Liverpool Boss Arne Slot Admits Reds Have ‘No Answer’ to Long Balls After Brentford Defeat

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has conceded that his side are still struggling to cope with teams deploying long-ball tactics and low defensive blocks, following a 3-2 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The loss marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, leaving them in sixth place and piling further pressure on Slot just months into his first season in charge. Brentford executed their game plan to perfection on Saturday evening, completing 62 long passes — their highest total of the season — as they overpowered the Reds with their direct style of play. Dango Ouattara opened the scoring from a long throw by Michael Kayode, a scenario Liverpool had specifically trained for on Friday. Kevin Schade then doubled Brentford’s lead on the counter-attack before halftime, exposing the Reds’ vulnerabilities in transition once again. “It is definitely that teams have a certain playing style against us; it is a very good strategy to play,” Slot said in his post-match press conference.“We have not found an answer yet. Going 1-0 down after five minutes does not help, and while we can still score goals, we are conceding far too many. That is not just on the defence — it’s about all 11 players.” Liverpool did manage to find the net twice, but defensive lapses continued to undermine their efforts. The defeat means the Reds have now lost as many league games this season as in the entirety of last season. Slot also pointed to the club’s record-breaking £446 million summer spending spree — which brought six new signings to Anfield — as a factor in their inconsistent performances. “It has something to do with when you change a lot in the summer,” he admitted. “I did not expect it to go with four losses in a row.” Despite intensive preparation for Brentford’s long throws and counter-attacks, Slot lamented his team’s inability to execute the basics. “Today, I don’t think we did the basics right,” he said. “Too many duels were lost, too many second balls weren’t won. That was the main thing we have to improve. Every time, a different problem has cost us the game.” With Liverpool looking a shadow of their former selves, Slot now faces the difficult task of restoring confidence and defensive solidity before their next Premier League fixture.

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Brentford Stun Liverpool 3–2 as Reds Suffer Fourth Straight League Defeat

Brentford earned a famous 3–2 victory over Liverpool on Saturday evening, condemning Arne Slot’s side to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat — matching their total number of losses from the entirety of last season. In a pulsating contest at the Gtech Community Stadium, the Bees dominated much of the match, showing energy and precision that left the visitors repeatedly exposed. Liverpool’s defensive frailties were on full display as they conceded 17 shots, their highest tally of the season. Brentford took control early, and despite a late Liverpool fightback deep into added time, the hosts held firm to secure a well-deserved win. The result sparked jubilant celebrations among home supporters, who rose to their feet for a standing ovation as “Hey Jude” echoed around the ground. Sky Sports reporter Patrick Rowe described the atmosphere as “electric,” adding that the home side were “fantastic from start to finish.” He praised manager Keith Andrews, suggesting that something “special” might be building at Brentford after back-to-back wins over Liverpool and West Ham. Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to struggle under Slot’s leadership. Analyst Zinny Boswell called the performance “remarkable in its decline,” saying: “They just weren’t at the races today. The changes over the summer haven’t worked yet — this doesn’t look like the same team as last season.” In one of the more puzzling tactical moves of the evening, Slot substituted £100 million signing Florian Wirtz for defender Joe Gomez while trailing 3–1, a change that drew criticism from fans and pundits alike. Referee Simon Hooper was replaced at half-time due to an injury, adding to the drama of the evening, but it did little to disrupt Brentford’s momentum. Free match highlights of the game will be available shortly on Sky Sports’ platforms, covering every key moment from one of the most thrilling Premier League fixtures of the season so far.

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Man Utd Boss Ruben Amorim Facing More Scrutiny After Latest Premier League Defeat at Brentford

Man Utd Boss Ruben Amorim Facing More Scrutiny After Latest Premier League Defeat at Brentford

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is under growing pressure after his side suffered a 3-1 defeat at Brentford — their third loss in four visits there. Amorim has now won just nine of his 33 Premier League games and is yet to secure consecutive league victories nearly 10 months into the job. United came into the match hoping to build on their win against 10-man Chelsea, but any momentum quickly vanished as Brentford outclassed them. The Red Devils now find themselves back in the bottom half of the Premier League table. “Winning two in a row used to mean something different at Manchester United.” Amorim had described the Brentford fixture as the club’s “most important in a long time,” but his players failed to reflect that urgency. The defeat has raised further questions about his tactical approach and the team’s lack of consistency. Tactical Stubbornness Exposed Again One of the most consistent criticisms of Amorim’s tenure has been his insistence on a three-at-the-back system, which continues to leave United’s midfield pivot exposed. On Saturday, Brentford switched to a back four and fielded a midfield three — Jordan Henderson, Yehor Yarmoliuk, and Mikkel Damsgaard — that outnumbered and overwhelmed Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. Despite this, Amorim seemed unwilling to acknowledge the tactical flaw after the match: “It’s always the same, when we win it’s not the system, when we lose it’s the system,” he said. No Dominance Over Top Teams So far this season, Manchester United have yet to dominate any top-half side with a full squad. Their narrow win over Chelsea came after Casemiro’s red card tilted the balance in their favour, but otherwise, the team has shown limited control or consistency. Brentford manager Keith Andrews — in his debut season as a head coach — revealed that exploiting United’s midfield was part of the plan: “You try and create overloads… if we have a three-man midfield, and they have a two, that’s where we can get control,” said Andrews. His tactical flexibility stood in stark contrast to Amorim’s rigidity. By the end of the match, Amorim had Mbeumo and Mason Mount operating as wing-backs — a sign of how disjointed the game had become for United. What’s Next for Amorim? United’s next fixtures are critical, and failure to turn things around soon could increase pressure on the board to reconsider his position. With the club still searching for an identity and fluidity under Amorim, the question remains: Can he adapt — or will Manchester United be forced to look elsewhere?

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Brentford 3-1 Manchester United: Fernandes Misses Penalty as Pressure Mounts on Amorim

Manchester United slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford, with Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty miss proving costly and piling further pressure on manager Ruben Amorim, whose side is now winless in four away Premier League games. United were trailing 2-1 when Fernandes stepped up for a penalty in the 67th minute, but after a four-minute VAR delay over a possible red card for Nathan Collins, his effort was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. Despite appearing to pull back Bryan Mbeumo with no attempt to play the ball, Collins received only a yellow card — a decision that infuriated United and sparked debate. What the Law Says: If a player commits an offence that denies a goal-scoring opportunity and it’s not an attempt to play the ball (e.g. pulling, pushing), the player must be sent off. In this case, referee Craig Pawson stuck with a caution, and VAR did not recommend an on-field review. A Painful Afternoon for United Brentford took an early 2-0 lead within 20 minutes through Igor Thiago, who capitalized on United’s defensive lapses. Benjamin Sesko pulled one back in the 26th minute — his first goal for the club — but United failed to build on it. After Fernandes’ miss, United faded. Mathias Jensen sealed the win in added time with a swerving shot that beat Altay Bayindir, capping off another disappointing away performance. Brentford leapfrog United in the table, while Amorim’s side slips further down the standings and continues to struggle for consistency. Amorim Questions VAR Call Speaking after the match, Ruben Amorim questioned the decision not to send off Collins: “They told me Bryan was not in control of the ball. I think he wasn’t in control because he was pulled,” Amorim said.“Sometimes the decisions go against you. But we also should have managed the game better.” Former Premier League referee Mike Dean said on Soccer Saturday, “For me, that’s a red card.”Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd added, “Another poor afternoon for Man United. They’ll be raging — Collins had to go.” Sloppy at the Back, Ineffective Up Front United’s back line struggled from the start, with Harry Maguire caught out for Brentford’s opener. A spilled cross by Bayindir gifted Thiago his second. This match marked the first start for United’s £207m attacking trio — Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, and Matheus Cunha — but the experiment backfired. Their lack of defensive support left Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte outnumbered in midfield. Despite a brief spark after Sesko’s goal, United looked disjointed. The missed penalty marked Fernandes’ second failure from the spot this season — and possibly the most damaging one yet. United’s Away Struggles Continue Up Next:

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Arsenal Signs Brentford midfielder Norgaard

Arsenal has signed Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford in a £15m deal. The 31-year-old has joined for an initial £10m – with a possible £5m in performance-related add-ons – on a two-year contract with the option of a third year. Norgaard joined Brentford from Fiorentina in 2019 and became a key player, captaining his side and making 196 appearances. He is Arsenal’s third signing of the summer after deals for Spaniards Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga. Norgaard said he got “almost emotional” because signing for Arsenal means he will live his “dream” of playing Champions League football. “I’ve just turned 31 and had signed a new deal with Brentford,” he said. “There’s always a little chance that a miracle could happen with Brentford, but it was probably unrealistic to play Champions League with them. “Now I get to hear the anthem and be a part of a Champions League campaign. It’s a childhood dream and something I didn’t think would be possible. So it’s something I’m really, really happy about.” Norgaard helped Brentford win promotion from the Championship in 2021, before making 122 Premier League appearances. Midfielder Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad last week in a deal worth almost £60m, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga moved from Chelsea for £5m. Arsenal are also in talks to sign Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres for £70m and have made a formal approach for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke. Norgaard was linked with a reunion with former manager Thomas Frank at Tottenham this summer and his record shows why he is highly regarded by the top teams. He has just completed his sixth successive season at Brentford, including all four of their Premier League campaigns. Since his top-flight debut in 2021, Norgaard has made 201 interceptions – the most of any Premier League player during this period – and he ranks second for recoveries (844) and third for tackles won (189). He is not renowned for goalscoring, but six goals in all competitions in 2024-25 was the best return of his career. Norgaard is a traditional number six who screened for danger in front of Brentford’s defence, breaking up opposition attacks. Norgaard is a modern defensive-anchor player. He can break up play, intercept, tackle, block and win aerial duels. He can let Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice do their thing while he protects their backs. He can also recycle the ball and play forwards effectively. In a league where there are so many transitions, a player who senses danger and has a great ability to regain the ball can be a must-have in your team. His physicality, and the fact it has been tested in the Premier League, also makes him a very sensible signing. He can be a great addition to Arsenal. Norgaard will fit perfectly with Zubimendi. They can even play together if Arteta opts for two holding players and one 10, instead of one anchor and two number eights. Zubimendi is more of a passer and creator. Norgaard is more a break-up-play midfielder who can regain possession, secure possession and stop the opposition from easily breaking into the final third. Arteta is making sure he will have enough strength in the midfield area to compete in all four competitions.

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