Brentford manager Keith Andrews insists his team will need courage, balance and belief when they face Liverpool at the G-Tech Community Stadium this weekend.
He knows exactly what his players are up against. Liverpool’s press and pace in transition remain among the most demanding challenges in the Premier League, and Andrews says his side will have to adapt without losing their identity.
“We know what Liverpool bring, their intensity, their press, and the speed they attack with are right up there with the very best,” he says. “Of course we’ll have to adapt at times, but it’s always a balancing act. You can’t come into a game like this just trying to survive. We’ll have to earn the right to play, to impose our own game, and that takes courage.”
That idea of courage has been at the heart of Brentford’s approach since Andrews took charge. The manager speaks with conviction about the belief within his squad and the confidence that has been building across the club.
“The players are in a really good place,” he says. “No new injury concerns, confidence in the building, and the squad and club are in a good place right now.”
He acknowledges that there will be moments when his side have to dig in. “We may have to suffer. That’s part of football at this level, especially against a side with their individual and collective quality. But we’ll look to play to our strengths and make it uncomfortable for teams coming to the G-Tech. We won’t just sit on a lead and invite pressure. We’ll keep playing and pushing to win.”
Liverpool’s midweek result and the questions surrounding their current form have not changed the way Andrews views the challenge. He dismisses any suggestion that this is an opportune time to face them.
“It’s dangerous to think Liverpool are anything but a very high-level team,” he says. “They’ve still got world-class individuals. We can relate to a team in transition, it’s not easy, but they’re still operating at a very high standard. We’ll have to be at our best, no question.”
Andrews and his staff have prepared for a range of scenarios after Liverpool made some changes to their system during the week. “They made some tweaks in midweek and we’ve prepared for that,” he explains. “We’ll think carefully about who starts for us and how we can use the bench. That will be important.”
When the conversation turns to Mohamed Salah, Andrews is clear that nothing changes in their preparation despite talk of a dip in form from the Egyptian forward.
“Not in the slightest,” he says. “It’s Mo Salah, one of the best in the world. You don’t prepare differently because he’s had a quieter spell. He’s forming new relationships in that front line and he’ll hit top form again. We prepare the same way because he’s still a huge threat.”
For Andrews, what happens behind the scenes at Brentford is just as important as what happens on the pitch. The culture he has tried to build within the squad is based on attitude and character as much as talent.
“The type of person we bring into the building is just as important as the player,” he says. “Good values, the right demeanour, that’s non-negotiable. Thiago epitomises it. You have to drag him off the pitch sometimes. That’s the standard. That’s what drives the culture here.”
It is that collective spirit, he believes, that gives Brentford their edge. “We’ll have to balance being smart with being brave,” he says. “We’ll respect Liverpool’s strengths, but we’ll look to impose our own game. That’s who we are.”
