Liverpool player ratings vs Brentford as Darwin Nunez saves Reds while out of contract star drops 9/10 performance

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Liverpool travelled to Brentford on Saturday afternoon with the ambition of increasing the gap at the top of the Premier League to seven points from second-placed Arsenal.

The Reds have made an incredible start to life under Arne Slot with results during the first half of the 2024/25 campaign putting the Dutch coach’s team in a great position to win the title in 2025.

Ahead of their trip to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, Liverpool’s form has dipped slightly with the Merseyside club winning just one of their last four matches, with back-to-back draws in the Premier League.

Brentford’s home record made the match a tough one for Liverpool on paper as the Bees are the third-best team in the Premier League when competing in front of their fans.

Diogo Jota was the only big absentee for Liverpool ahead of their trip to London and the Reds could have done with the Portuguese star on Saturday afternoon as it proved a tough match afternoon for Slot’s men.

The Merseyside club struggled to find the net in West London before a stoppage-time brace from Darwin Nunez would bring all three points back to Anfield

And here's how we rated every player from the game.

• READ MORE: Doubts raised over Liverpool duo's futures as Arne Slot makes big decision for Brentford clash

Player Ratings

Alisson Becker – 8

Alisson is always reliable in the Liverpool goal and that proved the case once again against Brentford. The Brazilian made several easy saves throughout the contest in London but was under no real stress.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 9

The defender was brilliant throughout and nearly won the game for Liverpool late on as the full-back’s strike from outside of the box went narrowly wide. In stoppage time, the 26-year-old burst forward to assist the winner for Darwin Nunez as the Reds’ vice-captain continues to shine this season.

Ibrahima Konate – 7

After creating a brilliant chance for Luis Diaz early in the match, Konate would put in a solid display at the heart of the Liverpool defence making five clearances throughout.

Virgil van Dijk – 8

The Liverpool captain has been immense for the Reds this season and that was no different against Brentford as the Dutch star helped his left-backs deal with the Bees’ main man, Bryan Mbeumo. The centre-back made a huge clearance with five minutes left, which could have won the home side the game.

Kostas Tsimikas – 6

Arne Slot decided to drop Andy Robertson to bring in Kostas Tsimikas for Saturday’s clash and the Greek defender put himself under pressure very early on in the contest by picking up a yellow card after eight minutes. Initially struggled against Mbeumo but gradually improved. Taken off after 65 minutes.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7

Brentford players passed Gravenberch with relative ease in the first half but the Dutch star was solid overall winning three out of five ground duels and finishing the contest with a 91% pass success rate.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 6

Rattled the crossbar just after the 30-minute mark before picking up a booking just before the halftime break. Subbed off for Harvey Elliott after 80 minutes.

Alexis Mac Allister – 7

Went close with a header just before the 70-minute mark and out in a display often seen from the World Cup winner. Taken off after 80 minutes for Curtis Jones.

Mohamed Salah – 6

Mohamed Salah has been in outstanding form for Liverpool this season but has slowed down in recent games. That continued on Saturday afternoon as the winger was quiet throughout the majority of the contest. The Egyptian nearly scored with two minutes on the clock as the 32-year-old’s curled shot narrowly missed.

Luis Diaz – 6

Luis Diaz worked hard off the ball throughout the time he was on the pitch and looked like the Reds’ biggest threat. The Colombian missed a great opportunity early in the contest while missing a few other opportunities not deemed clear-cut. The winger was taken off after 65 minutes as Arne Slot looked for more presence in his forward line.

Cody Gakpo – 7

Missed two of Liverpool’s best chances in the first half heading straight at Mark Flekken in Brentford goal before slotting wide from five yards out after a great move from the Reds. The forward provided some threat before being replaced by Federico Chiesa very late in the contest.

Substitutes

Darwin Nunez – 9

The striker nearly scored with a header immediately after entering the field of play before going on to score a brace in stoppage time. The Uruguayan showed a lot of composer for both goals and it could be a turning point for the 25-year-old’s career at Anfield.

Andy Robertson – 6

The Scotland star was an upgrade on Tsimikas on Saturday afternoon and created several opportunities going forward. Whipped two lovely crosses onto the heads of Nunez and Mac Allister, while creating a great chance for Gakpo after cutting the ball back to the Dutch forward.

Curtis Jones – 5

Harvey Elliott – 7

Played his part in Liverpool’s first goal before providing the assist for Darwin Nunez’s second of the game, picking the Uruguayan out with a nice pass in the box.

Federico Chiesa – 5