Liverpool vs Brentford
Whatever happens at Anfield on the final day of the 2025-26 Premier League season, the fortunes of both these sides have gone completely against what was universally predicted.
As defending champions off the back of a record-breaking summer spree, Liverpool were not only red hot title favourites but seemed set to dominate again when they opened up an early five-point lead at the summit.
By contrast, Brentford were relegation certainties with many, not least this SBOTOP observer.
What has duly followed has been virtually the opposite.
Talking Points
Let’s start with the Bees who defied the odds in so many ways.
Their Premier League 2026 highlights may have eased in recent weeks with just one win in six.
But regardless of what position they finish in the standings (they are currently ninth), they can be extremely proud of their efforts.
Remember, this is a side which lost a number of key players last summer, including two strikers who grabbed a combined 39 goals between them last term.
Furthermore, I felt their biggest loss would be the influential manager Thomas Frank, who not only guided a seemingly unfashionable club into the top tier for the first time in 74 years but then kept them there and claimed the scalp of virtually every other big hitter in the English game along the way.
However, his successor, rookie manager Keith Andrews, has defied the doubters, exceeding all expectations on a shoestring.
That they head into the final weekend of the campaign still with a mathematical chance of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, speaks volumes for what a fine season they have enjoyed.
The difference with their hosts on Sunday is stark.
Sure, they will be playing again in the Champions League next term.
Yet a fourth or fifth place finish (they lie in fifth with one league game remaining) is not the return that was envisaged.
A season of underachievement has frustrated many Liverpool fans who have turned their ire on manager Arne Slot.
The truth, though, is that it’s a combination of manager and underperforming players who have led to such a dramatic slide.
This weekend, both teams will have to make do without some key players.
The home side lost striker Hugo Ekitike to ruptured achilles tendon last month, a premature end to a good first season in English football.
For the Bees, they will be without Rico Henry on Merseyside, while one-time Liverpool attacker Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo remain sidelined due to ACL injuries.
Depending on results elsewhere, the Bees could secure European football with a draw or victory.
For Liverpool, it’s quite a contrast and the end of the season can’t come soon enough.
History
They may only be competing in a top flight campaign for the fifth time in the past three quarters of a century but they have shaken the Merseysiders up on more than one occasion.
Not least in January 2023 when the Bees ran out worthy winners against their exalted but often abject opponents on what evolved into a very special night in West London.
On that occasion, Ibrahima Konate had a torrid time as he scored an own goal before being shoved off the ball for Bryan Mbeumo’s decisive third goal.
Yoane Wissa netted the other with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replying for the Reds.
The Merseysiders won the subsequent five league meetings, including a double last term when Darwin Nunez netted twice at the death in a 2-0 victory, while goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah sealed a home win by the same scoreline.
Yet the Bees were at it again earlier term when Keith Andrews’ men recorded a 3-2 home success, courtesy of quick fire goals from Kevin Schade, Dango Ouattara and an Igor Thiago penalty.
Overall, Liverpool have 15 wins with five Brentford victories and a further four draws.
Betting Tip
The Premier League 2026 betting odds, naturally, favour the home side who are priced 1X2 @ 1.86 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.12.
Brentford are on offer 1X2 @ 3.46 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.05.
A draw will pay out @ 3.65, whereas goal bets range from Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.68 to 2-3 @ 2.17, 4-6 @ 2.54 and Over 3.25 @ 2.07.
A repeat of this fixture last term is worth a pay day @ 11.50 with Correct Score 2-0.
If Brentford are able to seal a first-ever league double over the Merseysiders, it would be a big shock, and a re-run of the meeting earlier this season is worth a pay day of @ 29.00 with Correct Score 2-3.
I expect a few goals in this contest, which is a farewell for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and my ** prediction is Over 3.25 goals @ 2.07.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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