Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool's recent run of three wins in seven games in all competitions proves the strength of English football, rather than the Reds struggling.
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw in an enthralling encounter against Nottingham Forest in midweek, with their Premier League lead cut to four points after Arsenal's victory over Tottenham 24 hours later.
Arne Slot's side suffered defeat to Spurs in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, while they also drew with rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
But Van Dijk insisted that despite failing to win in their first three games of 2025, the Reds will continue to fight for this year's title, starting with an away trip to Brentford on Saturday.
“Ooh, so we're in a crisis now?” Van Dijk joked when Liverpool's form was presented to him. “It just confirms that the Premier League is a very tough competition, where you play against opponents who are very good.
“It was always going to be difficult, just like with [Manchester] Home United with their new manager and the game plan they have shown, especially against the bigger teams.
“Every game is tough, we have to find a way to win, and I think if we play like we did in the second half and keep fighting, keep trying, keep finding chances, I'm confident we'll score goals too will make.” like we have done all season.”
Brentford also had a stalemate in their last top-flight match, creating a late surge to secure a share of the win with Manchester City at the Gtech Community Stadium.
It was the second time this season that the Bees have come from two goals down to avoid defeat in the Premier League this season. The Bees have scored seven top-flight goals from the 90th minute onwards this season, the most in the division.
The result moved them to 10th in the table and avoided a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions. Head coach Thomas Frank believes this type of performance means the sky is the limit for his players.
“I am a very positive and optimistic man. I go into every match with the belief that we can win with great respect for all opponents,” said Frank.
“I know we're probably not favorites in some games, for example today, but we know that if we reach our highest level we have a chance in every game and that's a fantastic feeling to have, and we're trying to get over that bring to the boys.
“It's game by game, but of course [we want to] go as far as possible. We have a very good group of players; we have created a great culture together.
“The staff, the players, everyone has really good characters, so we just try to keep pushing that group, and they do it for themselves.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brentford – Yoane Wissa
Wissa scored his 37th Premier League goal, overtaking Ivan Toney (36) to become Brentford's top scorer in the Premier League.
He has also been involved in twelve goals in his last ten home league appearances for the Bees (ten goals, two assists), with Toney the only other player to reach double figures at home in the top flight (11 in 2022-23). Brentford.
Liverpool-Mohamed Salah
Salah scored 23 Premier League goals in London – the only player with more is Wayne Rooney (30).
The Egyptian also has 13 assists in the capital, with only Ryan Giggs (19 goals, 29 assists) having more away goals and assists combined than the Egyptian (36).
MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN
Liverpool scored in all seven Premier League meetings with Brentford (seventeen goals in total), while also keeping four clean sheets in those games.
The Reds are also unbeaten in their last seven Premier League away games against London sides (W5 D2), beating Tottenham 6-3 and West Ham 5-0 in their last two. In the history of the English Football League (four top levels), no team has ever scored five or more goals in three consecutive away games in the capital.
They have had at least 20 shots in their last three away games in the Premier League (24 against Tottenham, 22 against West Ham, 23 against Nottingham Forest). The last team to do this four times in a row was Manchester City in November 2014.
Brentford, meanwhile, have lost five of their seven Premier League games against sides that started at the top of the table, with both exceptions coming in 2023 (1-1 against Arsenal in February, 1-0 against Man City in May).
The Bees have also won just one of their seven Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D1 L5), losing the last four in a row since a 3-1 win in January 2023.
After gaining 22 points in their first eight home Premier League games this season (W7 D1 L0), Brentford have scored just one point from their last three (W0 D1 L2). However, the team came from 2-0 behind and drew 2-2 against City last time.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Brentford – 19.2%
Draw – 20.7%
Liverpool – 60.1%
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