Alexander Isak’s clinical second-half strike completed a Liverpool comeback as the Reds beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, October 17, after two Brentford red cards left Keith Andrews’ side with nine men, lifting Andoni Iraola’s team to fifth.
Brentford were the more purposeful side in a tight first half, with Liverpool struggling for incision against a deep, organised block. Their best moments came on counter-attacks, one of which saw Bradley Barcola put a chance wide, and the full-backs’ forward runs brought little.
Liverpool lost Dominik Szoboszlai after 30 minutes, an early blow. The vice-captain, back after missing two games with a hamstring problem, pulled up following an incident off the ball and punched the turf in frustration, with 19-year-old Trey Nyoni replacing him.
Brentford deserved their lead, a superb Keane Lewis-Potter header in the 44th minute. The Bees had been relatively untroubled, and Lewis-Potter had also kept Victor Munoz, well supplied with forward passes yet struggling for impact, largely quiet throughout the half.
Brentford’s afternoon unravelled in first-half stoppage time. Yehor Yarmoliuk lost his cool while players waited for a corner, thrusting his head towards Jeremy Jacquet. John Brooks missed it live, but VAR sent him to the monitor and the Ukraine midfielder was dismissed.
VAR also stepped in on a penalty. A spot-kick awarded against Dango Ouattara for a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister was overturned after Darren England asked Brooks to review, because Ouattara had won the ball and Mac Allister fell over his leg.
Jeremie Frimpong came on at half-time but lasted six minutes before leaving with an apparent muscle problem, adding to Andoni Iraola’s injury list. Liverpool still looked sharper, with Kerkez making frequent runs beyond Bradley Barcola and the team playing more vertically.
The equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute. Florian Wirtz threaded a fine through ball for Victor Munoz, who cut inside and beat Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a left-footed finish. Brentford, after dominating the first half, were suddenly forced into a rearguard action.
Eight minutes later Liverpool were in front. Mac Allister crossed deep towards a two-against-one at the back post, where Virgil van Dijk occupied Michael Kayode and Barcola, left free, nodded down for Isak to fire a left-footed finish into the bottom corner via a deflection.
It was Isak’s fifth goal in as many Premier League games and his third decisive away goal in a row, following winners at Ipswich and Bournemouth. The £130million striker had 16 touches, the fewest of any starter, before being withdrawn in the 79th minute.
Brentford’s frustration was completed in stoppage time. Vitaly Janelt, already booked, was shown a second yellow for a foul on substitute Rio Ngumoha, leaving the Bees with nine men for the closing moments and ending any lingering hope of a late equaliser.
Liverpool, who beat LASK 6-3 in midweek, remain without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni, while Ryan Gravenberch was suspended. Cody Gakpo was among the substitutes. They host Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 20, at 8pm UK time.