Alexander Isak scores winner to earn Liverpool comeback victory over Brentford
Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak both scored to earn Liverpool a 2-1 comeback victory over nine-man Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds fell behind in the opening half to a Keane Lewis-Potter header, while the hosts saw Yehor Yarmoliuk sent off for violent conduct following intervention from VAR.
Munoz then levelled for Liverpool after the hour mark with a low finish, ahead of Isak netting the all-important winner a short while later to secure the points in the capital for Andoni Iraola’s team.
Vitaly Janelt was also dismissed for the Bees in added time for a second bookable offence.
Team
Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai returned from injury for Liverpool as there were six changes to Iraola’s line-up.
Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, was named on the bench following his own absence.
Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai (Nyoni, 32), Isak (Koumas, 79), Mac Allister, Munoz (Gomez, 79), Barcola, Araujo (Frimpong, 46 [Ngumoha, 52]).
Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Gakpo, Tsimikas.
First half
There was an even start to proceedings as both sides exchanged early possession, with a flow to the contest struggling to initially form.
Brentford enjoyed a succession of early corners, while Szoboszlai saw the first shot fly over the bar from the edge of the area.
Alexis Mac Allister had a similar result with a driven effort following a short-corner routine from the Reds as their press began to work more openings.
In the opposite half, Michael Kayode went closest for the hosts, seeing a shot deflect narrowly past the post via the retreating Jeremy Jacquet following good build-up play.
Liverpool swiftly broke forward in an immediate response through Bradley Barcola, though the attacker saw his resulting clipped shot fall the wrong side of the goal after racing free of the defence.
The two teams continued to trade chances; Isak first guided a header over the bar from a Mac Allister cross, while Jacquet produced a brilliant intervention to deny Igor Thiago inside the area following a low cross from Kayode.
Szoboszlai was then forced off for Liverpool and was replaced by Trey Nyoni from the bench.
A flurry of action prior to the break saw the deadlock broken by the hosts before they were then reduced to 10 men in stoppage time.
Liverpool were initially awarded a penalty after Mac Allister was deemed to have been brought down in the area by Dango Ouattara after a cutback from Isak.
However, VAR intervened to overturn the decision upon review.
Brentford then took the lead courtesy of a Lewis-Potter header after a floated ball into the box by Thiago was converted to give the hosts the advantage.
Their lead remained in place through to half-time, though Yarmoliuk was sent off for violent conduct on Jacquet in the box ahead of a corner being taken, following further VAR checks.
Second half
Jeremie Frimpong replaced Ronald Araujo at the interval, but the full-back’s involvement lasted only minutes due to injury, with Rio Ngumoha stepping off the bench in another change.
Pressure was being strongly applied by Liverpool in their search for a levelling goal, with Mac Allister forcing Caoimhin Kelleher into a save to his left with a driven shot.
Virgil van Dijk then saw a half-volley fly past the post following an Ngumoha cross from another short-corner routine.
It was Munoz, however, who finally got the Reds on the scoresheet as he sprinted down the right during a quick break and cut onto his left foot.
The Spaniard threaded a low effort into the bottom corner of the net past the outstretched Kelleher to spark celebrations in the away end.
The Reds continued to push on for another, with Barcola seeing a half-volley bounce past the frame of the goal from inside the area.
Liverpool grabbed the lead with 20 minutes remaining as Isak produced a clever touch and finish to complete the turnaround.
A deep ball into the box from Mac Allister was headed back by Barcola, allowing the striker to instinctively gather and crack a low shot into the back of the net from a tight angle.
The Reds carried forward their momentum in a bid to open up a healthier lead and Barcola almost added a third goal as his curling shot from outside the area struck the crossbar.
The final action of the afternoon, though, was Janelt receiving his marching orders after he took down Ngumoha outside the box to pick up a second yellow card.
