Liverpool can put the stress on their title rivals with a win at Brentford this weekend, however Bees supporters know all about upsetting the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp‘s facet received 3-1 at dwelling to Burnley of their final outing and have loved the luxurious of getting no midweek motion to give attention to.
Which means Liverpool must be well-rested for west London on Saturday lunchtime, with three factors important within the Premier League title battle.
A win would put the Reds 5 factors clear on the high, doubtlessly just for a number of hours, however dropped factors would really feel vastly dispiriting.
With the match edging nearer, Henry Jackson spoke to TIA opposition fan common Billy Grant (@billythebee99) from Beesotted Brentford (@Beesotted) to get the lowdown on the season thus far, talk about each managers and rather more.
How have issues been since we final spoke in November?
With the accidents constructing, Brentford have been at all times going to be beneath the cosh finally.
Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Josh Dasilva, Nathan Collins, Mathias Jensen and Kristoffer Ajer all nonetheless out.
December and January have been like Groundhog Day. We couldn’t purchase a end result shedding recreation after recreation – six losses out of seven – and you might see confidence sapping from the gamers.
Among the fanbase have been getting stressed, too.
The important thing turning level was the return of Ivan Toney. Stay on TV was The Ivan Toney Present to broadcast his massively hyped return, and boy did the present reside as much as the hype.
So we are able to loosen up a bit now and go into our run of matches in opposition to Liverpool, Man Metropolis, West Ham and Arsenal figuring out every recreation is a free hit.
If we handle to return out with even three factors from these 12, that’s a bonus.
Who has stood out and struggled this season?
In case you requested me earlier than the Man Metropolis recreation who has struggled, I’d have positively mentioned goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Signed in the summertime, he appeared to stroll on the pitch each week with lead boots. He would not often dive and appear be unable to make what regarded like a reasonably routine save.
His performances in purpose positively unsettled our already makeshift defence.
Towards Metropolis, nonetheless, he was phenomenal, pulling off 4 or 5 essential saves within the first half to earn him Man of the Match.
Just a few days later in opposition to Wolves, he then makes one other unbelievable save to maintain the rating 1-0 – a save that turned the sport.
As for the participant who has been on it, there are few. Ethan Pinnock not often units a foot mistaken and Christian Norgaard is only a grasp controlling the centre of the park.
It’s a must to give credit score to Neal Maupay for his seven objectives and 4 assists to accompany his occasional shithousery that fully winds up the opposition gamers, too.
What would signify a very good end now?
I predicted we might end twelfth in the course of our winless run in December and I’ll keep on with that, which is wonderful for those who take into account our accidents.
What are your ideas on Jurgen Klopp’s resignation?
Jurgen Klopp is a high, high supervisor and likewise a high, high bloke.
Will probably be an actual disgrace to lose him from English soccer, particularly for those who have a look at a few of the doughnuts we’re left with!
Would Thomas Frank be a very good alternative?
After all. Thomas Frank is good. He’s tactically conscious and an excellent man-manager.
However he is aware of the place his bread is buttered and he nonetheless has a job to do in west London, and I’m not speaking Chelsea, QPR or that mob over at Fulham.
Frank is aware of we aren’t trigger-finger if the workforce has a stoop, so so long as we’re doing the correct issues, our house owners will again him.
He has obtained a job for all times if he needs one.
How do you assess Liverpool’s title probabilities?
I nonetheless suppose Liverpool have an excellent likelihood.
Allow us to beat Man Metropolis and Arsenal after upsetting you on the weekend and we’ll clear the best way for you (he says cheekily!).
The place will the important thing battles happen on Saturday?
Our defence are going to have our work minimize out. After shedding each full-backs, we now have been struggling in that space.
Bringing Sergio Regulion in has made us extra secure on the again in the previous couple of video games, however we must work arduous because the Wolves clear sheet was our first one for 15 matches since we beat Chelsea 2-0 at their place.
There’s a risk that Pinnock could also be out after selecting up a knock at Molineux, which might be actually unhealthy information for us.
Jensen additionally went off early and he’s a key participant for us, so let’s see.
Hit us together with your prediction, Billy…
On our podcast, I went 2-1 to the mighty Bees, which is extra of a rush of blood to the top after a high quality win within the Midlands than something.
It is extremely a lot a free hit for us this weekend.
Saying that, we at all times pull a cool end result out the bag every season and I predict one from both the Liverpool, Man Metropolis or Arsenal video games.
We could as properly begin with the primary one then – sorry Reds supporters – however better of luck for the remainder of the season after you play us!
• Billy Grant (@billythebee99) blogs and podcasts for Beesotted (@Beesotted). The Beesotted Liverpool Preview podcast is reside NOW at PrideOfWest.London.
