Diaz and Salah get Slot off to an Anfield flyer

Arne Slot enjoyed a winning Premier League start at Anfield as goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool cruise to a straightforward victory over Brentford.

The Dutchman’s Liverpool record now reads two wins from two games following last weekend’s 2-0 triumph at Ipswich Town and, although his side rarely reached their free-flowing best against the Bees, they always had enough in hand to join Manchester City, Brighton and Arsenal in holding a 100 per cent record after two games.

Settling into the new home 🏠

Arne Slot’s strong start continues as @LFC put in a strong performance at Anfield 🔴#TheKickOff | #LIVEBRE pic.twitter.com/R0JOHW4MKP

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 25, 2024

Brentford, who were again without striker Ivan Toney as he mulls over a move to Saudi Arabia, created little from open play but were a constant threat at set-pieces.

Diaz handed Liverpool a thrilling opener after 13 minutes, finishing a lightning break, and Salah notched his second of the season with 20 minutes to go to end Brentford’s challenge.

Slot’s Liverpool were expected to focus more on retaining possession and play with greater control than they did under his predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

Yet, their opening goal was straight out of the Klopp playbook. It stemmed from a Brentford corner which Liverpool cleared as far as Jota, who launched a blistering counter attack with a darting run and a wonderfully timed through ball for Diaz. The Colombia winger still had plenty to do but he made the finish look easy, powering a left-footed finish high past Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Liverpool were in total command and only a smart save from Flekken denied Andy Robertson a second goal six minutes later.

Brentford gradually grew into the game as Liverpool’s dominance waned, and they ought to have equalised just after the half-hour mark. Bryan Mbeumo whipped in a free-kick from the left and Christian Norgaard somehow failed to make proper contact on his header from six yards out with the ball drifting wide.

The game had started to become scrappy as the half developed but both sides had chances before the interval – Trent Alexander-Arnold seeing a shot deflected over by Nathan Collins while Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was required to repel a shot from the lively Keane Lewis-Potter.

If Brentford were to get back into it, it seemed as though set-pieces would be their most likely source of an equaliser.

And they nearly utilised that route 10 minutes into the second half, a corner routine ending with a Mathias Jensen cross that Collins met with a bullet header that flew straight at Alisson.

Republic of Ireland centre-half Collins was having a busy afternoon and he excelled himself twice in the space of eight second-half minutes with brilliant blocks to deny Jota with the Portugal international seemingly poised to double Liverpool’s advantage.

The second goal did arrive, however, after 70 minutes.

Diaz worked space in midfield and picked out a lovely pass for Salah and the Egypt star made no mistake by clipping his finish over the advancing Flekken.

Substitute Cody Gakpo hit the bar as Liverpool went in search of a third but, by then, the home side had done enough to see Slot off to the perfect start.