Brentford vs Liverpool LIVE commentary: Salah returns as Reds bid to end London curse in dreaded early slot – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Liverpool can extend their gap at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to London to face Brentford this weekend.

The Reds are currently two points clear of Manchester City but a victory will extend their lead to five before the champions play Chelsea.

Darwin Nunez scored as Liverpool returned to the top of the tableCredit: Getty

However, that will be easier said than done as Jurgen Klopp's side have won just two of their last eight away top-flight games in London.

Both Liverpool's Premier League defeats this season have come in the capital - 2-1 vs Spurs in September and 3-1 to Arsenal last month.

Liverpool also have unhappy memories of their travels to Brentford, having drawn 3-3 in 2021/22, before losing 3-1 in January last year.

To make matters even worse, the two teams play each other in the dreaded 12.30pm Saturday kick-off, and Reds boss Klopp is the most vocal critic of the early weekend lunchtime slot.

But the Bees have endured a tough third campaign back in the top-flight due to injuries and suspensions and are just six points clear of the relegation zone.

Brentford vs Liverpool: Salah's back

Mohamed Salah is poised to finally play his first game for Liverpool since New Year's Day having returned to full training this week.

The 31-year-old scored twice in a 4-2 win over Newcastle on January 1 before departing for AFCON with Egypt.

Egypt crashed out at the last-16 stage but Salah sustained a muscle injury during the group stages that sent him home early.

The forward remains the Premier League's leader for goal involvements despite his absence as Liverpool remain top of the tree.

Salah is the club's top scorer this season with 18 goals in 27 appearances, and has missed the last eight matches.

However, his return may be overshadowed by the form of Diogo Jota who has relished the increased responsibility over the last month.

The Portuguese forward has scored five goals in his last six league matches and is just one away from hitting double figures in a campaign for just a second time.

Jota also scored in his only previous appearance at the Brentford Community Stadium in the top-flight, having missed last season's 3-1 defeat through injury.

Salah has enjoyed another stunning season in the Premier League so far Brentford’s Neal Maupay has been directly involved in exactly one goal in each of his six home Premier League starts for Brentford (4 goals, 2 assists). In Premier League history, only two players have scored or assisted in their first seven home starts for a club: Alan Shearer for Newcastle (first 15, 1996-97) and Álvaro Negredo for Man City (first 7, 2013). Since Ivan Toney’s first Premier League appearance this season on January 20th, only three players have more goals in the division than he does (3 in 4 games) Liverpool are, however, one of the four teams he has faced without scoring against in the competition (3 games, 7 shots, 1 shot on target). Liverpool have won just two of their last eight away Premier League games in London (D3 L3) – indeed, both of their league defeats this season have come in the capital (vs Spurs in September and Arsenal in February).

Brentford vs Liverpool: Team news

The hosts still have an extensive injury list, with Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, and Kevin Schade all out.

However, the Bees have seen their ranks strengthened by Frank Onyeka and Yoane Wissa following the end of AFCON.

Liverpool were not only boosted by the return of Salah to training, with both Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker recovering from illness.

Conor Bradley has also reported back to the club's facilities after mourning the passing of his father but his availability remains unclear.

The visitors do still have several injury concerns, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Stefan Bajcetic still out alongside long-term absentees Ben Doak, Thiago Alcantara, and Joel Matip.

Toney has impressed since returning to action last monthCredit: Getty Brentford have lost four of their last six home Premier League matches, as many as they had in their previous 30 such home games combined (W15 D11 L4). Liverpool have both scored and conceded in all seven of their away league games against Brentford. They lost 3-1 last season but have never lost consecutive such visits to the Bees before. The home side has never lost a Premier League meeting between Brentford and Liverpool (W4 D1), with the Bees winning this exact fixture 3-1 last season.

Brentford vs Liverpool: What has been said?

Liverpool should be wary of appointing Xabi Alonso as their new manager for one reason, according to Danny Murphy.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, former Reds midfielder Murphy insists there is one concern over his potential appointment, much like Manchester United faced when Sir Alex Ferguson left.

"I think in an ideal world, you would want a manager to come and take over from Jurgen Klopp to have a bigger body of work, even if he wins the Bundesliga.

"Like any footballer, you can have a purple patch, you can have a wonderful season, and vice versa in management.

"You want a manager coming in who has had a body of work, had success all over the place, and has every chance of doing what Klopp has done.

"Unfortunately, I don't think that candidate is out there and stands out.

"So, what you do next, you go to the next box, which is to somebody who is potentially able to do that and has the capabilities.

"A bit like buying a good young footballer who looks like he is going to be a world-beater.

"Alonso, at the moment, for what he is doing at Bayer Leverkusen, in the style in which he is doing, it looks like a super young coach with lots of qualities.

"He has a team playing for him; he's got a nice style, is easy on the eye, very articulate, calm, and has been at Liverpool before.

"He ticks a lot of boxes, but he does not tick them all.

"The problem you have is that nobody does, especially who I can think of.

"That's why I say I think Alonso is going to get the gig, and probably rightly so, in my opinion."

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is back after the fluCredit: Getty As of the night before this game (February 16th), Liverpool will have spent every night since Boxing Day on top of the Premier League (53 nights in a row); that’s exactly as many nights as they’d spent top of the table from the start of the 2020-21 campaign up to Christmas 2023. Brentford have lost their last two home Premier League matches after scoring the first goal (1-2 vs Aston Villa, 1-3 vs Man City); they had only lost one of their first 25 home games when scoring first in the competition beforehand (W17 D7). Liverpool have 15 more points at this stage of their Premier League season (54) than they had after 24 games last season (39). On three of the last four occasions in the top-flight they’ve had 54+ points after 24 games, they have finished 2nd (1990-91, 2018-19 & 2021-22); the other was in 2019-20, when they had 70 and won the league.

Brentford vs Liverpool: talkSPORT coverage

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, February 17.

talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from west London, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30pm.

Reshmin Chowdhury will be your presenter, while commentary comes from Sam Matterface and former England captain Stuart Pearce.

talkSPORT.com will also provide the best of the reaction as well.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.