Alexander Isak and Víctor Muñoz scored in the second half as Liverpool came from behind to beat nine-man Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. Keane Lewis-Potter's header put Keith Andrews' side ahead just before the break, but Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off in first-half stoppage time and Andoni Iraola's team made the extra man count to inflict Brentford's first Premier League defeat of the season.
Match facts
- Result: Brentford 1-2 Liverpool (half-time 1-0)
- Competition: Premier League, Matchday 7
- Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, London
- Scorers: Brentford - Lewis-Potter 44'; Liverpool - Víctor Muñoz 62', Isak 70'
- Assists: Brentford - Igor Thiago (44'); Liverpool - Wirtz (62'), Barcola (70')
- Red cards: Yarmoliuk (Brentford) 45+8', straight red; Janelt (Brentford) 90+2', second yellow
- Next: Liverpool v Villarreal (Champions League), Tuesday 20 October; Hull City v Brentford (Premier League), Sunday 25 October
How the match unfolded
Liverpool had the first clear chance when Bradley Barcola seized on a Brentford error and ran through, but his chip bounced wide of the post. At the other end, Jeremy Jacquet got a vital touch to stop Igor Thiago scoring at the back post. Dominik Szoboszlai, back in the starting line-up after injury, was forced off in the 32nd minute and replaced by Trey Nyoni.
The game turned in a busy end to the half. Referee John Brooks gave Liverpool a penalty when Alexis Mac Allister went down under a challenge from Dango Ouattara, but overturned it after a VAR review at the pitchside monitor. Moments later Brentford led, as Lewis-Potter powered a header past Alisson from Igor Thiago's cross in the 44th minute.
Eight minutes into stoppage time, Brooks was sent to the monitor again. As the players waited for a Liverpool corner, Yarmoliuk had clashed with Jacquet, and Brooks showed the Brentford midfielder a straight red card for violent conduct, announcing it as a "headbutting action".
Jeremie Frimpong replaced Ronald Araújo at half-time but lasted only seven minutes before going off injured, with Rio Ngumoha coming on. Liverpool equalised in the 62nd minute: Florian Wirtz slipped Muñoz through, and he cut inside and beat Caoimhín Kelleher with a low left-footed finish.
Eight minutes later Liverpool were ahead. Mac Allister's cross to the back post was headed down by Barcola, and Isak controlled it and drove a low shot past Kelleher from a tight angle. Barcola later curled a shot onto the crossbar from outside the area. Brentford finished with nine men when captain Vitaly Janelt was shown a second yellow card for tripping Ngumoha on the edge of the box two minutes into stoppage time.
Isak's Brentford record and Iraola's verdict
The win lifts Liverpool to 12 points and above Brentford, who stay on 10. It follows last weekend's 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City and Wednesday's 6-3 Champions League win at LASK. Chelsea, who won 2-0 at Everton earlier on Saturday, stay a point ahead of Liverpool.
Isak, back in the side after injury, has now scored in all five of his Premier League appearances against Brentford, and the winner was his fifth goal of the season.
"I think we played really well until the 2-1," Iraola told Sky Sports. He added that his side then started protecting the lead and did not manage the final minutes well. He said the overturned penalty was "probably not a penalty", that Frimpong felt something in his muscle straight away, and that Szoboszlai had not suffered a new injury but was still not fully healed.
What happens next
Liverpool host Villarreal in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday (20:00 UK), then Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday 25 October. Brentford travel to Hull City the same day.
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