Liverpool team vs Brentford predicted as Joe Gomez in and Wataru Endō decision made
Source: Liverpool

Liverpool has not had the best week in terms of either results or performances and needs to get back on track quickly. Next up is Brentford at Anfield and the Reds simply need to get back into the winning groove again.

Several players will be missing for the game with Thomas Frank's men, however. Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are all set to be out for a while yet with various issues. And midfield duo Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones are not expected to be fit to take part either.

Virgil van Dijk is set to be back from the illness that saw him stay on Merseyside as his teammates traveled to Toulouse in the Europa League, but Alexis Mac Allister is suspended. The Argentine got his fifth booking of the Premier League season against Luton Town in that disappointing draw last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp has some headaches to solve, then. In midfield, there are not many options left, though the German hinted that Trent Alexander-Arnold could play as the number six if required during his pre-match press conference. These are the teams that some of our Liverpool.com writers would select.

James Findlater - Difficult decisions It is very difficult to pick a team this weekend, and unfortunately not for all the right reasons. Alexis Mac Allister's suspension complicates matters in midfield, especially if Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch are out injured.

I have to admit, I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of Wataru Endo starting in the Premier League, given he hasn't exactly looked the most mobile in his performances so far. Needs must though, and he'll likely start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott in the middle.

Joe Gomez gets the nod at left-back for me. Like Endo, Kostas Tsimikas just hasn't convinced me, and if the plan is for Gomez to play against Manchester City, then he needs to get more minutes in the position.

The frontline isn't an easy decision either. After all his good work so far this season, we saw why Darwin Nunez is still a while off being the finished article at Luton. Given Cody Gakpo didn't exactly impress in midweek though, the Uruguayan retains his place, and after what must have been an emotionally draining couple of weeks for Luis Diaz, I'd expect Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah to start on either side.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Jota

Predicted scoreline: 2-1 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch:A nervy encounter, with Nunez redeeming himself for his Luton misses with the winner.

David Comerford - Endo gets the nod The only real decision to make when it comes to the back five concerns the left-back position, and after Tsimikas' error against Toulouse, I'd go for Gomez once again. His aerial numbers have been excellent this season, and that could be very important against one of the most direct teams in the league.

I've toyed with the idea of using Szoboszlai as the six in this game after Endo did his best to blow his chance at replacing the injured Mac Allister, but because of the shortage of available number eights, I ultimately think he has to start further forward, with the Japan captain slotting in behind him. Elliott completes the midfield.

As for the frontline, Gakpo hasn't played well enough yet to dislogdge Nunez, while I'd lean towards Jota over Diaz, in the knowledge that the latter can impact the game off the bench if needed, as we saw against Luton last weekend.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Jota.

Predicted scoreline: 2-1 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch: Can Darwin Nunez respond after last week's horror miss?

Andrew Beasley - Team largely picks itself History shows that Liverpool struggles to get results once the injury list ticks past a handful of players. Brentford is a hard nut to crack at the best of times so this match will be a severe test with the treatment room as crowded it is.

But there are reasons for optimism. Jurgen Klopp should be able to field Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, his most used center-back pairing this season and a duo that helped keep clean sheets in recent home matches with Everton and Nottingham Forest.

The midfield offers far greater cause for concern yet there is clarity too. With the players who are injured or suspended, the trio selects itself, unless Klopp gives Trent Alexander-Arnold a start in the center of the team.

All five senior options are available up front. Mohamed Salah will become just the third player in Premier League history to score or assist in 15 consecutive home matches should he make a goal contribution against the Bees. It would be foolish to bet against him doing so.

My starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Endo, Elliott; Salah, Jota, Nunez.

Predicted scoreline: 2-1 to Liverpool.

One thing to watch: Mohamed Salah to get an assist, probably for Diogo Jota.