Liverpool recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 at Brentford, with Alexander Isak settling a bruising afternoon at the Gtech Community Stadium 20 minutes from time. The visitors had seen injuries disrupt their plans and a VAR decision deny them a first-half penalty, but Víctor Muñoz levelled before Isak supplied the decisive finish.
Brentford had led through Keane Lewis-Potter’s 44th-minute header and were still in the contest deep into stoppage time, despite Vitaly Janelt’s dismissal for a second booking. Liverpool’s late pressure produced a shot against the bar from Bradley Barcola and a series of openings, but the score remained 2-1 at the final whistle.
Brentford strike before the interval
Liverpool began with Florian Wirtz prominent, setting up early attempts for Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Barcola, while Alexander Isak headed over from a Mac Allister cross. Barcola also went close on the counter, his effort drifting narrowly wide.
There were warnings at both ends. Igor Thiago had a close-range header fly over, while Jaidon Anthony and Michael Kayode saw efforts blocked as Brentford worked the wide areas. Liverpool lost Szoboszlai to injury after 32 minutes, with Trey Nyoni introduced in his place.
A possible Liverpool penalty was checked and rejected by VAR shortly before the break. In a fractious spell of added time, VAR also overturned a red card shown to Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk.
Brentford then found their breakthrough on 44 minutes. Anthony’s attempt was blocked, but the move stayed alive and Thiago supplied the cross for Lewis-Potter, who headed into the top-right corner from the middle of the box.
Liverpool’s response survives injuries
Both sides altered matters at half-time. Jeremie Frimpong replaced Ronald Araujo for Liverpool, while Brentford sent on Mamadou Sangaré and Kevin Schade for Mathias Jensen and Dango Ouattara.
The visitors’ injury list grew when Frimpong went off early in the second half, with Rio Ngumoha replacing him. Muñoz had also required treatment in each half, but stayed on long enough to make a telling contribution.
Brentford carried a threat after the restart. Anthony forced a save, Thiago dragged an effort wide and Lewis-Potter later headed past the post from Kayode’s cross. Liverpool, though, increasingly pushed the home side back.
Mac Allister tested the goalkeeper from distance, Virgil van Dijk narrowly missed following a corner and Nyoni sent a shot wide. Janelt was booked in the 63rd minute after Thiago had also been cautioned early in the half, while Liverpool’s Jérémy Jacquet, Mac Allister and Barcola entered the book.
Muñoz and Isak turn the fixture
The equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute and came at speed. Wirtz released Muñoz on a counter-attack, and the Liverpool forward drove a low left-footed shot into the far corner from the right side of the area.
Liverpool then had the momentum. Wirtz created chances for Nyoni and Barcola, while Ngumoha saw an effort blocked after being picked out by the German playmaker. The pressure finally brought a second goal on 70 minutes.
Barcola headed the ball into Isak’s path, and the striker finished from close range with his left foot at the right-hand side of goal. It was a simple finish, but a considerable moment in a match that had spent much of its afternoon refusing to settle.
Brentford freshened their side with Aaron Hickey, Mikkel Damsgaard and El Hadji Malick Diouf replacing Sepp van den Berg, Anthony and Lewis-Potter. Liverpool later sent on Joe Gomez and Lewis Koumas for Muñoz and Isak.
Barcola struck the crossbar from a Liverpool corner in the 79th minute, before the closing minutes became more difficult for Brentford. Janelt, already booked, received a second yellow card in the second minute of six added on for a dangerous challenge on Ngumoha.
Liverpool did not add a third. Koumas had a low shot saved from outside the area and Mac Allister fired a late free-kick over, but Isak’s close-range finish was enough to complete the turnaround.
