Liverpool

80 touches, 100% duels won: Liverpool star was Klopp’s hero vs Brentford

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5 months ago

February 17, 2024

80 touches, 100% duels won: Liverpool star was Klopp’s hero vs Brentford

This Reds star’s display preserved the club’s position at the Premier League summit.

Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool.
Liverpool players appeared to be falling like flies, with Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota both leaving the Gtech Community Stadium pitch in the first half with injuries.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side prevailed, producing a delightful attacking performance that maintains pole position in the Premier League after 25 matches, dispatching Brentford 4-1.

The injury-hit Reds are indeed scrapping for fitness right now but it did not matter against Thomas Frank’s team, who were brushed aside by some clinical finishing, not exactly helping themselves with some questionable defensive awareness at times.

Darwin Nunez opened the scoring with a delicious chipped finish after latching onto Jota’s placed header in the centre, with the returning Mohamed Salah lapping up a goal and assist apiece after the break to remind English football of his world-class ability.

There were some lovely attacking sequences and even nicer goals to take Liverpool one step closer to the Premier League title, but for all the offensive efforts it was the unseen work of Virgil van Dijk in central defence that secured victory, standing firm and stamping his dominance into the defensive third.

Virgil van Dijk’s performance vs Brentford
On his 250th appearance for Liverpool, Van Dijk produced a colossal display in the rearguard, captaining his side to a convincing victory over a Brentford side desperate for some respite, pulled ever closer to the dreaded dotted line after a dismal run of form.

In the later stage, Ivan Toney might have bagged his fourth goal in five Premier League matches since returning from long-term suspension, but it was too little too late as Liverpool’s incisive attacks overpowered the Bees.

Van-Dijk-Klopp-Liverpool-Arsenal
Vital was the command of Van Dijk in defence, allowing the Salah’s and Nunez’s of Liverpool’s team to bypass Mark Flekken’s net.

As per Sofascore, the Netherlands star won 100% of his aerial duels and lost possession just seven times on a successful afternoon in the capital, completing 90% of his passes from 80 touches and creating one big chance for his forward-surging peers.

The towering titan also rattled the crossbar with a last-gasp header following Andy Robertson’s corner in what would have cherry-topped a commanding effort, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.

Nonetheless, Van Dijk illustrated once again why he stakes a very good claim for the accolade of the Premier League’s finest centre-half, with The Athletic’s James Pearce heralding him as Liverpool’s “most transformative signing” in modern history post-match.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed the 32-year-old an 8/10 match rating for his display, writing: ‘Solid enough and helped Liverpool repel Brentford threat at set-pieces first half and initiated opener. No-nonsense when required after break and dominated in the air, hitting crossbar in injury time.’

It is concerning that Liverpool have been hit with a deluge of injury concerns in the prelude to next weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, but with Van Dijk producing such iron-clad showings in defence, there is every chance that the Reds will succeed in their silver-laced ambitions this term.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angus Sinclair • Opinions & Feature Writer
(2000 Articles Published)
Angus is a freelance analytical writer for Football FanCast.

Having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2022, Angus found a home at FFC after previously writing for Vavel and OurSoundMusic.

A passionate Liverpool supporter and a lover of statistics, Angus also holds a fondness for MMA and Tennis.

Outside of football, he is a voracious reader with a particular love for fantasy and historical fiction.

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Darwin Nunez shares six-word Instagram post after being taken off at half-time against Brentford todayPhoto by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
Darwin Nunez shares six-word Instagram post after being taken off at half-time against Brentford today
Sat 17 February 2024 18:00
James Brooke
Liverpool will have to wait to find out the extent of the issue that forced Darwin Nunez off at half-time today.

Nunez was a livewire for the Reds at Brentford, scoring the game’s opening goal with a lovely chipped finish. However, the 24-year-old didn’t come back out for the second-half, with Jurgen Klopp admitting that his striker had ‘felt something.’

Nevertheless, it has since been reported that Nunez was walking without the aid of any support while boarding the team bus after the game. He appears to be okay.

That will come as a relief to Liverpool fans, but we’ll still have to hold on for official confirmation that Darwin is fine. In the meantime, the Uruguayan took to Instagram to express his delight at the win today.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Darwin Nuñez Ribeiro (@darwin_n9)

View Instagram Post
“Good victory in a tough stadium!” Darwin wrote, alongside a few pictures from today’s win.

Darwin in good spirits
This isn’t of course proof that Nunez is free from injury. But it’s still good to see that Liverpool’s No.9 is in good spirits following the game this afternoon.

And why shouldn’t he be? The goal was Darwin’s fourth in his last five Premier League games. After a bit of a lean period – and a record-breaking haul of missed chances – he’s back on top.

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As they now look set to be without Diogo Jota for a time, it’s important that Nunez continues his good form.

Mohamed Salah’s return and subsequent brilliance at the Gtech Community Stadium is a reminder that the Egyptian is still the main man at Anfield.

Darwin Nunez
Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
But in terms of importance, Nunez should now be considered not too far behind Salah.

Ever since the Uruguay international arrived from Benfica in 2022, he has been a menace to opponents. His goal record hasn’t always reflected that, but Nunez has been a handful from the get-go.

Now that he has started to add consistent goals to his game, he could be about to become unstoppable.

Darwin’s finish today means that he’s scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season. Time will tell whether he’s back fit to try and make that three from three on Wednesday. Let’s hope so.

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Thomas Frank says Liverpool did something to Brentford no other team managed for two years
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Posted by Farrell Keeling1 hour ago
Thomas Frank says Liverpool did something to Brentford no other team managed for two years
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Brentford’s prowess from set pieces has been well-documented in recent years, though few may have perhaps expected Liverpool to expose the hosts using the same tactic.

Thomas Frank praised the visitors as ‘the best team on the counter’, noting that Darwin Nunez’s opener was the first effort they’d conceded from a counter on a set piece in two years.

“For me the best team on the counter, also from set pieces,” the Danish manager told TNT Sports.

“Of course, we knew that. We know we are one of the best teams on offensive set pieces, so it’s a risk I will take.

“That was something we normally do better [with]. It’s the first goal we conceded on a counter from a set piece in the last two years. So it just happened to drop for them there.”

The Merseysiders widened the gap at the top to five points ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Chelsea.

READ MORE: Ibrahima Konate now weighs in on possibility of internet-breaking Liverpool transfer

READ MORE: ‘It doesn’t look great’: Jurgen Klopp makes crushing injury admission as Nunez update issued

Liverpool finding ways to win
It’s a hugely positive sign that we managed to secure the lion’s share of the points at the Gtech Community Stadium for myriad reasons.

Firstly, it hadn’t escaped notice that our last two visits to the Bees’ hive (sorry) had resulted in us dropping points.

Salah, Liverpool, Frank
Salah was on target from the bench – (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
To still coast to a victory despite losing two key stars in Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones also speaks of a resilience worth highlighting.

Very impressive on all accounts from a side that keeps finding ways to win this term.

🚨 EOTK Insider with Neil Jones: Jurgen Klopp’s potential successors, reviewing Arsenal vs Liverpool and much more!

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Watch a perfect goal from Darwin Nunez that made fans shocked

Why Cody Gakpo goal against Brentford was Concelled

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(Video) Darwin Nunez just scored a goal so outrageous it should be illegal
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Posted by Farrell Keeling1 hour ago
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Darwin Nunez is in the form of his life for Liverpool Football Club at the current moment in time.

The Uruguayan international capitalised on a lightning-quick break going one-v-one with Mark Flekken and boldly chipping the Brentford ‘keeper.

Yes, really! Time to think and the correct decision from the former Benfica hitman.

What a goal. What a moment. And Liverpool go 1-0 up in London. Can’t really ask for more, can you?

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of beIN Sports:

قوووووووووول نونيز

الحساب الأساسي : @d7em10_#BRELIV #Liverpool #PL pic.twitter.com/JyI1mvwyUk

— تابع الحساب الأساسي (@d7em10_Y) February 17, 2024

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LIVERPOOLWatch Liverpool goal against Brentford Luis Diaz to the worldPublished 40 mins ago on February 17, 2024By soccerlivenews

Watch Liverpool goal against Brentford Luis Diaz to the world

‘I thought there was no way Liverpool would bid that much – we were stunned when they did’
Alan Pardew admitted that he had no belief that Liverpool would cough up £35million for one of his best players during his stint as Newcastle boss

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ByFasika ZelealemUS Sports Reporter
08:30, 17 FEB 2024UPDATED08:56, 17 FEB 2024
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Alan Pardew thought there was “no way” Liverpool would agree to splash out £35million to buy Andy Carroll
Alan Pardew managed Newcastle from 2010 to 2014 (Image: Getty Images)
Alan Pardew thought there was “no way” Liverpool would agree to splash out £35million to buy Andy Carroll.

The former Newcastle boss, from 2010 to 2014, sold the striker to the Reds on Deadline Day in January 2011 in what was then a record fee for a British footballer.

Despite the lofty expectations placed upon the ex-England international, Carroll was a flop at Anfield. He netted just 11 goals in 58 appearances before he was shipped off to West Ham for £15million just two years after arriving in Merseyside.

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Pardew, 62, opened up about the then-record breaking deal and admitted the sale of Carroll was the “worst” of his managerial career. He told the January Transfer Window Show, sponsored by talkSPORT BET: “I lost Jermain Defoe at West Ham and Andy Carroll and Demba Ba [at Newcastle].

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“Andy Carroll was the worst one because, I think the last day was on a Monday, and I was flying up from London as I’d been home to see my family. I was just getting on the flight and Derek Llambias rang me and said the bid is getting really close to £30m and when you get off the other end we might be doing this deal.”

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The striker was a hometown hero in Newcastle (Image: Getty Images)
While Pardew said he didn’t want to sell Carroll – who had scored 11 goals in 19 league games up until January – he upped the ante by asking for more cash from then-Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.

“Being a football manager and the sensible person I am, when I was on the plane I had a little gin and tonic and decided that was not enough because I didn’t want to sell him,” Pardew added.

“When I got off the other end I got on the phone to Derek and said ‘I think if you get £35m then there’s a discussion’, thinking there’s no way Kenny Dalglish is going to spend £35m on Andy Carroll.” Dalglish called his bluff as Carroll became a Liverpool player on January 31 which left the Magpies in dire need of a striker.

Carroll was a dud at Liverpool, scoring just six goals in 44 league appearances (Image: STUART ROBINSON)
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“I went to training, popped around and it was all enjoyable. Then there was the bid for £35m, we were all stunned. It was the British transfer record at the time and it was a massive problem for us, it left us really short.”

Devoid of options, Newcastle signed Shefki Kuqi for the rest of the season. The Finnish striker made just six appearances and failed to score as the club finished 12th in the Premier League.

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80 touches, 100% duels won: Liverpool star was Klopp’s hero vs Brentford

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