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Ian Westbrook, Beesotted podcast, external

Brentford proved once again in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham that we are not a one or even a two-man team.

Despite the much-publicised absences of Ivan Toney and David Raya, as well as the injured Ben Mee, we just carried on as normal to earn our third successive home Premier League draw against Spurs.

The loss of Mee meant a back three who had never played together before of Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer and new signing Nathan Collins, in front of goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who was making his Premier League debut.

However, a good defensive performance ensured that we continued our unbeaten Premier League opening day run.

It was also the fifth time in the last six games missed by Toney that both Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa had been on the scoresheet.

Mbeumo even took a Toney-style penalty to equalise!

However, Brentford’s man-of-the-match was undoubtedly the fleet-footed Rico Henry.

The left-back, the Bees’ longest-serving player, consistently turns in superb performances, with his terrific speed still amazing fans who have seen his lung-busting runs hundreds of times.

He had one assist on Sunday, nearly had a second, and also produced a vital late block – all in front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate.

The 26-year-old has been ignored constantly in international squads – but with England facing Ukraine and Scotland in September, surely the time is ripe to give him a go.

It makes you wonder if he would have been selected already had he played for a bigger club.

We’re all very glad he doesn’t!

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Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Anfield

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With former captain Jordan Henderson now in Saudi Arabia, the Liverpool captain's armband has been passed to Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, who is pictured on the front of the matchday programme.

He writes: "There have been changes over the summer and one of them has been that I have been given the honour of captaining this great club.

"It is an honour for my family and myself and something I could not have dreamed of when I was a young boy in Holland.

"My commitment to you is that I will do everything possible, along with everyone at the club, to help deliver success for you all.

"I cannot put into words how special it will be to wear the armband today, but I know it will give me some incredibly strong feelings. Last weekend was special because Chelsea was my first game as club captain but this is Anfield - everything that happens here is amplified."

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Craven Cottage

We already knew that Aleksandar Mitrovic wouldn’t be in the Fulham squad today because of injury, but what the Craven Cottage faithful don’t know is whether they’ve seen him play here for the last time already?

If he does become the latest player to switch to Saudi Arabia, Marco Silva - who has been very open about the need to add to his squad before the window shuts - will have a big void to fill in his team.

Mitrovic is a goalscorer, but he forms a big part of the team’s character too.

Image source, Chris Wise.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford started their third Premier League campaign with a 2-2 draw with Tottenham - and their performance impressed the experts on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

The Bees finished ninth last season but are starting the season without suspended striker Ivan Toney, while David Raya, their first-choice goalkeeper in recent seasons, is reportedly close to joining Arsenal.

Ex-Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker said: "It's what I expected from Brentford. They're a very organised team, well structured and know exactly what's expected of each individual. They will never change their style of play.

"I'm not worried about them in the Premier League this season, I think they're only going to get better. It was a great performance at home and they're going to cause some upsets this season."

The Athletic's Adam Crafton added: "I'm less worried about Brentford, I have to say. I did worry about them losing Toney for several months and also losing your goalkeeper - those are two really big positions for a team in the middle of the table."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on Final Score

I got sucked in a little bit with their transfer business in the summer, a lot of their spine, or core leaving the club, Neves, Moutinho, Jimenez Traore and Collins.

Three or four players that they allowed to leave the club.

But the performance against Manchester United restored my confidence in them, they are sure playing for their manager.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport

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Putting aside the controversial penalty incident in the closing seconds, Wolves will feel hugely aggrieved not to have come away from Old Trafford on Monday with at least a point.

However, the same old problem of failing to convert chances resurfaced and they were made to pay by Manchester United, in probably the one passage of play when the visitors slightly switched off defensively. That is the difference against the very top sides; when they create a presentable opportunity, they take it and they win the game despite being below par.

But Wolves can take great heart from their display in a losing cause.

It feels unfair to single out players for particular praise when everyone involved contributed, but Nelson Semedo had perhaps one of his best games for the club at right-back, while the midfield duo of Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes were outstanding at breaking up play and recycling possession quickly.

There was a refreshing dynamism about Wolves going forward, too. Their lack of goals has long been a criticism, as has a perceived lethargy in building attacks. Here though, Pedro Neto, Matheus Nunes and Matheus Cunha were not afraid to carry the ball from deep and drive at defenders with speed and confidence.

I expect in time to see Fabio Silva, who looks a different player to the one who left Molineux on loan a year ago, come into the side alongside Cunha up front. He got into some superb positions in the box during his cameo from the bench and tested Andre Onana on a couple of occasions.

Repeat this type of performance regularly - of course adding that clinical edge in the final third - and Wolves will be absolutely fine this season.

• Get Wolves news and analysis direct to your device

• Wolves have lost their last three Premier League games against Brighton, having been unbeaten against the Seagulls in the previous six beforehand (W2 D4).
• Brighton have won their first away league game in each of the last four seasons. Only two teams have ever done so in 5+ consecutive Premier League campaigns – Chelsea (5) between 2001-02 and 2005-06, and Manchester City (7) between 2014-15 and 2020-21.
• Wolves haven't won their first home league game in any of their five seasons since their return to the Premier League in 2018 (D3 L2).
• Brighton have only failed to score in one of their last 29 Premier League games, finding the net in each of their last 17.
• Since Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge in October 2022, Brighton's Premier League games have seen more goals scored than any other side (114 – F65 A49).

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, BBC Sport

There are so many things to see, watch or listen to around Anfield before a match.

One of the most popular is the keepy-up challenge when fans have to see if they can get to 100, without the ball hitting this ground.

This Bournemouth fan showed his skill to get to his century. "Let's hope that's the only thing Bournemouth win today," was the response from the man on the microphone.

Walking around the ground, a number of home fans or stewards joked with those in away colours "let's hope it's not 10 this time," was one of the light-hearted taunts.

You wonder if Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola would be using references to last year's 9-0 humiliation here to his players before the match in an attempt to fire them up.

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Former Charlton defender Steve Brown said Fulham must be compensated correctly if their Aleksandar Mitrovic is to leave the club. Speaking on BBC Radio London's The Far Post podcast, he said: "I've been in a dressing room on a few occasions when a player has had interest, wants to go and hasn’t been allowed to go.

"The relationship falls apart pretty quickly. It’s not nice as a team-mate when you see a team-mate being squeezed like that, but that's football.

"The club has to do the right business as well. If Mitrovic is to go, it has to be for the maximum fee possible and he has to understand that.

"It is life-changing money. If you can make three times the amount why wouldn't you? Once your career is done it’s done. There's no opportunity to make this sort of money again in life after football.

"It has to be right for Fulham financially, because there aren’t many Mitrovic's out there and if there are, they are going to be more than what Fulham will receive and that’s the issue they’ve got. I hope it's done in the right manner if he is to leave."

Listen to the rest of the episode here

Emma Jones
BBC London

Image source, Getty Images

"We can’t control the market, but we can control the decisions we make."

It was something Marco Silva said more than once in his press conference before the start of the new season. The Fulham boss said he had expected interest in him and many members of his squad after such an impressive return to the top flight.

There have been offers and opportunities to leave already this summer - but while the Whites manager says he is happy to stay, will he still have players like Joao Palhinha and Aleksandar Mitrovic in his team when the transfer window closes?

They all remain at Craven Cottage for now.

But with the newest additions to the market being the big spenders in Saudi Arabia, might the decision be that one, or more, of those offers is just too good to refuse?

Full commentary of Fulham v Brentford , Saturday, 19 August from 15:00 BST on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM and Digital Radio

• Liverpool have won five of their six home league games against Bournemouth (D1), including a 9-0 victory in this exact fixture last season.
• Bournemouth have never won away against Liverpool in any competition (D1 L8), with a 2-2 draw in April 2017 the only time they've avoided defeat at Anfield.
• Liverpool haven’t lost their first Premier League home game in any of the last 19 seasons, since a 2-1 loss against Chelsea in 2003-04.
• Mohamed Salah has scored eight goals in eight Premier League appearances against Bournemouth, though he didn't score in either meeting with the Cherries last season.
• Patrick Kluivert scored for Newcastle away against Liverpool in December 2004. If his son Justin Kluivert scores for Bournemouth here, they would be the second father/son duo to score a Premier League goal against the Reds at Anfield after Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
• New signing Dominik Szoboszlai created more chances (3) and made more off-the-ball runs into the box (6) than any other Liverpool player on his debut against Chelsea on MD1.

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Liverpool have signed a "machine on the pitch" in Wataru Endo, says manager Jurgen Klopp.

The 30-year-old Japan international finalised a four-year deal on Friday as part of a 19m euros (£16.2m) move from Stuttgart.

His signing has been met with scepticism by some fans given Liverpool were linked with what may be perceived as more high-profile targets in recent weeks.

“I'm really happy. Wataru is a really good player,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

“I know in this world of football how it goes and stuff like this, but have a look, have a look, because he's a really good player.

“Experienced player, captain of Stuttgart, captain of Japan, speaks good English, nice fella, family man, machine on the pitch, good footballer on top of that, sensational attitude.

“So, I'm really happy. He's a good footballer, very experienced and loves to work extremely hard.”

Image source, Getty Images

Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards accepts Liverpool fans will be "underwhelmed" by the signing of Wataru Endo but told the Transfer Gossip Daily podcast they should reserve judgement on the Stuttgart captain: "There is an ancient transfer proverb that dates back to days of the fax machine - never judge a transfer until they have actually played a game for your club.

"He's 30, he played for Japan in the World Cup and last season he played for a Stuttgart team that was nearly relegated. But he was the captain and I always like someone who has that on their resume as it tells you a bit about their character.

"Talk about it being a panic buy is a little harsh. Japanese players have done very well in Scotland and lots of players have gone on to shine having been signed for a bargain fee. This is a bargain in today's market and the sensible majority will welcome him and give him a huge cheer."

Listen to the rest of today's gossip on BBC Sounds

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport

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It's the worst-kept secret in football. Liverpool need a defensive midfielder. Any defensive midfielder.

Alexis Mac Allister may have acquitted himself soundly in that role on his debut at Chelsea but the Fabinho-sized hole was very apparent in Jurgen Klopp's midfield.

Step forward Wataru Endo. A 30-year-old Japanese journeyman from Bundesliga strugglers Stuttgart. Hardly a signing to set pulses racing.

And yet, dig a little deeper, and unearth a leader, a fan favourite and someone, who for the fraction of the cost of Moises Caicedo, could actually be a real gem at Anfield.

Last season, Stuttgart only stayed up courtesy of victory in the relegation play-offs over Hamburger SV. Despite that, Endo still had the third-most ball recoveries from midfielders in the entire league.

Indeed, his tackle numbers were the ninth-highest and he cleared the ball with his head more than any other midfielder in the division.

If further evidence of his combative style is required, he even wears a gumshield on the pitch.

However, he's not just a hard man - he completed 1,164 passes, eighth in the league and behind only the aforementioned Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in terms of Liverpool midfielders.

Don't underestimate his goalscoring threat either. In the 92nd minute of the final game of the 2021-22 season, Endo's bulldozed header ensured Stuttgart dramatically stayed in the division.

Since rumours of a Reds move emerged, pundits have been quick to praise the Japan midfielder, who starred in his country's uplifting run to the last 16 at the Qatar World Cup.

Ex-Premier League striker Jan Aage Fjortoft dubbed him "one of the best in his position in the Bundesliga,, external" while his former team-mate Mario Gomez waxed lyrical about him, , externalto European football writer Andy Brassell.

As Brighton's hitherto unknown Kaoru Mitoma proved last season, it is folly to write off members of this talented generation of Japanese players.

Endo is the driving force of that eminently watchable side. He could soon be the driving force of Klopp's Liverpool rebuild.

Get Liverpool news and analysis direct to your device

Phil Parry
BBC Radio London

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The David Raya deal has finally gone through and for most of the parties involved it seems like a very satisfactory conclusion.

Raya himself gets to join a club challenging for honours domestically and in Europe, whilst also re-uniting with a former coach. Arsenal get their man and now have the best goalkeeping pair in the Premier League providing Mikel Arteta with real competition for who will get the gloves each game.

As for Brentford they had already moved on from the prospect of retaining the Spain international, getting a good overall price for his transfer and are protected against any permanent move to the Gunners falling through. I suppose the only person slightly put out will be Aaron Ramsdale, but competition is good right?

That deal aside, it's 'All Quiet on the Great West Road' (apologies to Erich Maria Remarque and actually Pete Doherty) and is most likely to remain so as the feeding frenzy of the transfer window continues. When questioned last week about the prospect of making any more signings Thomas Frank didn't rule out the possibility of another new arrival, but only if the fit was right. The club have already twice broken their transfer record this summer - once to make permanent the deal for Kevin Schade followed by the acquisition of Nathan Collins.

But instead of talking about looking outside his current group, Frank was more interested in discussing how he hopes that the squad progression will come from players continuing to develop. Aaron Hickey impressed when playing last season, but he will be expected to step on and aim for the ceiling being set on the other flank by Rico Henry.

There are also expectations that Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikel Damsgaard will show this time around why the Bees signed them. Neither were able to make an impact in their first season with the club, but there was mitigation and the second year is one where there is pressure to progress.

And of course come January there will be the return of Ivan Toney which will possibly feel like making a new signing. So you can see why the head coach is not too concerned about joining the signing scramble.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Anfield

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You can forgive the Bournemouth fans if they're feeling apprehensive about today's match after watching their side get a hiding on their last visit to Anfield almost a year ago.

Two down after six minutes, five behind at half-time, the Cherries were thrashed 9-0 as Liverpool recorded the joint biggest victory in Premier League history, matching Manchester United's 9-0 wins over Ipswich Town in 1995 and Southampton in 2021 as well as Leicester's 9-0 success against the Saints in 2019.

Then-Bournemouth manager Scott Parker said the result showed the team was "ill equipped at this level" and called for signings, but instead was himself sacked three days later. Gary O'Neil came in and kept Bournemouth up, only to then lose his job in the summer with Spaniard Andoni Iraola now in charge.

Iraola will be trying to become the first Bournemouth manager to win a game at Anfield, with Liverpool winning eight and drawing one of their previous nine home matches against the Cherries.

However, Bournemouth did win their last encounter against the Reds, 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium on 11 March, and what a story it would be if they could do the same today.

Image source, BBC Sport

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In the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Solly March reflected on Brighton's 4-1 win over Luton and the Seagulls' upcoming fixtures.

He said: "It was a good start. We could've been better but in the first game of the season you want to get off with a running start, we did that so we have something to build on.

"People are already building partnerships on the pitch, getting used to each other and adjusting to the league.

"De Zerbi was saying that we wanted 20-30 shots and we shouldn't be settling for any less than that. We scored four goals and managed that, so we can take that going forward."

On Saturday's game against Wolves: "Every game in the Premier League is tough, there's never an easy fixture and everyone will be up for it.

"They'll make it hard for us. If we get another three points that would be great as we soon have a home game against West Ham, so need to build momentum.

"Two to three wins on the bounce would be a great start."

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New Fulham winger Adama Traore is looking forward to renewing the "good connection" he has with Raul Jimenez at Craven Cottage.

Traore has followed Mexico striker Jimenez in swapping Wolves for Fulham this summer.

The duo often linked up to fine effect at Wolves, particularly during the 2019-20 season when Wanderers finished seventh in the Premier League and reached the Europa League quarter-finals.

"It's a nice opportunity for me and a new chapter," the Spain international told club media., external

"I like the club, I also have good information from Raul, he seems to like the club. I like the manager, I like the team and I'm so hungry to help here.

"The relationship with Raul has been amazing. We have a good friendship and a good connection on the pitch also. I asked him information about here and it's very nice."