Liverpool’s Andy Robertson spoke to Viaplay after last night’s 3-1 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, in which the Scottish international attempted to explain his team’s poor performance.
The left-back did not start the game but came on as a half-time substitute and injected some energy into his team but his efforts were not enough to turn the tide of pressure and physicality brought on by Thomas Frank’s side. Brentford showed more desire and hunger than Liverpool and their 3 goals were borne from a lack of defensive cohesion and solidity within Jurgen Klopp’s team.
“Obviously we didn’t do what we were supposed to do. It’s as simple as that,” said Robertson after the game. “We didn’t have any runners in-behind, we didn’t have anyone high and wide, we didn’t have anyone in spaces, we couldn’t keep the ball, we lost the second balls, balls in-behind they dealt with, set-pieces they dealt with. So yeah, when you all add all those things up, you’re never going to get a result at this place.”
Robertson acknowledged Brentford’s strengths and how Frank’s team exploited Liverpool’s defensive frailities.
“We knew what Brentford are good at, it’s not hard to work out what they’re good at, and they’re very consistent at it. We were prepared as to what we were expecting but obviously just struggled with it.”
“Set-pieces were a huge weapon for them, the first two goals came from that, that’s hugely disappointing from our point of view. You go in at half-time at 2-0 down and you have to fight an uphill battle.”
Liverpool improved in the first portion of the second half, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulling one back for his team with a headed effort. Liverpool, however, did not make the most of their chances in front of goal and paid for it later on in the game when Brentford added a third goal, capitalizing on a defensive error from Ibrahima Konate.
“We tried, the first 15-20 minutes of the second half I thought we pushed well, we got a goal, we obviously got one chalked off, we had a couple of half chances and then we started to commit more bodies forward the later it got and we got hit on the counter-attack,” he said.
“I don’t think we can have any complaints about the result today, about where the three points went, I think Brentford deserved it and that’s why we find ourselves in the position that we’re in.”
