Liverpool overturned a deficit to win 2-1 at Brentford in a Premier League match defined by two red cards for the home team. Alexander Isak's 70th-minute strike completed the comeback after Victor Muñoz had equalised, with Brentford playing the entire second half with ten men and finishing with nine.
The result lifts Liverpool into fifth place, leapfrogging their opponents who suffered a first defeat of the season. The game turned in first-half stoppage time when Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk was sent off for violent conduct after a clash with Jérémy Jacquet.
Keane Lewis-Potter had given Brentford the lead just before the interval, heading home from an Igor Thiago cross. That came moments after Liverpool had a penalty award overturned by the video assistant referee. Andoni Iraola's side struggled to impose themselves initially, also losing Dominik Szoboszlai to a hamstring injury in the first half.
Turning point and comeback
Liverpool made their numerical advantage count after the break. The equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute, with Florian Wirtz playing a clever pass to release Muñoz, who finished sharply with his left foot. Wirtz was influential again for the winner, finding Alexis Mac Allister whose cross was headed down by Bradley Barcola for Isak to finish from close range.
Brentford's task became impossible when Vitaly Janelt received a second yellow card in added time. They had a late chance to level through Thiago, but could not convert. Liverpool manager Iraola praised his team's patience but was critical of their play after taking the lead.
"We got a good battle today," Iraola said. "They are very important three points. I think we played really well until we scored 2-1."
Brentford boss Keith Andrews acknowledged the red card changed the contest. "We were edging it; we were getting into a good rhythm," he said. He described Liverpool as "cute and clever" during the Yarmolyuk incident but had no complaints about the dismissal.
Isak's goal was his fifth in five appearances against Brentford. The striker, who missed last week's defeat to Manchester City with a thigh problem, now has five league goals this season. Liverpool's victory was tempered by another injury, with substitute Jeremie Frimpong lasting only seven minutes before being forced off. Iraola confirmed both Szoboszlai and Frimpong would be out "for some time".
Liverpool's next league fixture is at home to Aston Villa on Saturday 24 October.
Read the full report at theguardian.com
