Brentford are unbeaten in 5 Premier League matches, a new record for the club and have now scored at least 2 goals in all of their last 4 matches. While they are missing Ivan Toney, Brentford’s ethos has always been around the team collectively working, not relying on specific players so they should still play well in this game. Ivan Toney has scored 12 of Brentford’s 27 goals in the league this season, over half their goals have come from other players. Brentford have created the 6th most xG in the Premier League this season, however they also concede a lot of xG, the 8th most in the Premier League. This has meant that both teams have scored in 10 of their 17 matches this season and 4 of their last 5 games.

Liverpool are a long way from the defensively solid side that won the league a few years ago. Liverpool have kept just 4 clean sheets this season and have given up more xG than all the top 5 as well as Brighton, West Ham, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Liverpool are still very strong offensively, they are the 3rd highest scorers in the league meaning they are involved in plenty of high scoring matches. Both teams have scored in 11 of their 16 matches so expect goals here. Last time Brentford hosted Liverpool it ended 3-3 and I am expecting goals again in this game, so I have backed both teams to score.

With Ivan Toney missing out, the opportunity is there for Yoane Wissa to make a name for himself. The Congolese striker has only played 684 minutes in the Premier League this season but has got himself 3 goals and 1 assist. He has averaged 0.92 shots on target per 90 and scored the last time Liverpool visited the Brentford Community Stadium. Wissa would have been a good fit for this match regardless of whether Toney was available. Against Liverpool’s very high line he has the pace to get in behind, something that will make him very dangerous in this match. He gets a good amount of game time normally so has a good level of match sharpness, I expect him to be Brentford’s most dangerous player here.

While Darwin Nunez’s goalscoring numbers may be nothing special, his shooting statistics are extraordinary. Nunez has averages 5.99 shots per 90, the highest of any player in the Premier League, accumulates 0.75 xG per 90 which is the second highest in the Premier League, but he only scores 0.57 goals per 90 which is the 13th highest in the Premier League. He has also averaged 2.54 shots on target per 90 in the league this season, the highest of any player in the league.

In his last 8 games he only failed to register 2 shots on target once and that was against Manchester City. Brentford have faced 99 shots on target this season, 13 more than 2nd highest Everton’s tally of 86 and Liverpool have had 101 shots on target, the most of any team in the league. Nunez then should get plenty more shots in this game and is good value to have 2 shots on target.