Brentford host Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium on 17 October 2026 in Premier League Matchweek 7. Brentford sit fourth on 10 points with a plus six goal difference after six unbeaten games, whereas Liverpool are ninth on nine points with a completely flat goal difference. For Brentford, this is about extending an unbeaten run and staying in the top four conversation this early in the season. For Liverpool, it is about recovering from a 0-3 hammering by Manchester City and figuring out what Iraola's side actually is at this point in the season.
This is the first time these two managers have faced each other, with no historical record to pick through. Andrews took charge at Brentford in June 2025 following Thomas Frank's departure, while Iraola was appointed at Anfield on 4 June 2026 to replace Arne Slot, so whatever patterns eventually emerge between them start here.
Brentford come into this on the back of 2 wins and 3 draws from their last five matches across all competitions, having drawn 2-2 with Aston Villa on 10 October. Before that, they beat Chelsea 3-0 in the Premier League on 18 September, which remains their most convincing result of the season. Liverpool's form has been patchier: 2 wins, 3 draws and a loss in the league, with the 0-3 defeat to City leaving real questions about the defensive shape Iraola is still trying to settle.
Brentford are dealing with a lengthy injury list. Josh Dasilva is out with a thigh or hamstring issue, Antoni Milambo is sidelined long term with a knee problem and Kaye Furo is unavailable with a foot injury. Kevin Schade carries a shoulder doubt alongside Mikkel Damsgaard (ankle), Nathan Collins (calf) and Jannik Schuster (ankle). That is a lot of uncertainty across both flanks and in midfield and Andrews will have to be creative with his selections.
Liverpool have their own headaches. Gravenberch serves a one match suspension after his red card against City, which is a real blow to Iraola's midfield balance, while Hugo Ekitike is out long term with an Achilles injury alongside Conor Bradley (knee) and Giovanni Leoni, who has a long term knee issue of his own. Szoboszlai is a doubt with a hamstring concern, Isak carries a thigh doubt, Gakpo is questionable with an ankle problem and Mohamed Salah is no longer at the club after his contract expired. It is a formidable list of absentees for a side still trying to bed in a new manager.
Brentford's 4-2-3-1 is built on defensive structure and set piece efficiency rather than elaborate possession play, which is part of what makes them awkward to face at home. Vitaly Janelt anchors the midfield with disciplined defensive work and Igor Thiago leads the line. Schade's potential absence matters since he has three league goals already and without him Andrews loses his most direct threat in behind and the side becomes heavily reliant on set pieces.
Liverpool under Iraola press high in a similar 4-2-3-1, with Florian Wirtz as the central attacking midfielder and Bradley Barcola, who scored a recent Champions League hat trick, providing the width. Mac Allister provides midfield control and van Dijk anchors the back line. Losing Gravenberch's physicality is a real problem here and if the doubts over Szoboszlai, Isak and Gakpo all materialise, Liverpool's attack could look very thin, which means a lot falls on Wirtz and Barcola to manufacture something between them.
The aerial duel between Thiago and van Dijk is probably where the match is won or lost. Brentford's system routes a lot of their build up through flick ons and knockdowns from Thiago, so van Dijk winning those duels cuts off their primary transition route. Janelt's screening role will make life difficult for Mac Allister trying to progress play under pressure, while Brentford's wide players will need to track Barcola's runs on the flanks while also covering for the absences around them. Brentford's set piece delivery could be particularly dangerous against a Liverpool defence already missing Gravenberch's presence in midfield.
Liverpool have won six of the last ten meetings, though Brentford held them to a 1-1 draw the last time these sides met in the league. The historical record leans Liverpool but those numbers were compiled against a Brentford side that was not six games unbeaten and playing with this kind of defensive confidence at home.
Brentford's set piece threat is probably the biggest variable here given Liverpool's absences. Deliveries into the box could expose a reorganised Liverpool defence that has already looked shaky this season and Liverpool will need Wirtz and Barcola to do a lot of the counter attacking heavy lifting against an organised back line without much support from behind them.
The call is Brentford 2-1 Liverpool. The defensive structure, the home advantage, the set piece threat and an unbeaten start all point toward Brentford winning here and Liverpool have too many uncertainties to comfortably back on the road. A Brentford set piece goal is the likeliest route to the difference.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
