Liverpool

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There was an air of excitement for Arne Slot's welcome, with Liverpool's famous ground at times sounding even louder than usual for the start of the post-Jurgen Klopp era at Anfield.

John W Henry flew in from Boston for Klopp's final game in charge in May and the Liverpool owner was here for Slot's big moment, while fans twirled scarves with the former Feyenoord coach's name on them.

The boisterous atmosphere continued after Luis Diaz gave his side the perfect start with a lovely finish following a swift counter-attack, which Slot calmly celebrated by bumping the hands of his coaching staff.

Brentford had good chances of their own to equalise but when Mohamed Salah scored his second goal of the season in the second-half, Liverpool's fans and Slot were able to relax.

"Before I arrived I was told Liverpool is a family club and it has definitely lived up to this description in so many ways," said Slot.

"The fans loved to see the team playing really well but they also loved to see the team working very hard.

"I liked what I saw, so if I like it then mostly the fans like it. So it was a very good day for us."

Liverpool have six points, scored four times and have yet to concede. Meanwhile, Salah has two goals and one assist, while Diogo Jota and Diaz each have one goal and one assist.

It means they head to bitter rivals Manchester United next Sunday (16:00 BST) with spirits high.

Read more on the start of the post-Klopp era

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Ibrahima Konate says he wants to demonstrate he's one of the "best defenders in the world" this season.

The centre-back came off the bench in Liverpool's opening win at Ipswich when manager Arne Slot called for his side to win more duels against the promoted side.

Konate was rewarded by starting Sunday's win over Brentford, where the Reds secured back-to-back clean sheets under new boss Slot.

On the importance of being prepared for the season Konate said: "Now I have to show that I am ready this season to be the best and I hope to be one of the best defenders in the world this season."

The French international added: "We have to be ready for the next big game, which is coming very quick.

"We are not very 100% because it's a new manager, we start new things - but I think this will come very quick and I'm so excited to be 100% with what the manager wants."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Ken: A composed performance against an obdurate opponent. Unlike yesteryear, there wasn't any chance of this Liverpool team relinquishing control inexplicably, as the passing and movement was efficient throughout. I quite enjoyed seeing out the game with minimum fuss. Whilst the tempo is quite measured, the dizzying attacking gear is still a sight to behold!

Marilyn: Some beautiful moves and great football! I would have liked more threats on goal late on, with other teams scoring big, but we seemed to settle for two goals instead.

Rex: Brilliant in parts - slick and fluid. We thoroughly deserved the points. My one criticism would be that we need to develop more of a killer instinct. We need to go for the jugular rather than over passing to each other in midfield. I can't help but think that Manchester City would have put more than two goals past them. Nevertheless, very encouraging and often very entertaining.

James: Encouraging start but, with all due respect to Ipswich and Brentford, the fixture list has been kind to us. Harder tests are coming up! We need our two second-half performances for the full 90 minutes - and let's stop talking about the difference between Slot and Klopp!

Brentford fans

Cliff: We were outmatched. We kept running into cul-de-sacs while Liverpool got the upper-hand with their wide passes. I can't believe I'm saying this but Mark Flekken kept us in this game. When are we going to make better use of our midfield talent like Damsgaard and Carvalho?

Jonathan: The Bees can hold their heads up high. There were some good performances and we created problems for Liverpool. Even after going 2-0 down, we didn't let our heads drop. Lots of teams will get nothing on trips to Anfield, so I think Thomas' boys can still look forward with confidence.

Nick: The Bees did well but were hampered by their own pink kit and a referee who gave most 50/50 decisions to Liverpool. The Bees will play worse and win this season - 2-0 away at Anfield is no disgrace.

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Liverpool and Trent Alexander-Arnold need to come out and clarify what will happen at the end of the season sooner rather than later.

The right-back is out of contract next summer along with captain Virgil van Dijk and forward Mohamed Salah.

"All three of them will be impossible to replace if they leave at the end of the season but Alexander-Arnold would be the big one," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast. "He is mid-20s, a home-grown player, and one of the best in the world. What they do there is the most important.

"Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold are going to have to manage this situation.

"For home-grown players there is a sense of do the right thing by the club, even if you are going to leave. From his perspective, it could also damage his relationship with the fans if there is not some sort of clarity. The fans give the team so much and you have to reciprocate that by being honest with the fans. It needs clarifying by him and the club at some point.

"But it can not be left hanging there because it will affect everybody."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Former Premier League midfielder Craig Hignett believes Liverpool "can't stand still" in the transfer market if the club wants to keep on challenging for the title under Arne Slot.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside after the Reds' win over Brentford at Anfield, Hignett said: "I think that when you are in the position that Liverpool are, you can't stand still. You always need to improve.

"Improving the team is the difficult bit though, because you need world-class players.

"We all know what deals are like. We all know what agents are like during deals. We all know how difficult it is to get those deals over the line. But they are the type of players you need to improve the squad.

"Have Liverpool got the money to sign two or three of them? Given the fact that they are going to cost somewhere in the region of £100m, and then the wages on top of that, probably not - but they could certainly go in for one of those players at least.

"World-class players coming in will give the other squad players a lift as well. When they come in and the old players see what the new players are like, it means they give each other a lift.

"Then Liverpool will go to a different level again - but it doesn't look like that is going to happen, does it?

"They have got lots of players who can score goals, and it is a real bonus that they are up and running early, but Arne Slot will always want more. He will want more from his midfield players - he will want a player that can sit in front of his two sixes and go on to create goals or score goals."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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Former Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie says Arne Slot has got them playing "attractive football" and the fans at Anfield for Sunday's win over Brentford loved the intricate play.

"What I love about him is that he has already stamped his authority on this team," said Dowie on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily Podcast. "Some people were not brave enough to take this job after Jurgen Klopp but he has come in and been intense and been in meeting and after meeting. And it has really worked.

"He has not tried to be Klopp or please the fans by doing the fist pumps post-match. Instead, he has tried to please them by giving them attractive football. We are a lot more patient with our play and defensively a lot tighter. We have had clean sheets too.

"You can feel the fans buzz in the crowd and they are singing his song. That is important because being a Liverpool manager is more than just being a manager because the fans want to know you. It is a lot more intense than other managerial jobs and he has to understand, and I think he does."

Nigel Reo-Coker added: "I like Slot's approach as he is not afraid to make big decisions. When Trent Alexander-Arnold came off Slot went to sit on the bench with him and that shows the sort of character that he is.

"He knows what is at stake, and who he is managing, and he is not shy in showing his personality."

Listen to the Football Daily Premier League Review podcast on BBC Sounds

Liverpool could make a move for Sporting Lisbon's Portugal defender Goncalo Inacio, 22, while Bayer Leverkusen's Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, 22, is also a target. (Teamtalk), external

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

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a good start. Most importantly, we did not concede much. The only big chance we conceded was a set-piece and that is always so difficult when you play Brentford.

"They can threaten in many ways, but one is certainly set pieces and we controlled that quite well, apart from that one moment. One of their set-pieces also led to our first goal, which was pleasing to see."

"To get a great start like this, you have to work really hard. The boys kept on working really hard without the ball, which saw us get better and better and better throughout the second half. That then led to many good chances. The only thing we didn't do is kill the game earlier."

On the control Liverpool had in the second half: "What I mean when I say control is what we also do when we are without the ball. We work really hard for the other team not to create anything at all.

"With the ball, we tried to get into situations where we want our best players to be in and that worked well in the second half."

"In nine out of 10 games, if you get equal chances to your opponent, it is likely that we will win. We have got one of the best, maybe the best, goalkeeper in the league and we have some very good attackers as well.

"What we do, as staff, is get them in these positions and then the players work hard to make sure the other team doesn't create."

On winning his first two league games: "The players came back after three weeks of holiday and, in most cases, two weeks before the start of the games, but they came back really strong, physically.

"Compliment to the players for how they came back and, like I have said, we haven't changed much compared to the former regime, so it is not so difficult for them to start playing again. That was a very positive thing."

On his first competitive experience at Anfield: "The fans loved to see the team playing really well, but they also loved to see the team working very hard.

"I liked what I saw, so if I like it then mostly the fans will like it. So, it was a very good day for us.

"We won against Ipswich and won against Brentford - two good teams - but I'm not expecting them to be in the top six in the upcoming year, so there still a lot to prove for us in the upcoming weeks and months."

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been speaking to Sky Sports: "We all defend together, you see how quick we are to get behind the ball. It is a good start and we have something to build on. We will have to see [what happens]."

On new manager Arne Slot compared to former manager Jurgen Klopp: "The time with Jurgen was amazing and the time with the new boss is a joy. He has a certain way of playing. We work a lot on so many good things and you see a lot, with and without the ball, that gives confidence to the team.

"We have to - I won't say forget about the Jurgen period - but that is in the past. We had an amazing time and now it is a time for the new boss to hopefully be successful.

"That is why we have to focus on that and to not have comparisons and all of this stuff - in my opinion.

"We don't have new players so far but obviously [I have] that extra responsibility because I know the players inside and out. I am here for him [Slot] - I told him that from day one, that I will help the players and the backroom staff.

"I want to be successful and we are in the same boat. There is extra responsibility there [now]."

On his future at the club: "I am very calm. The thing is: I want to play the best season I can. I want to be important and stay important for the club, then we will see. Everything happens for a reason but, for now, there have been no changes in my situation.

"I am very calm about it and there is no reason for me to start thinking about something else. I have a whole season left to play.

"I am proud and [Anfield] is home. It is a special place and, what I said before, whatever happens in the future, Anfield is a special place in my heart. Let's see what the season brings.

"I am not playing football to lose or not become successful. It is not guaranteed, but I want to win. We know how difficult that is but playing for Liverpool, one of, if not the best clubs in the world - there are expectations.

"I'm really enjoying it so far [under Arne Slot] and there is still so much to improve. Let's see what this season brings."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport journalist at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Luis Diaz is playing like he was made for Arne Slot's style of football.

The Colombia forward followed up his impressive performance on the opening weekend at Ipswich with another eye-catching display against Brentford.

Diaz looks a real threat this season and marked his 100th appearance for Liverpool since joining from Porto in January 2022 with his 25th goal for the club.

The 27-year-old is playing with a smile on his face again after the terrible events of last October when his father was kidnapped before being freed the following month.

Against Brentford, Diaz had three attempts - including two on target - and produced four key passes. He also finished the match with a 100% passing accuracy.

Remarkably, he has now scored Liverpool's first Premier League goal at Anfield in each of the last three seasons.

Slot will hope Diaz can continue to make an impression as the season gathers pace.

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "We played a fantastic game. The team gave everything from the first minute, which you could see. It was a good game. In possession and without the ball it was good, so we are really pleased."

On his thoughts for the season ahead: "We know there is still room for improvement. In the transition, sometimes we need to be patient but instead we are quite direct.

"But we are in that transition [towards that style]. Everyone is working hard to get into Arne's ideas."

On facing Manchester United in their next game: "We know against Manchester United it is a derby. It is very important for the club and for us. We will prepare during the week and we will do our best to win that game."

Image source, Getty Images

Luis Diaz has scored Liverpool's first Premier League goal at Anfield in each of the last three seasons. In addition, 76% of Diaz's Premier League goals have come at Anfield (13 out of 17) – the highest proportion of any player with 15 or more goals for Liverpool in the competition.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week two, he takes on Make Me A Mixtape hosts Clara Amfo and Jordan Stephens.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Brentford have got a goal in them and Ivan Toney is back in training. There is talk of him going to Saudi Arabia. What a tragedy that would be at his age - he has plenty of time left to do that.

It was a really good win for Arne Slot's Liverpool at Ipswich. They had to work for it and he showed his ruthless side by taking defender Jarell Quansah off at half-time and putting Ibrahima Konate on.

Mo Salah looked good - he is ripped and looks fitter than ever. I think Liverpool's attack will be too strong for the Brentford backline but Brentford have a goal in them and I really like Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.

Amfo's prediction: 2-1

Stephens' prediction: 4-2

I have gone for some goals here - well, I have done that with every game really. I'm hoping for some good games, but there is a good chance that so many of these will be goalless.

Read the full predictions and have your say

This season, English top-flight clubs are trialling a new financial system that limits spending based on the earnings of the bottom side, designed to "protect the competitive balance of the Premier League".

Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Liverpool boss Arne Slot speaks about the exits of youngsters Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark in recent weeks, and the reasons for their departures.

Carvalho and Van den Berg, who have both joined Brentford, could come up against their former club at Anfield on Sunday.