Klopp's low blow after heavy defeat to Brentford

In the month of January, Liverpool are no longer in a position to fight for the Premier League. Barring an unprecedented miracle, Jürgen Klopp's side are out of the running to challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the title. Their 3-1 defeat at Brentford left them 15 points behind the Gunners with a game in hand and eight points behind Guardiola's side in the same circumstances.

Worst of all, not even access to next season's Champions League looks easy. Klopp's side now seem to be turning all their attention to the Champions League tie against their last final opponents, Real Madrid. They will have to improve a lot if they do not want another disappointment like the one suffered at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium.

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For Brentford, Ibrahima Konate scored the first goal

The Reds came out strongly, generating danger and dominating clearly. But where Mané used to be, now Darwin Nuñez is, and the Uruguayan sent two great chances wide, one of them an empty net. That lack of goalscoring kept Brentford alive and they found their momentum from set pieces. From a corner at the near post, Konaté misjudged the clearance and struck the first blow to a defence that was wobbling worryingly at times.

Wissa had a goal disallowed soon after, and the next time he had a chance, he sent the ball into the net. At half-time Liverpool were down, but not out. Klopp moved the pieces and made a triple change that gave Liverpool a new look. The presence of Keita in midfield accentuated Liverpool's dominance and they went in desperate search of a goal that would put them in the game. They got it with a lovely header from Oxlade from Alexander-Arnold's cross.

Liverpool have said goodbye to the Premier League

It was an anxious time for Brentford, who were chasing the ball as best they could, helped by Darwin's poor finishing and the intermittent Salah, who Liverpool missed in the decisive phase of the game. But despite all this, the tie was chewing away until the controversial action of the match. On a Brentford counter-attack, Mbeumo sent Konaté to the ground in the fray. The foul seemed clear but the referee allowed it to continue and Mbeumo was left in front of Alisson. The sentence was served. Liverpool added another disappointment in a Premiership that has already become impossible. Too many points on the road and a compromised situation between now and the end of the season. And 2023 has only just begun.