Liverpool star who pushed for an Anfield comeback adds insult to injury after £25m move falls through
Van den Berg’s £25m Rise Highlights Liverpool’s Defensive Woes After Brentford Defeat
Liverpool’s brief revival after a midweek 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt came crashing down at Brentford, as Arne Slot’s side slumped to another damaging 3-2 defeat — their fourth in the opening nine Premier League games.
Ironically, several former Reds played key roles for the Bees. Jordan Henderson impressed in midfield against his old club, while ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made several important saves. But it was Sepp van den Berg who stood out most, anchoring Brentford’s defence and producing a vital block to deny Mohamed Salah.
The Dutch centre-back joined Liverpool from PEC Zwolle in 2019 for £1.3m but made only four senior appearances before leaving permanently last summer for a deal worth up to £25m. Since then, he’s flourished — and his latest performance served as a painful reminder of what the Reds let slip.
Before his departure, Van den Berg had been approached by Slot, his former coach at Zwolle, who wanted him to stay at Anfield.
> “He told me, ‘You’re doing very well. I want you to stay,’” Van den Berg recalled. “Of course, when the Liverpool manager says that, you start thinking twice. But I still wanted to move on.”
In hindsight, his decision proved wise. With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté the undisputed pairing, and Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah providing limited back-up, opportunities would have been scarce. Now, however, as Liverpool’s defence unravels, his departure looks increasingly costly.
The Reds have already conceded 21 goals in 14 games this season and have lost five of their last six matches. Injuries to Alisson and new signing Giovanni Leoni — out for the season with an ACL injury — have deepened the crisis.
Liverpool’s failure to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace on deadline day only worsens the sting. They remain interested in the England international ahead of January, but with Guéhi’s contract expiring next summer, elite European clubs could soon swoop in.
Both Konaté and Gomez also face uncertain futures, adding to the instability. Konaté is out of contract at season’s end, while Gomez has drawn interest from AC Milan and Brighton after a limited campaign.
Slot and captain Van Dijk have publicly acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings.
> “We concede too many goals — it’s not just the defence, it’s the whole team,” Slot admitted.
Van Dijk added: “It’s easy to point fingers, but everyone has to look in the mirror.”
For Van den Berg, meanwhile, the picture couldn’t be brighter. The 23-year-old has become a mainstay at Brentford and relished getting one over his former club.
> “It’s always nice to beat your old team,” he said. “We’re playing the way we want now — we deserved the win.”
Liverpool may not have seen him as the long-term answer, but given their current frailties, Van den Berg stands as a symbol of what they lack: composure, structure, and defensive belief.
