Before Liverpool’s return to Brentford, a look back at Jurgen Klopp’s angry reaction to the last defeat there and what he said about set pieces

Ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Brentford this weekend, one of the most heated post-match rants of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure is worth revisiting.

Liverpool visit the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (3 p.m. GMT) under Andoni Iraola, with only two league wins from their first six games, while AI made a clear prediction about how the game will unfold. The last time Klopp’s side made the trip, in January 2023, it ended in a 3-1 defeat and a very public complaint about how Brentford play.

That loss was Liverpool’s first against Brentford in all competitions since 1938. Goals from Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, plus an Ibrahima Konate own goal from a corner, sent the hosts up to seventh, two points behind sixth-placed Liverpool.

Klopp’s anger centered on Brentford’s set pieces and the third goal, which referee Stuart Attwell allowed after Mbeumo knocked Konate off the ball before scoring. “The third goal I really cannot respect,” Klopp said.

“They stretch the rules in these moments. They’re really pushing, really holding and everything. That’s why it’s really difficult,” Klopp said.

He continued, “There was only one offensive foul off a set-piece tonight which was whistled and it was against us, which is really funny!”

“We had a meeting before the season where they told us the refs will whistle that but unfortunately they don’t do it. A foul is a foul, holding is holding, pushing is pushing,” Klopp said.

He did not pretend the chaos was entirely illegal, and he credited Brentford for it. “They are smart, but they do,” Klopp said. He added, “If you singled out every situation you would find five fouls, but because it’s so chaotic, nobody sees it. That’s what they do, and it’s really good.”

“I know people will say I use it as an excuse. It’s not. I expect us to do better,” Klopp said.

Then Brentford head coach Thomas Frank, who laughed off the criticism, responded. “I guess we have some very, very good referees. We have four on the pitch and then a VAR room and I think it’s never been more difficult to score a goal,” Frank said.

“It’s a credit to the good work we do on our offensive set-pieces,” Frank said.

The picture around Liverpool is different now. Iraola’s side beat LASK 6-3 in the Champions League in midweek, with Bradley Barcola scoring a hat-trick, though they conceded three after building a big lead. In the league, they have dropped points against Fulham and lost to Manchester City, and Gravenberch is suspended for the Brentford game.

Brentford away is likely to be physical and direct, and set pieces will again be a key test for Liverpool’s defense.