Liverpool player ratings vs Brentford as Szoboszlai let down by 5/10s | Football | Sport

October 25, 2025 3,126

Liverpool fell to a fourth straight Premier League defeat as Brentford proved that Arne Slot‘s team are still very much stuck in a slump. The Reds were looking to kick on from the midweek Champions League thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt then conceded the opening goal for the sixth game in a row when Dango Outtara finished off a brilliant Michael Kayode long throw.

Kevin Schade capitalised on disorganised Liverpool defending before half-time to double the lead before Milos Kerkez turned in a Conor Bradley cross to reduce the deficit. Igor Thiago restored Brentford’s two-goal advantage from the penalty spot after a foul by Virgil van Dijk. Mohamed Salah scored a late consolation but it ended 3-2 to Brentford. That means the reigning champions are winless in the league since September 20 with any hope of retaining the title all but gone. Express Sport rates and slates the Liverpool players after yet another defeat…

Liverpool player ratings vs Brentford

Giorgi Mamardashvili – 5

Not yet kept a clean sheet in six appearances. Needs to be more commanding of his six-yard box given his height and shaky with his feet. Two great saves from long-range Mikkel Damsgaard shots but easily beaten by Schade and didn’t get near the penalty.

Conor Bradley – 5

Conceded the throw-in for the first goal, perhaps needlessly, and generally not great other than his cross for the Kerkez goal. A disappointing backwards step after he did well at Frankfurt.

Ibrahima Konate – 5

Asleep for the second goal and completely out of line with Virgil van Dijk for which he paid the price as Schade got the run on him to score. He and his centre-back partner have a lot of work to do.

Virgil van Dijk – 5

Hasn’t kept a Liverpool clean sheet in any of his last eight appearances and despite some good headed clearances, needs to get a grip of a leaky back-line. Unlucky with the penalty which was somewhat soft but equally it was also clumsy from a player of his experience.

Milos Kerkez – 4

Not authoritative enough against Dango when Brentford went 1-0 up. Nowhere near good enough on the ball, especially offensively, throughout his hour on the pitch. In the right place to equalise before half-time but simply doesn’t mask another poor performance. Booked.

Curtis Jones – 6

Injury ended his night early which is a concern. Followed up his excellent Champions League display with another game where he used the ball well and played some smart passes which went without reward. One of them found Kerkez in a dangerous area to put a cross in, only for the Hungarian to put the ball right into Caoimhin Kelleher’s hands.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 7

Liverpool‘s best player yet again and his assist at the end summed him up, pressing relentlessly to win the ball and then provide a great cross into Salah. Team is entirely reliant on his energy defensively which is a massive worry. One of very few in the Liverpool squad playing even close to their peak level.

Florian Wirtz – 5

After two assists in midweek, should have made it 1-1 20 minutes in but drilled wide and then his influence faded. Needs to adjust more to these physical games to start justifying his price tag.

Mohamed Salah – 5

Reinstalled into the starting line-up after being benched in Frankfurt and was anonymous in the first 45 minutes bar one chance Gakpo set him up for. So far from his best until a brilliant late touch and finish off the crossbar which saves him from a 4/10. Booked.

Hugo Ekitike – 5

His header at a corner fell to Dango Outtara and he gave the ball away that led to the second goal. Second half he didn’t have much of a say in the game bar a shot which was deflected wide.

Cody Gakpo – 5

Three goals in three games before this but this was a frustrating performance. He fed a nice pass to Salah for an early chance but otherwise his decision-making was questionable. Involved in a penalty claim but it wasn’t given.