Isak winner lifts Liverpool past nine-man Brentford

Liverpool beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, October 17, after overturning a first-half deficit. Victor Munoz equalised in the 62nd minute and Alexander Isak scored eight minutes later, according to Sky Sports. Brentford ended the match with nine players following red cards for Yehor Yarmoliuk and Vitaly Janelt.

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Keane Lewis-Potter headed Brentford ahead from Igor Thiago’s cross shortly after a Liverpool penalty award was overturned. The hosts then lost Yarmoliuk in first-half stoppage time for a headbutt on Jeremy Jacquet. Referee John Brooks dismissed the midfielder after reviewing the incident at the pitchside monitor, leaving Brentford to defend their lead with ten men.

Florian Wirtz supplied Munoz for the equaliser before Bradley Barcola’s headed knockdown set up Isak. Thiago subsequently missed a chance to draw Brentford level. Janelt received his second booking in stoppage time for fouling Rio Ngumoha. Sky Sports reported that the result ended Brentford’s unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Wirtz’s creative contribution extended beyond his assist. BBC Sport reported that he created nine chances from open play, matching Sadio Mane’s tally for Liverpool against Burnley in January 2021. Liverpool registered 21 attempts overall, with 14 coming after the break as they tried to exploit their numerical advantage and turn the match around.

The victory moved Liverpool into fifth place and gave Andoni Iraola his third win from seven league matches since taking charge. According to the BBC, it was also their first away league victory after conceding the opening goal since December 2023. They had gone 19 such away matches without winning before the comeback at Brentford.

There were injury concerns despite the result. Dominik Szoboszlai went off before half-time, while Jeremie Frimpong was also forced to leave the field after coming on as a substitute. Speaking to BBC Sport, Iraola highlighted the demands of four games in ten days and the need to recover before Tuesday’s Champions League match against Villarreal.