Alexander Isak scores winner to earn Liverpool comeback victory over Brentford
Liverpool mounted a composed second‑half comeback to defeat nine‑man Brentford 2–1 in the Premier League on Saturday, with Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak delivering the decisive goals at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Keane Lewis‑Potter’s first‑half header had put the hosts ahead, but Brentford’s afternoon quickly unravelled. Yehor Yarmoliuk was dismissed before the interval following a VAR review for violent conduct, and Vitaly Janelt later followed him down the tunnel in stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.
Munoz levelled shortly after the hour mark with a precise low finish, before Isak completed the turnaround with a clever touch and strike to secure all three points for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Team News
Iraola made six changes to his starting XI, with Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai returning from injury. Cody Gakpo was named among the substitutes after his own spell on the sidelines.
Liverpool XI:
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
The opening stages were cagey, with both sides struggling to establish rhythm despite early half‑chances. Brentford forced a series of corners, while Szoboszlai fired the game’s first attempt over from distance. Mac Allister then drove wide after a short‑corner routine as Liverpool began to press more aggressively.
Brentford threatened through Michael Kayode, whose deflected effort drifted narrowly past the post thanks to a last‑ditch touch from Jeremy Jacquet. Liverpool responded immediately, Barcola racing clear only to clip his finish just wide.
The chances continued to flow. Isak headed over from a Mac Allister delivery, and Jacquet produced a superb recovery challenge to deny Igor Thiago from close range.
Liverpool were then dealt a blow when Szoboszlai was forced off injured, replaced by Trey Nyoni.
A dramatic spell before half‑time saw Liverpool initially awarded a penalty when Mac Allister went down under Dango Ouattara’s challenge — only for VAR to overturn the decision. Moments later, Brentford struck first: Lewis‑Potter rose to meet Thiago’s floated cross and guided a header beyond Alisson.
The hosts’ momentum was halted in stoppage time when Yarmoliuk was shown a straight red card for violent conduct on Jacquet following another VAR intervention.
Second Half
Frimpong replaced Araujo at the break but was forced off shortly afterwards, with Ngumoha introduced in his place. Liverpool immediately increased the pressure, Mac Allister drawing a strong save from Caoimhin Kelleher and Van Dijk volleying narrowly wide from a short‑corner move.
The equaliser arrived through Munoz, who burst down the right on the counter, cut inside, and drilled a left‑footed effort into the bottom corner to ignite the travelling support.
Liverpool pushed for a second, with Barcola’s half‑volley skimming past the post, and their persistence paid off with 20 minutes remaining. Mac Allister’s deep delivery was nodded back across goal by Barcola, allowing Isak to take a sharp touch and fire low into the net from a tight angle.
The Reds continued to dominate, and Barcola came inches from adding a third when his curling strike from outside the box rattled the crossbar.
The final incident of the afternoon saw Janelt dismissed for a second booking after halting Ngumoha’s run on the edge of the area, leaving Brentford to finish with nine men.
Liverpool saw out the remaining minutes comfortably to secure a deserved comeback win in the capital.
