Luis Diaz and Mo Salah give Arne Slot perfect Anfield debut as Liverpool defeat Brentford

Two wins, four goals, none conceded, and all his strikers off the mark for the season, means it has been an encouraging start for Slot after the Jurgen Klopp era.

SLOTTING IN WELL: Liverpool manager Arne Slot gestures towards the Kop Stand after the Premier League match at Anfield. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Liverpool 2 Brentford 0

Goals from Luis Diaz and Mo Salah gave Arne Slot a win in his first competitive home match in charge of Liverpool.

Two wins, four goals, none conceded, and all his favoured strikers off the mark for the season, means it has been an encouraging start for Slot after the Jurgen Klopp era.

After the fanfare, emotion and carnival atmosphere of Klopp's final game in May, his successor made made a low-key entrance. The Dutchman walked out of the tunnel with a brief clap of the hands to the crowd and a thumbs up to someone holding up a banner bearing his image before taking his seat.

But there was a real buzz and energy about his team and they could have had more goals but for some fine goalkeeping by Mark Flekken and superb defending by Republic of Ireland international Nathan Collins.

Slot said Liverpool didn't win enough duels in the first half of their win at Ipswich on the opening day but he could have no complaints against Brentford.

They won possession on countless occasions and both their goals came from players winning battles for the ball.

Diaz's 13th minute opener was started by Salah winning a duel on the edge of his own penalty area after Ibrahima Konate had headed clear Brentford's first corner.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Anfield. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

The ball broke to Diogo Jota, who charged forward before setting up Diaz with a perfect pass to rifle home a fine shot, his 25th goal on his 100th appearance for the club.

It was a super-fast counter-attacking goal right out of the Klopp play book and Slot celebrated by slapping the hands of his coaching staff.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 138 Premier League matches when leading at half-time (W125 D13) since their 4-3 loss to Bournemouth in December 2016.

But they had to wait until the 70th minute to effectively seal the points. This time Dominik Szoboslai nicked the ball back off Christian Norgaard before passing to Diaz.

He slid the ball through for Salah to produce a clever first time finish, bending the ball past the advancing Flekken, who had twice denied Andy Robertson a goal and produced several other good stops.

There were plenty of positives for Slot. Ryan Gravenberch produced another solid display in the defensive midfield anchor role to suggest Liverpool do not need to panic buy in that position following Martin Zubimendi's decision to stay with Real Sociedad.

And the win means former Feyenoord boss Slot has achieved something his four predecessors - Klopp, Brendan Rodgers, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish (in his second spell as boss) - all failed to do. They all drew their first League home games in charge.

There was no Klopp style fist-pumping at the final whistle - just a courtesy wave of thanks to the fans, who will be hugely encouraged by his first two games at the helm.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 7 (Bradley 71, 6) Konate 7, van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Gravenberch 7 (Endo 90, 5), Mac Allister 7, Szoboszlai 7; Salah 8 (Elliott 83, 5), Jota 7 (Gakpo 71, 6), Diaz 7 (Nunez 71, 6).

Subs not used: Kelleher, Gomez, Tsimikas, Quansah.

Goals: Diaz 13, Salah.

Booked: Szoboszlai, Konate.

Brentford (3-5-2): Flekken 8; Collins 8, Pinnock 6, Ajer 6; Roeslev 6, Janelt 6 (Schade 71, 5), Norgaard 6, Jensen 6 (Damsgaard 66, 5), Lewis-Potter 6 (Carvalho 66, 5); Mbeumo 7, Wissa 6 (Onyeka 71, 5).

Unused subs: Valdimarsson, van den Berg, Mee, Yarmoliu, Trevitt.

Booked: Norgaard, Jensen.

Referee: Stuart Attwell 7.