A lovely goal in each half, one from Luis Diaz and the other from Mohamed Salah, gave Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 win over Brentford in Arne Slot’s first competitive game at Anfield.
They are one of four sides with a 100% record after two games and go to Old Trafford next weekend in good heart.
The first half was relatively even, Liverpool pushing the pace but Brentford seeking to attack whenever possible.
But it was from one such situation that they went behind, Ibrahima Konate heading clear a corner and Diogo Jota feeding Luis Diaz who finished superbly to complete a fine counter.
Liverpool found it hard to sustain momentum after that with Brentford offering a threat on the counter and from set-pieces.
But after half-time, the hosts played with far greater aggression and crafted various scoring opportunities before Diaz slid a pass through for Salah, who jabbed an expert finish over the diving Mark Flekken.
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Talking point - Liverpool are good, but are they good enough?
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool had weaknesses and that does not appear to have changed over the summer. They are still capable of scoring at any point thanks to a stable of tremendous and varied attacking talent, but they also look liable to concede.
At full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold's upside may be worth the down, but his lack of pace and nous still look likely to cost his team, while Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk look past their peaks and Ibrahima Konate, though good, isn't – yet? – top level, left out in favour of the inexperienced Jarrell Quansah just last weekend. Meantime, in midfield, though Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are good players capable of crucial contributions, neither is among the best around or even close to them.
So, though Liverpool need evolution rather than revolution, for as long as they do not raise the level of their defenders and midfielders - whether in the market or through coaching - they will continue to be elsewhere when the big prizes are handed out.
Player of the match - Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Scored a lovely first, created a fine second, and generally showed why he is being preferred to Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo on Liverpool's left wing.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 7, Konate 7, Van Dijk 6, Robinson 6, Gravenberch 6, Mac Allister 6, Diaz 8, Szboszlai 7, Salah 7, Jota 6. Subs: Gakpo 6, Elliott 6, Bradley 6, Endo 6.
Brentford: Flekken 6, Roerslev 6, Collins 7, Pinnock 6, Ajer 6, Norgaard 6, Janelt 7, Jensen 6, Mbuemo 6, Wissa 6, Lewis-Potter 6. Subs: Damsgaard 6, Onyeka 6, Schade 6, Carvalho 6.
Key stats
Key moments
13' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 BRENTFORD (DIAZ) This is a terrific goal and it's as though Klopp never left! Konate wins the header to clear the corner and with only two men on the edge, Brentford are under-manned! Jota bursts past both, sets Diaz away, and at inside-left, he burns towards the box before fizzing a riser high past Flekken for the first Anfield goal of the Arne Slot era!
32' - MBUEMO SWINGS IN A DECENT CROSS AND NORGAARD'S UP ALONE! But he glances his header a foot wide of the far post. That was Brentford's best chance so far, by a distance.
43' - LEWIS-POTTER FANCIES THIS! He runs at Alexander-Arnold, nipping across him to open up a shooting lane, oinly to draga spoor effort straight at Alisson.
59' - LOVELY CROSS-KICK FROM MAC ALLISTER Picking out Alexander-Arnold from centre, just outside the box, to right, just inside it. And the ball back in is a goodun, but just as Jota sets to punch home, Collins slides in and blocks the shot! That's brilliant defending.
62' - FROM THE CORNER, ALEXANDER-ARNIOLD GOES FOR GOAL HItting the post. Then, when the ball comes back in, Konate is up but sends his header too close to Flekken who saves.
71' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 BRENTFORD (Salah) Szboszlai wins it in midfield and Diaz collects the loose ball, sliding in behind for Salah, who draws Flekken then opens body and stabs a sidefooter over the keeper as he dives and into the far corner. That'll be the game.
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