Isak Winner Completes Liverpool Comeback at Ten-Man Brentford as Szoboszlai Limps Off
Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, October 17, in the Premier League. Victor Muñoz equalised after the hour and Alexander Isak scored the winner about 20 minutes from time, on his return from injury. Brentford finished the game with nine men.
The first half was an even contest, but Liverpool were the ones left frustrated at the break. Just before Brentford scored, Liverpool were awarded a penalty when Alexis Mac Allister went down under a challenge from Dango Ouattara, but VAR overturned the decision because Ouattara had touched the ball. Brentford then went ahead in the 44th minute. Keane Lewis-Potter headed in a ball floated into the box by Igor Thiago. The home side were then reduced to ten men in first-half stoppage time, when Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off for violent conduct after a clash with Jérémy Jacquet in the box before a corner. It followed a VAR review.
Liverpool put Brentford under heavy pressure after the break. Mac Allister forced goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher into a strong save, and Virgil van Dijk sent a half-volley just wide. The breakthrough came when Victor Muñoz sprinted down the right on a quick break, cut onto his left foot and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, beating Kelleher. Isak then completed the turnaround. A deep Mac Allister ball into the box was headed back by Bradley Barcola, and Isak gathered it and drove a low shot into the net from a tight angle. Barcola almost added a third when his curling shot hit the crossbar.
The final action of the match saw Brentford captain Vitaly Janelt receive a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Rio Ngumoha, leaving the hosts with nine players. Liverpool climb above Brentford into fifth place, and it is Brentford's first league defeat of the season under Keith Andrews.
The victory came with an injury cost. Dominik Szoboszlai, who returned from injury to start, was substituted in the 32nd minute with a recurrence of the hamstring problem that had ruled him out of the previous two games. Trey Nyoni replaced him. Jérémie Frimpong, who came on at half-time for Ronald Araújo, also went off injured shortly afterwards. Coach Andoni Iraola said he fears both players will be out for some time.