Liverpool clinched a top-five Premier League finish—and a Champions League spot for next season—after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brentford at Anfield on the final day of the campaign.
The Reds entered the match knowing a single point would secure their return to Europe’s premier club competition. Curtis Jones delivered the crucial goal in the 79th minute, assisted by Mohamed Salah, who played his final game for the club. That strike sealed a season-ending performance that kept the Merseyside side in the top five.
matchday lineup and tactical adjustments
The match saw several personnel changes as Arne Slot reshuffled his squad following the previous weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa. Andy Robertson and Salah made way in the starting XI, replaced by Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez, respectively. Alisson Becker returned between the posts, while Giorgi Mamardashvili, Wataru Endo, Jeremie Frimpong, and Alexander Isak all featured as substitutes.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Van Dijk, Konaté (Gomez 90’), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Jones, Gakpo, Salah (Frimpong 73’); Robertson (Kerkez 72’), Gravenberch (Nyoni 72’), Ngumoha (Wirtz 73’).
Unused substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Isak, Chiesa.
first half: defensive resilience and near misses
Liverpool started brightly, with Ibrahima Konaté forcing a sharp save from Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken inside the opening minutes. Mohamed Salah came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock himself, striking a free kick against the post in the 20th minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai blazed wide after a surging run, and Flekken produced an athletic stop to deny Ryan Gravenberch’s curling effort from distance. Rio Ngumoha then forced another save as the Reds pushed for an opener, before Alisson denied Kevin Schade at point-blank range to preserve a goalless first half.
second half: Jones breaks the deadlock
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Liverpool dictating play. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute, when Salah—playing his final match—set up Jones for a composed finish after a swift counterattack. The goal not only extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run but also gave Salah a new club record: his 93rd Premier League assist for Liverpool, surpassing Steven Gerrard’s long-standing total of 92.
The celebrations were bittersweet. Jordan Henderson, making his final appearance at Anfield, received a standing ovation upon being substituted, while Salah and Robertson were afforded a guard of honor as they exited the pitch in the closing stages. Brentford, however, quickly equalized through Schade, who bundled home after a deflected cross.
Late drama saw both sides squander chances to win the match—Flekken denied Florian Wirtz, and Dango Ouattara’s effort rattled the crossbar—but Liverpool held firm enough to secure the point they needed.
The draw at Anfield concluded Liverpool’s 2025-26 Premier League campaign in style, with a season finale that delivered drama, milestones, and a ticket to next year’s Champions League.
Attendance: 60,325