Liverpool have confirmed that, despite expected protests from fans, they will play the national anthem to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

The Reds get into action at Anfield on Saturday

Request made by the Premier League

Some supporters expected to protest

WHAT HAPPENED? The Reds take on Brentford at Anfield on Saturday, the day a new monarch is due to be crowned in Britain. The Premier League has asked all clubs playing at the highest level to recognize this event. Liverpool do not wish to appear disrespectful and – after consulting with interested parties, including supporter groups, who have expressed opposition to the plans – have decided they have no choice but to fall into line.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: A statement from Liverpool on the club’s official website reads: “Before kick-off and in acknowledgment of the Premier League’s request to celebrate the coronation, players and officials will gather around the center circle as the anthem is played It is, of course, a personal choice as to how those at Anfield celebrate this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on this.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Liverpool fans have historically booed the anthem during outings at Wembley Stadium, with historical complaints from Merseyside residents dating back to the 1980s, when locals felt the British government was walking away the city.

AND NOW? However, Liverpool as a city has never expressed any animosity towards the royal family, with the vast majority of supporters complying with the minute of silence that took place following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Also.. 

Liverpool vs. Brentford – Preview prediction, team news and lineups

Seeking revenge on the team that made the start of 2023 miserable, Liverpool welcome Brentford to Anfield on Saturday night for their penultimate home game of the Premier League season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded a 1-0 win over Fulham in midweek, while the Bees won against Nottingham Forest in similarly nervous circumstances last weekend to triumph 2-1.
Game preview

After Issa Diop was yet to pay in a penalty shootout against Arsenal last month, Mohamed Salah came on Wednesday night to give Liverpool the lead against Fulham after Issa Diop defeated Darwin Nunez, albeit in controversial fashion.

While the penalty was in dispute, there was no mistaking goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who single-handedly tackled Carlos Vinicius twice to keep a costly win and clean sheet for his side, and was praised by Klopp for his contributions “sensational” at trial. Liverpool, now enjoying a five-game winning streak, are not waving the white flag in the Champions League qualifying race and have locked themselves in fifth place with four games to go while Manchester United failed to extend their lead with the Reds to seven points after losing to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, they are still one game short.

The Reds have failed to string together a six-game Premier League winning streak since April 2022 and while realistically it may be too little too late for their first four chances, Klopp’s men are really finishing beautiful countryside.

The hosts go into the evening clash having gone seven consecutive games unbeaten since their 4-1 win over Manchester City while their unbeaten streak at Anfield now stands at 10 Premier League games, but Brentford had the number from Reds earlier in the season.

Three days after Brentford completely put their swords on west London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Brentford faced a tougher test of their European credentials against relegation contenders Nottingham Forest, who were stunned at half time by Danilo’s second goal in so many instances. matches.

Brentford watched the defeat and were indebted to Ivan Toney, who leveled them with an accidental top-flight 20th goal of the season – a deflected free-kick from Keylor Navas – before substitute Josh Dasilva was pinched in extra time. post of Costa Rican. Brentford having racked up consecutive top-flight victories since the turn of the year and are yet to give up on their European dream as they occupy ninth in the table – four points behind Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa – but eighth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion can fade from sight if they win their three games in hand.

They still face Spurs and Manchester City before another solid season of progress comes to a close. The Bees – who aren’t quite the force they were at the start of the season – travel to Anfield having won just two of their last eight Premier League away games. matches, although their stunning 2-1 draw against Etihad in November means Thomas Frank’s side shouldn’t be counted down until the first ball is kicked.

New Year celebrations continued well into the night at the Gtech Community Stadium as Frank’s side secured a 3-1 win over Liverpool in January, but the Reds had won 3-0 at Anfield 12 months earlier and they suffered no damage. internal defeat against counterparts in the capital from behind to prevail 2:1.

TEAM NEWS 

The injured Thiago Alcantara, who is limping to the benches ahead of last weekend’s win over Tottenham Hotspur, is expected to miss the rest of the season as he prepares for surgery on a hip problem – the latest in a long line of setbacks for the 32 year old.

Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) welcome Thiago to the injury club, while Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino are speeding up their recovery from muscle problems but need careful assessment in the coming days.

Diogo Jota overcame another hit to join the bench on Wednesday and could now threaten to fight his way forward alongside Cody Gakpo, while Andrew Robertson enjoyed a midweek break but was expected to return directly for Kostas Tsimikas.

Likewise, Brentford will face a quintet of injury problems for Saturday’s game as captain Pontus Jansson (hamstring) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) face a race against time to return before the end of the season.

No timetable has been set for Christian Norgaard’s recovery from a calf problem either, but Kristoffer Ajer played for the Under-21s last week and could potentially come back strong – the same goes for the second-choice keeper Thomas Strakosha.

Two substitutes, Frank Onyeka and Dasilva, broke Forest’s heart together last weekend and although the former is unlikely to be rewarded with a start, Dasilva – who also made all four dribble attempts that day – could challenge Mikkel Damsgaard’s place.

Possible starting lineup for Liverpool:

Alison; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Fabinho, Henderson; Salah Gakpo Iota

Possible starting lineup from Brentford:
Raya; Hickey, Mee, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen, Janelt, Dasilva; Mbeumo, Toney, what a pity

We say Liverpool 2-1 Brentford

Neither Liverpool nor Brentford have impressed in their recent one-goal wins and there may not be much to choose from in this clash as the hosts’ weary legs start to feel tired. However, Klopp still has the chance to refresh his forward line and the in-form Reds’ home wins stand in stark contrast to the Bees’ uneven results on the road, so we still have faith in Klopp’s side to get the job done. But it can’t be beautiful.