Brentford 1‑2 Liverpool: Muñoz and Isak overturn lead after Yarmoliuk red card

Alexander Isak’s 70th-minute winner completed Liverpool’s comeback from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1, ending the hosts’ unbeaten Premier League start on an afternoon when they finished with nine men. Víctor Muñoz supplied the equaliser after Yehor Yarmoliuk’s dismissal changed the task for Brentford, who had led through Keane Lewis-Potter.

Brentford 1-2 Liverpool | Defeat at the Gtech | Premier League Highlights

Lewis-Potter struck in the 44th minute, with Igor Thiago providing the assist, to put Brentford ahead shortly before the interval. His goal extended their scoring run to 11 matches and gave them a lead to protect against a Liverpool side seeking a response to their 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

That task became substantially harder eight minutes into first-half stoppage time. Yarmoliuk received a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving Brentford to play the second half with 10 men despite going into the break 1-0 ahead.

The timing mattered: Brentford retained their advantage at half-time, but Liverpool had an entire half in which to make the extra player count. The hosts’ second dismissal came much later, with the visitors already ahead, rather than contributing to the turnaround itself.

Liverpool also had to manage fitness problems during the match. Dominik Szoboszlai, who had returned from injury alongside Isak in the starting line-up, went off after 32 minutes, with Trey Nyoni replacing him. Jeremie Frimpong then came on at half-time but lasted only until the 52nd minute before Rio Ngumoha replaced him.

Muñoz moved to right-back following Frimpong’s withdrawal, yet still supplied Liverpool’s breakthrough. He equalised in the 62nd minute from Florian Wirtz’s assist, cancelling out a Brentford lead that had lasted from just before the interval.

Eight minutes later, Isak completed the turnaround. Bradley Barcola provided the assist for the forward’s decisive goal, giving Liverpool a 2-1 lead and leaving Brentford needing an equaliser with a player fewer. Isak’s return to the starting side had delivered the goal that separated the teams.

Liverpool’s match totals underline the scale of the work Brentford faced. The visitors recorded 60 per cent possession and 21 shots to Brentford’s 10, with five attempts on target against two. They also won nine corners to the hosts’ three, figures that support their attacking advantage across the match without diminishing the importance of the first-half dismissal.

Brentford’s disciplinary problems continued in stoppage time. Vitaly Janelt, booked in the 63rd minute, received a second yellow card in the 92nd and was sent off. That left the hosts with nine players for the closing stages, with Liverpool’s winning goal already scored 22 minutes earlier.

Speaking afterwards, Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said Szoboszlai had suffered a recurrence of his injury. “Dom felt the same injury, it's not a new injury and was probably not healed enough, so we will need more time with him,” Iraola said in his post-match press conference.

Iraola described Frimpong’s injury as a new problem and explained that he had introduced him because Liverpool were facing 10 men and he expected the defender to offer more going forward. He also praised Muñoz’s performance at right-back, a role from which the equaliser gave Liverpool a route back into the match.

Isak, meanwhile, acknowledged in his post-match reaction that Liverpool still had plenty to improve, while stressing the importance of the points. The numbers place the result in context: Liverpool now have three wins, three draws and one defeat from seven league games, with this victory taking them to 12 points.

They sit fifth, two points above sixth-placed Brentford and nine behind leaders Manchester City. Liverpool have also won four away matches in a row and are unbeaten in five on the road, giving them an away record to build on after their previous league setback at home.

For Brentford, the defeat ends a 10-match unbeaten run and is their first in the league this season. They head next to Hull City with 10 points from seven games; preserving a lead with 11 players, rather than trying to defend it short-handed, is the clearest lesson from this loss.

Questions

Where does the result leave Liverpool and Brentford in the table?

Liverpool are fifth with 12 points from seven matches. Brentford are sixth with 10 points. Liverpool trail leaders Manchester City by nine points.

Why did Brentford finish with nine players?

Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off for violent conduct in first-half stoppage time. Vitaly Janelt then received a second yellow card in the 92nd minute, after Liverpool had taken the lead.

Who do Brentford play next?

Brentford’s next match is away against Hull City.