Liverpool will be desperate to pick up one more Premier League win for the 2025/26 season when facing Brentford, during a campaign that has been fraught with bumps and difficulties throughout, as both Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson prepare to play their final ever games for Arne Slot’s men.
A lot of the talk heading into this showdown with Brentford, to close out the 2025/26 season, centred on whether Arne Slot would start with Mohamed Salah, after the magical Egyptian took to social media to make his thoughts clear on the under-fire Dutchman in the Anfield dug-out.
Stating that he wants to see the Reds return to playing the ‘heavy metal football’ Jurgen Klopp was renowned for, this felt like a very public attack on the head coach, just before he walks away from Liverpool after nine glorious years.
Thankfully, the former Feyenoord head coach and the revered number 11 have managed to put their differences to one side for today’s clash, as Slot starts Salah, hoping he can bag one more Anfield goal, to take his overall Reds tally to a sensational 257 goals.
Andy Robertson also gets the nod to start, alongside his trusty teammate, as he brings his own nine-year association with the club to an emotional end.
The full lineup is also out, away from these selection revelations coming to light, as Slot hopes the team has selected can celebrate a 15th Premier League win of the campaign come 6 pm, and not another dire loss.
Confirmed Liverpool XI vs Brentford
In goal, much like Robertson and Salah, this could be Alisson Becker‘s final ever outing in between the sticks for the Reds, with rumours continuing to persist that the Brazilian could be moving to Juventus in the off-season.
Alisson starting the final game of the season will be welcome news for Slot, having had to watch his leaky team ship seven goals to both Manchester United and Aston Villa in recent matches.
In defence, the right-back spot is taken up by Curtis Jones, who could also be leaving Liverpool behind this summer as he is being linked with a move to Italy, as well, but to Inter Milan.
In the centre-back positions, the usual partnership is selected by Slot, as Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk start, with Van Dijk not missing a single minute of Premier League action this season.
The aforementioned Robertson makes up the final part of Liverpool’s back four, with the Scotsman, who has been labelled “definitely the best LB in the world” by Jurgen Klopp during a farewell video dedicated to the ex-Hull City defender, aiming to go out in style with a goal and a clean sheet.
Making up the two holding midfield positions for the game today are Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, with the Argentine and Dutchman trusted to be the midfield anchors, so the likes of Salah can fully express themselves.
It would be the dream ending to Salah’s esteemed career at Anfield if he were to pick up another memorable match-winner against Keith Andrew’s visitors, with Liverpool’s famous home ground no doubt a cauldron of noise if he were to bag another sensational Red strike.
Alongside Salah in attack, Dominik Szoboszlai will aim to grab another goal or an assist today, having been the Reds’ most consistent player all season long, arguably, with the number eight collecting a weighty 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
While the 33-year-old leaving the club represents the old guard moving on, Rio Nguhoma starting shows the fresh future on the horizon on Merseyside, with the 17-year-old hopeful that the upcoming 2026/27 season will see even more meaningful first-team opportunities come his way.
Making up the final spot in the team, as the curtain comes down on Liverpool’s topsy-turvy season, is Cody Gakpo. The 27-year-old could hit double figures for the campaign if he scores later on, as he currently sits on 50 goals in total for Slot and Co.
On the bench, Slot will surely be tempted to give Joe Gomez a runout at some stage, as he looks likely to leave Anfield behind this summer, alongside those mentioned.
He also has the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak present on the bench, too, who could get some late minutes if Liverpool are looking lacklustre in the attacking areas of the pitch.
Wataru Endo is fit enough to be a substitute after a lengthy absence from the first team picture, with Jeremie Frimpong named on the bench, too, as Slot and Co. aim to clinch an emphatic win to see out the choppy season on a positive note, and give Salah and Robertson the farewell they deserve.
Liverpool lineup: Alisson, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Ngumoha.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Wirtz, Isak, Chiesa, Frimpong, Nyoni.
Brentford lineup: Kelleher; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Janelt, Henderson, Jensen; Ouattara, Thiago, Schade
Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Ajer, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo
