainst Frankfurt and this was not a nice evening to have.

On lack of clean sheets: “It’s difficult to say. The fact we didn’t keep a clean sheet for nine games! It’s easy to blame a particular person, the backline or set-pieces .But it’s a collective thing in the end. Everyone has to look in the mirror including myself. I am sure we will get out of this.

“But we won’t do it just by talking about it. We will try to improve. We need each other, we ned the support. We need the people who were celebrating with us last year to be with us now even more. We will get out of this because we have the quality offensively and defensively.”

Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, speaking to TNT Sports: “From start to finish we stuck together, we knew it would be difficult at times. Liverpool are a world class team with world class payers. At times you’re going to have defending to do, we did. The way we defended together, the way we stayed composed on the ball and try to, rather than just kick it forward at times, play the long ball in behind to someone running in like Dams [Mikkel Damsgaard] did to Kev [Schade] on the second goal and [Igor] Thiago was a threat all night and he’s been like that all season to be fair.

“Overall, I think it was a really good performance and we deserved the win in the end.”

On Liverpool: “You look all over the pitch, there’s not much to go at, they’re all quality players I don’t really see a weakness in the team. I know there’s been results of late that haven’t been great for them but, for me, they’re still top players and a top, top team and it’s a matter of time before they get in a rhythm and get going. I think there’s been reasons why they haven’t hit the heights from last season but they’re still a world class team and wherever you look on the pitch there’s world class players, so it’s always going to be difficult but I thought the lads dug deep, stuck together and caused some problems on the counter.”

On if it was strange facing his old side: “I think a little bit before because I’ve been at Liverpool for so long. It’s always deep inside us forever there, I’d been there so long. It was my life for 12 years. It was a little bit strange but having said that I knew when the whistle goes it was business as usual and I was focused and I’d be ready to go and I’d be in the right frame of mind, which I was.”

Twitter users reacted as Arne Slot brands the 3-2 defeat to Brentford as the WORST of his Liverpool career so far…

@ThatDamnHoare: Cant believe Brentford didn’t provide Slot their line up and their tactics, AND THEN had the audacity to use long throw ins too. UNACCEPTABLE!!!

@jD_Dean_: Won the league with Klopp’s team because City had a brain fart and Arsenal couldn’t hit a barn door. Love watching this play out 🫶

@Goodall1892: 9 English teams playing in Europe this season which allows them all next to know turnaround before the leagues games. Fuck me what a whinging prick, teams aren’t allowed to make changes last week and now this.

@triffic_stuff_: Big trouble for Liverpool! Arne’s luvk has finally run out. They weren’t that great last season tbh. I don’t think Arne is nowhere near as good as Klopp. He inherited Klopp’s team and let them do there thing which was enough last season. Now it’s all him and they’ve crumbled.

@dansouthcott: I don’t care who you support but that penalty decision in Brentford liverpool game is why fans are falling out of love with football. No question from commentators just agreed with var!

@JKD_LFC: Lessons not being learned. Defence first, then attack. Wirtz still not up to speed of PL. Macca not match fit. Jones too slow to play DM. None of them defensive enough rn. Front 3 also not defending enough. It means oppositions attack us constantly, leading to errors. Joe Gomez coming on for Wirtz suddenly improved our defence and, in turn, improved our attack. Play him as DM next game.

@PhilColins_O: If Klopp had 500m we would have won the league 5 consecutive times. Now we have a Ferrari with a student driver.

@CllrGrewal: A fantastic result for Brentford — beating the 2 most successful clubs in England at home is no small achievement. A true testament to the remarkable journey of this community-focused club. We’re fortunate to have Brentford FC representing #Hounslow with such pride🐝 #Brentford

@phathowe: Fantastic effort tonight, haven’t seen us press like that before this season. Makes such a difference actually going for it. Kayode and Damsgaard MOTM.. Liverpool yet another side who clearly felt they could just turn up and win without putting any effort in.

@mattwardle92: Unless we are missing players due to injuries or suspension, never want to see us play 3–5-2 again! #BrentfordFC

@joshh_bfc: That was a fucking sensational game of football

@DavyWatt40: At FT. The connection between the players, staff and manager Keith Andrews is beautiful ❤️🫶🙏 #BrentfordFC, #BRELIV A spirited performance 👏 A well deserved 3-2 win over Liverpool! What a game Jordan Henderson! 👏

@mwhitmarsh89: Get the absolute fuck in you massive bastards 🔴⚪️

@TheEalingRoad: I thought that was never going to end! What an absolutely outstanding result and surely Keith is winning everyone over now. Some brave calls to go with a back 4 but subtle changes from our usual shape and looked like a 4-4-2 out of possession. This was a game where we knew Liverpool were likely to score and score they did – but we caused them all kinds of problems of our own. Set piece threat is there once again (Michael Kayode in general – WOW) and the direct ball over the top into Dango/Schade is deadly – Liverpool so shaky defensively. Just feels like a perfectly put together team for this type of game with Thiago becoming the focal point we need. I’m sure there will be discussions regarding the added time and I’d love to know how long the ball was in play at the end of both halves, but coming under pressure at times is to be expected and no one can say this wasn’t a fully deserved victory and unbelievably on another day we could have had more. Not a bad word to say about anyone tonight and confidence is flowing, into the top half we go 🐝 DT🖋

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