Liverpool’s Slot braced for tough test against Brentford

Arne Slot says the second half of the season will be even tougher than the first as he targets a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title for Liverpool in his first campaign at Anfield.

The Reds have been the outstanding team in England and Europe this season, losing just two of their 31 games in all competitions.

Four points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League with a game in hand, they face a testing match against mid-table Brentford on Saturday.

The London side, who drew 2-2 with Manchester City this week, have the joint-highest number of home wins in the league this season — equal with Arsenal and Liverpool on seven.

“This season, maybe more than every other season, shows the strength of every single team that’s in the league,” Slot told his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“Even yesterday evening, I think it was quite a surprise to see Southampton going toe to toe with (Manchester) United (won 3-1 after three late goals).

“So, it shows you that in the second half of the season that it’s even harder to win your games than in the first half of the season, because teams are longer together, managers are working longer with the team, you’ve played already once against each other so maybe there’s a different game plan, some teams bring players in to strengthen the squad and teams are fighting for getting into Europe, winning the league, trying to stay in the league.”

Brentford were the opposition in Slot’s first home league game in August — a match Liverpool won 2-0.

“I already thought, ‘If this is going to be the resistance we get every week then this is a more difficult league than the Eredivisie’, which I knew before I came but it was proven that day as well,” he said.

The Dutchman said Liverpool,