A referee injury and a subsequent VAR intervention extended the second half of the Premier League meeting at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. The match was held up after the break when the original official, who had been booed off the pitch to end the first half, did not continue. Robinson came out to resume play amid audible discontent from some spectators.

The first half itself had run longer than the minimum added time. A minimum of three minutes had been signalled, but the interval ended with nearly five additional minutes. That extra time allowed Milos Kerkez to cut Liverpool’s deficit in half before the interval.

Play was halted again about 15 minutes into the second half when VAR reviewed an incident on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area. Dango Ouattara was fouled by Virgil van Dijk on the edge of the box and the decision on the pitch was initially a free kick for the hosts. Stockley Park then directed play to be stopped while the incident was scrutinised.

Following the review, officials judged the contact to have occurred on the line and awarded a penalty. Igor Thiago converted from the spot, beating Giorgi Mamardashvili and restoring the two goal lead for the hosts.

Liverpool had arrived at the fixture having snapped a four-game losing run with an emphatic midweek result against Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite that boost, they found themselves two goals down in the first half through strikes from Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade. Milos Kerkez’s late first-half effort reduced the margin, but the penalty early in the second half moved the hosts back to a two-goal advantage and overshadowed Kerkez’s contribution before the interval.

The match was defined as much by the interruptions and VAR process as by the goals, with the referee situation and the subsequent review shaping the opening stages after the break.

Liverpool travel to the Gtech Community Stadium aiming to extend the momentum from their midweek 1–5 win in Germany. The Reds have dropped ground in the Premier League title race and sit four points behind Arsenal; they will be eager to cut that gap to a single point before Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Brentford remain a difficult opponent. The Bees have shown their quality at home this season and have already taken points from Manchester United and Chelsea. They arrive having beaten West Ham United 0–2 on 20/10/25 and produced strong recent form, while summer recruits and a summer overhaul have not dulled their counter-attacking threat.

Injuries have shaped both squads. Brentford lost Antoni Milambo to an ACL injury during the October international break and he will miss the remainder of his debut campaign. Aaron Hickey is set to resume full training this weekend but will not be ready for Saturday; he could return against Crystal Palace next weekend. Gustavo Nunes and Paris Maghoma both featured for Brentford’s B team midweek and are in contention to make the bench. Liverpool will need to keep a close watch on Igor Thiago, who has five goals in eight league games this season.

Liverpool sustained two setbacks in Germany as Jeremie Frimpong suffered a hamstring injury and Alexander Isak was withdrawn with a groin problem. The Dutch full back is “not in a good place’ according to Arne Slot and Isak is a “question mark” for the weekend’s match. Alisson remains sidelined, with Giorgi Mamardashvili set to continue in goal. Ryan Gravenberch missed the win over Frankfurt and remains a doubt, while Giovanni Leoni, Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajčetić are all out long term.

Brentford predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (5-3-2): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Ajer, Lewis-Potter; Yarmolyuk, Henderson, Damsgaard; Thiago, Schade.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Brentford (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké.

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Liverpool will hope the demolition in Germany marks a turning point. Brentford’s direct approach and pace on the break will test the Reds’ defence, but Liverpool’s attacking form gives them a strong chance to return to winning ways after more than a month without a league victory.

Arne Slot has provided a clear injury update ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Brentford, confirming Jeremie Frimpong will be sidelined for an extended period while Alexander Isak remains doubtful after a groin problem.

Slot described Frimpong’s condition in frank terms, making it clear the right back will not be available for the near future. “Jeremie is not in a good place,” Slot told his pre-match press conference. “What I mean with that is that he’s definitely not going to play today, tomorrow or next week. Hamstring injury, so that’s going to take a while.

“Alex, not too bad. A question mark for the weekend, so let’s see where he is then. That’s the same to be said about Ryan [Gravenberch]. He didn’t travel with us , today we’re in again, let’s see where he is today.”

Slot also confirmed Liverpool continue to cope without their starting goalkeeper Alisson as he works through a hamstring issue. The manager refused to put a time frame on his recovery when asked, instead simply admitting it will “take a little bit longer.” Reports suggest the Brazilian stopper is not due back until the middle of November, which would mean Giorgi Mamardashvili remains in goal for several more matches.

Frimpong’s absence opens the door for Conor Bradley to take regular starts at right back, and Dominik Szoboszlai may again be moved deeper to accommodate Liverpool’s attacking options. If Isak cannot recover in time, summer signing Hugo Ekitiké is poised to lead the line; he has six goals in 12 appearances, just eight of which have been as a starter.

Liverpool travel to Brentford having lost three straight Premier League matches and surrendered first place to Arsenal. The squad will assess Isak and Gravenberch ahead of the weekend, while Frimpong and Alisson face longer recoveries.