Alexander Isak scored the winning goal to earn Liverpool a 2-1 comeback victory away to Brentford in a dramatic Premier League fixture. The result extends the Reds' winning run to two games and lifts them to 12 points from seven matches, keeping them in fifth place but nine points behind leaders Manchester City.
Victor Munoz had earlier cancelled out Keane Lewis-Potter's first-half header for the hosts. The game's narrative was heavily influenced by three red cards, with Brentford's Yehor Yarmoliuk dismissed before the break and Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha sent off late on, before Brentford's Vitaly Janelt also saw red in added time.
Key moments and incidents
Brentford took the lead just before half-time when Igor Thiago's floated cross was met by Keane Lewis-Potter, who headed past Alisson. The complexion of the match changed moments later when Yarmoliuk was sent off following a VAR review for violent conduct on Jeremy Jacquet. Liverpool equalised on 62 minutes. Florian Wirtz played in Victor Munoz on the right wing. "I sprinted down the right during a quick break and cut onto my left foot," Munoz said, describing the move before he threaded a low finish into the bottom corner.
The winner arrived ten minutes later. Alexis Mac Allister's deep ball was headed back across goal by Bradley Barcola, and Isak controlled it before firing a low shot from a tight angle. "I produced a clever touch and finish to complete the turnaround," Isak stated. Liverpool's task was complicated when substitute Rio Ngumoha, who had only been on the pitch seven minutes after replacing the injured Jeremie Frimpong, received a second yellow card. Brentford's Janelt was then also sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.
Team news and changes
Liverpool welcomed back key attackers Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai from injury, with both named in the starting eleven. Manager Andoni Iraola made six changes from the previous lineup, including recalls for Virgil van Dijk and Victor Munoz. The match saw a flurry of substitutions, many forced by circumstance. Szoboszlai himself had to be replaced by Trey Nyoni after going down injured off the ball around the half-hour mark. The half-time change saw Jeremie Frimpong come on for Ronald Araujo, but Frimpong's involvement lasted only minutes before he was injured and replaced by Ngumoha.
Cody Gakpo returned from injury to take a place on the bench, while Ryan Gravenberch was suspended. The team's current injuries list includes several key figures, a challenge they will need to manage ahead of their next match.
With the victory, Liverpool's recent form reads four wins from their last five outings. Isak's goal was his fifth of the campaign in just six appearances, underlining his importance. The team now prepares for a significant test at Anfield next Saturday, hosting third-placed Brighton as they look to make it three consecutive wins.
First reported at liverpoolfc.com
