Unbeaten Brentford host a stretched Liverpool
Keith Andrews‘ side are fourth with 10 points and are still unbeaten after a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa last weekend. Liverpool are ninth on nine points. Andoni Iraola suffered his first defeat as Liverpool manager in a 3-0 home loss to Manchester City, then saw a rotated side win 6-3 at LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 16:00, with John Brooks the referee. The game is at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, 17 October 2026, in round seven of the Premier League.
“We need everyone, we will need everyone in one moment or the other.” – Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola
Predicted lineups: Brentford vs Liverpool
Liverpool’s midfield has a big hole. Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second booking against City and serves a one-match ban, and Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo all missed the City and LASK games. Iraola said on Thursday it was too early to decide on the trio and that a final call would come after Friday’s training. Hugo Ekitiké and Conor Bradley are long-term absentees. Brentford are waiting on Kevin Schade, their top scorer, who picked up a shoulder injury at Villa Park, while Jannik Schuster and Mikkel Damsgaard are also doubts.
Brentford Team News & Preview
Brentford have drawn four of their six league games, but they are hard to beat and dangerous at home. They beat Tottenham 3-0 and Chelsea 3-0 at the Gtech, and they went 1-0 up at Villa last weekend through Yarmoliuk before Ajer equalised late for a 2-2 draw. They have scored in every league game this season.
They also have the rest advantage. Brentford have had a full week to prepare, while Liverpool will have had less than 72 hours since Wednesday night in Austria. Schade’s fitness matters, as he is the top scorer, but Andrews has options with Lewis-Potter, Ouattara and Thiago.
What works for or against Brentford
- Unbeaten after six league games.
- Two 3-0 home wins, over Tottenham and Chelsea.
- A full week's rest against a Liverpool side that played on Wednesday.
- Top scorer Schade is a doubt with a shoulder injury.
Liverpool Team News & Preview
Last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by City turned on Gravenberch’s red card on 62 minutes; City scored twice within six minutes of it. Iraola said it was already hard to press City with 11 and a different game with ten. On Wednesday, a heavily rotated side won 6-3 at LASK, with Barcola scoring a hat-trick.
The bigger worry is the league scoring rate. Liverpool drew a blank at home against both Fulham and City and have seven goals from six games. Away from home they have been steadier, winning at Ipswich and Bournemouth, but they have not faced an in-form side on the road yet.
What works for or against Liverpool
- Gravenberch is suspended and Szoboszlai is a doubt.
- Less than 72 hours of rest after the trip to Linz.
- Only seven goals in six league games.
- Barcola scored a hat-trick in the 6-3 win at LASK.
Brentford vs Liverpool Odds
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Brentford Form, Stats & Data
Brentford score two goals per game and concede one. They have scored in all six league games, and their home record is the best part of their start: wins over Tottenham and Chelsea, both 3-0, and a 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Liverpool Form, Stats & Data
Liverpool have scored only seven league goals in six games, and four of them came from Isak, who is a doubt. Without him, Gakpo and Ekitiké, the goals have to come from Barcola, Wirtz and the younger players who started in Linz.
Brentford vs Liverpool: Prediction & Betting Tip
Liverpool come into this with a suspended holding midfielder, three key attackers who may not be ready and less than three days‘ rest. Brentford are unbeaten, have scored in every game and have had a full week to prepare. I think the hosts are the more likely winners, and Draw No Bet gives me my stake back if Liverpool hold them to a draw.
The biggest risk is Liverpool’s quality and their away form. They have won at Ipswich and Bournemouth, and if Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo are passed fit on Friday, this is a very different Liverpool side from the one that lost to City with ten men. Brentford may also be without Schade. I still think the timing of this game works for Brentford.
I am backing Brentford Draw No Bet at 1.72 with Winz, and I have it finishing 2-1.