Brentford

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank told BBC Sport after today's defeat: "I thought we played a really good game against the best team in the world right now. We did a lot of things right. We defended very well. We gave the opportunities away but not too big.

"We probably lacked the final cutting edge. We had some good chances and opportunities that never became opportunities because of the last pass or touch. Their centre-backs were exceptionally good."

On the first goal: "It's a deflection that [could] drops anywhere else because he blocks the cross but it dropped perfectly for him [Trent Alexander-Arnold] to play into Nunez. Tough to take but pleased with performance.

"We always try to win the game from minute one despite who's coming here. We knew they'd have the ball a bit more but we believed we could win the game.

On if Liverpool are the best team in the league: "Yes. I think we just played City and Arsenal and now Liverpool, in a short amout of time. For me they're a level above the two teams. They're complete. Their work ethic, the way they track back, are good indicators. They're so good all over the pitch. Such a threat going forward. These are really, really good. It's the best team in the Premier League and the world. They're huge favourites to win it [the title]."

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Reuters

Brentford have relied heavily on home advantage to steer clear of the relegation zone this season, with all but five of their 28 points coming at the Gtech Community Stadium.

However, their bubble appears to have burst over recent weeks after failing to win when hosting in five matches across all competitions.

They employed a cautious approach to their meeting with league leaders Liverpool, sitting deep and trying to hit on the counter.

Bryan Mbeumo showed early glimpses that he could offer a threat but quickly cut an isolated figure and was well marshalled by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Despite showing a lack of motivation to win, especially as the game moved into the last 15 minutes, it looked like Brentford, who were seeking their first clean sheet of the season at home, had done enough to take a share of the points.

Liverpool attempted 37 shots across the match and finally got their reward in injury time when Darwin Nunez registered twice.

It would be harsh to judge Brentford on their performance against a team in the driving seat to claim the title, but their next five games come against teams currently placed below them and Thomas Frank will be demanding a vast improvement.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are five Premier League fixtures on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action.

• Newcastle v Bournemouth (12:30)

• Brentford v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Leicester v Fulham

• West Ham v Crystal Palace

• Arsenal v Aston Villa (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I thought Liverpool were really unlucky not to beat Nottingham Forest on Tuesday. They played well had enough chances to win, but Forest keeper Matz Sels made some excellent saves.

Now, with Arsenal winning on Wednesday, this game has become massive for Liverpool. If they don't win it, people are going to really question them.

Arne Slot's side have drawn their past two league games, and lost to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

So, since the turn of they year they have only won one game in four - the home FA Cup tie against Accrington.

It is something of a mini-blip for them, and they need to get back on track. But they are still where they want to be - four points clear at the top of the Premier League and with a game in hand on the teams below them.

This is going to be another tough game for the leaders, though.

People might see Brentford's late comeback against Manchester City as justification for them resting players in their FA Cup home defeat by Plymouth.

I disagree with that, but the Bees have shown this season that they never lie down and I can see them scoring and keeping this close.

Unlike City, though, I believe Liverpool will find a way of getting over the line.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Thomas Frank says "he's very happy" at Brentford - but knows he won't be managing the club "forever".

Speaking to Gary Lineker for Football Focus, Frank said: "I'm very, very happy at Brentford - in many ways it's the perfect football club. You can still be ambitious. It'd be difficult to win the Premier League, but we can still build the club and have the chance to win something - a cup maybe.

"The environment, ownership and everything is so good, so my day-to-day job is extremely good - that means a lot.

"I won't be at Brentford forever. I may walk into another club that will be completely different and have to get everything sorted and it'll take time.

"I'm very happy here. What happens in the future? I don't know."

Frank, who is the second-longest-serving manager in the league, also believes the Premier League needs teams like Leicester in 2015-16 and Nottingham Forest this season to be challenging towards the top, and that these are "fantastic" kinds of stories.

"We need clubs like Leicester, Forest, Brentford and Bournemouth - clubs that are doing things differently and breaking into the so-called traditional squads," he said.

Watch Football Focus on Saturdays, 12:00 GMT on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app.

Listen to the Football Daily special: In Focus with Gary Lineker & Thomas Frank on BBC Sounds

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No players have scored more home goals in the Premier League this season than Brentford pair Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa (nine).

The only Brentford player to reach double figures at home in a Premier League campaign is Ivan Toney (11 in 2022-23).

Brentford and DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa is a target for Nottingham Forest if Taiwo Awoniyi leaves the club this month. (Telegraph), external

Dortmund are interested in Brentford and Germany winger Kevin Schade, 23. (Bild - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home to Liverpool (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Frank said he has "no new injuries" to contend with and Rico Henry came through the game unscathed on his first league appearance for 14 months. Frank said: "Everyone is available that was available for the Manchester City game. It's the same squad as Tuesday."

• He also gave an update on Gustavo Nunes, who is yet to make his debut after joining the club in the summer due to a back injury: "He is not on the grass, so it will take him a bit longer before he's back. I don't know the exact timeframe if I'm honest. It's not that I don't want him back, but he is not available for the weekend."

• Frank was asked if there is any chance of selling Bryan Mbeumo in the January transfer window: "No! It's very easy to answer - no chance! It would need to be that big of a fee that I can't imagine the size of the fee."

• Asked what his priority is in the window, Frank said: "I'm not focused on keeping my key players, I'm just expecting them to stay. We are always in the market. We don't have a urgency to bring new players in but we are aware we certainly need some."

• On managing a busy week after the 2-2 draw with City on Tuesday: "We have been in the whole week, no days off. The whole group were in on Wednesday to recover; on Thursday it was a light session with some tactical bits, preparing for Liverpool. Friday will be light as well, with the squad hopefully feeling fresh and ready to go for Saturday."

• He has to vary his training methods given the packed schedule: "We train hard with high intensity every session but then we need to manage the workload with how long we train with that high intensity and what kind of extensive drills we build in."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford are ready to let one goalkeeper leave on loan before the transfer deadline on Monday, 3 February.

Mark Flekken will remain Thomas Frank's first choice but Ellery Balcombe's loan recall from St Mirren has left the club with too many goalkeepers. Balcombe joins Hakon Valdimarsson and Matthew Cox in the west London club's squad.

Any one of those three deputy goalkeepers will be allowed to explore loan moves.

Beyond that, Brentford are expecting a quiet January in terms of both incomings and outgoings.

Midfielder Yunus Emre Konak, 19, is considering a loan move to play more first-team football but Brentford are happy with his development and are not likely to sanction a move.

Brentford B midfielder Ethan Brierley is also exploring his options but no move is believed to be imminent.

Arsenal are considering options to reinforce their attack with Brentford's Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, on their list. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Watch highlights and analysis from eight midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool

• Everton 0-1 Aston Villa

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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Brentford and Manchester City, where the Bees came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw late on.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Theo: A complete performance against one of the best clubs in the world. Very consistent in both halves, defended really well, looked dangerous going forward and battled for every ball. So much effort and pressing from the boys, and we never gave up! Couldn't be prouder of my team.

Mitch: I thought we were excellent, but if we'd been a little braver in the first half and played Kevin Schade from the start against a holding midfielder, we'd have won. I never felt we were overly threatened, and if we'd converted our chances... but what a fantastic game! Players were outstanding.

Rhys: Incredible night. Amazing performance. It should have been 5-2! Wonderful to watch and great to see Rico Lewis back in the Premier League.

Cliff: Super proud of our Brentford team. One of the best games at the Gtech this season and it felt like a win. I can't help but think that City should have completely closed the game down, though - and in previous seasons they would have I'm sure. Anyhow, Liverpool on Saturday!

City fans

Pat: Difficult one to take. For most of the game we were solid and controlled the midfield. We scored two very good goals and created numerous chances when we should have put the game to bed. Then we allow two soft goals in the last 10 minutes and drop two more points. But, for me, the game hinged on the decision to bring on Ilkay Gundogan for Mateo Kovacic. It felt wrong, looked wrong and ultimately changed the game.

Josh: Much better performance all round but same defensive frailties visible. Nathan Ake can't do it all - Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji are still liabilities defensively.

Colin: Frightening to see how low City are in confidence. The play on the edge of the opposition box shows that no-one will take a risk and either shoot or make a risky pass. All very safe and very boring - and won't lead to goals. A shadow of their former selves.

Martin: I thought they were looking more creative up front. Phil Foden must be crestfallen at the jelly-like defending and inability of the team to close out wins. Savinho good. Matheus Nunes and Akanji awful. Poor choices of substitutions. Mid-table team this year but little buds are appearing for development.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sports: "I just said to the players in there that I was extremely happy and proud of the performance.

"I think this is the first time in four years that over the 90 minutes, we go toe-to-toe with a top-three club. I think Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have been the best three clubs in the four years we have been in the Premier League so the ability and the mindset to do that, the bravery throughout the game, extremely proud of that and of course coming back from 2-0 down is a fantastic mentality.

"Very happy. I would have been happy with the performance still but the feeling is a little bit better after you get something out of it."

On this being the seventh time Brentford have scored after 90 minutes: "We've got a very good group of players, we have created a great culture together. The staff, the players, everyone has very good characters so we just try to keep pushing that group and they do it for themselves."

On Yoane Wissa surpassing Ivan Toney to become Brentford's all-time top goalscorer in the Premier League: "I think that's extremely impressive, I'm very pleased on Wissa's behalf. He probably should have scored two if I'm a little bit after him but he has been very good for us and the way he has taken over from Ivan, not only him but Bryan [Mbeumo] as well, the partnership between the two of them is quite unique. We are just Brentford. Extremely proud."

On what is possible for Brentford this season: "I'm a very positive and optimistic guy, I go into every game believing that we can win with huge respect for any opponents. I know in some games we are probably not favourites, for example today, but we know if we hit our highest level we've got a chance in every game and that's a fantastic feeling to have and we try to transmit it to the boys. It is one game at a time but of course [we want to] go as far as possible."

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

It proved to be another thrilling night for Brentford fans at the Gtech Community Stadium and a proud one for striker Yoane Wissa.

Manchester City, the English champions in each of the past four seasons, held a two-goal lead with 82 minutes on the clock, only for the Bees to produce a superb fightback to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Captain Christian Norgaard's powerful header provided a dramatic finale, but Brentford's first goal secured a moment of club history.

Wissa had space to shoot home from six yards out as he grabbed his 37th goal for the club in the top flight and moved above Ivan Toney as the Bees top scorer in the Premier League.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank called the achievement "extremely impressive" for a player that cost only £8.5m when he joined the Bees from French club Lorient in August 2021.

"I'm very pleased on Wissa's behalf," added Frank. "He probably should have scored two if I'm a little bit after him.

"But he has been very good for us and the way he has taken over from Ivan, not only him but Bryan [Mbeumo] as well, the partnership between the two of them is quite unique. We are just Brentford. Extremely proud."

Image source, Getty Images

Yoane Wissa scored his 37th Premier League goal, overtaking Ivan Toney (36) to become Brentford's top Premier League scorer.

He has also been involved in 12 goals across his past 10 home league appearances for the Bees (10 goals, two assists).