There was an extra edge, and an extra punch, to Jurgen Klopp’s trademark celebration in front of the Kop after the final whistle that suggested this was more than just a routine win for Liverpool. There may be a gulf between themselves and Manchester City at the top of the Premier League but there is no sign of deflation creeping in at Anfield.
Liverpool leapfrogged Chelsea into second place with an ultimately comfortable victory over Brentford, who made life complicated for their hosts until Fabinho opened the scoring. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino, two players with added responsibility to improve Liverpool’s threat in front of goal in the absence of world-class teammates, obliged with a goal each in the second half. Fabinho’s goal a minute before the break lanced growing irritation with Liverpool’s performance around Anfield and punctured Brentford’s previously comfortable resistance.
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