Salah scored, yet Liverpool suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League.

26/10/2025 07:10:00 SportScoop

Liverpool’s rapid deterioration in the 2025/26 Premier League season continued with a 2-3 defeat to Brentford in round nine, despite Mohamed Salah returning to the scoresheet. This marked "The Kop’s" fourth successive domestic loss, their worst streak since February 2021.

Following an emphatic 5-1 Champions League win over Frankfurt midweek, many believed Arne Slot’s team would stage a strong comeback. Yet in the early hours of October 26, Liverpool once again revealed a host of long-standing issues — from a fragile defensive line and weak pressing to imbalance in their style of play.

Brentford took the lead within just five minutes. After a powerful throw-in by Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer headed the ball across, and Dango Ouattara volleyed it past Liverpool’s defense. This early goal quickly swung the momentum to the home side. Brentford kept exploiting the spaces between Liverpool’s center-backs, while Liverpool appeared confused by the long, fast balls.

Liverpool only showed signs of revival near the end of the first half. Before that, Kevin Schade had extended Brentford’s lead to 2-0 following a splitting pass from Mikkel Damsgaard. However, in the fifth minute of added time, Milos Kerkez reduced the deficit to 1-2 for Liverpool with a cross from Conor Bradley — a rare goal from a defender during this disappointing run.

Salah scored, yet Liverpool suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the Premier League.

In the second half, hopes for a quick turnaround soon faded. Brentford remained the better-organized and sharper team. In the 60th minute, Virgil van Dijk fouled Ouattara inside the penalty area, and Igor Thiago calmly converted the spot-kick to make it 3-1. Although Slot immediately introduced attacking players like Wirtz and Chiesa, Liverpool’s gameplay stayed fragmented.

It was only in the 89th minute that Mohamed Salah scored to bring the score to 2-3, ending a seven-match goal drought across all competitions. However, the Egyptian star’s goal arrived too late to alter the outcome. The Kop had to accept their fourth straight Premier League loss and their fifth consecutive defeat in London — the club’s worst run in the capital since 1970.

This defeat dropped Liverpool to sixth place with 14 points, just two points above Brentford. If teams like Tottenham secure victories, Slot’s squad could slip further down the standings. Notably, Liverpool have lost four of their first nine league games — equal to their total losses from the entire last season.

The issues facing the Merseyside club go beyond results to individual performances and tactical structure. The defense is unstable with Van Dijk repeatedly making mistakes, while full-backs Kerkez and Bradley have yet to fulfill the requirements of Slot’s system. In midfield, Liverpool’s pressing has nearly disappeared, leaving forwards like Salah and Wirtz completely isolated.

Meanwhile, Brentford deserved their win. They showed discipline, speed, and excellent efficiency in taking their chances. Keith Andrews’ team has now risen into the top half of the table, continuing their impressive form with three wins in their last four matches.

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