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FROM THE GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM – Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time break earned Liverpool a precious 2-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday afternoon.
The Bees battled valiantly for 90 long minutes, ceding possession and territory to the visitors who hit 37 shots – most of them from range. Brentford enjoyed arguably the better chances before Nunez converted two late efforts from point-blank range.
The late turnaround ensured Liverpool extended their lead at the Premier League summit to seven points, putting pressure on second-placed Arsenal ahead of their clash with Aston Villa.
How the game unfolded
When Arne Slott came up against him against Brentford First home match As Liverpool manager, he thought to himself: “This is a tougher league than the Eredivisie.”
He has had an impact on many teams and managers at Brentford. They are proudly clumsy, deliberately playing in a different rhythm and adept at frustrating their opponents in every third of the pitch. when Liverpool Picking their way through their hosts’ mid-block, they were met with a bunch of red and white stripes hunkered down comfortably on the edge and inside their own box.
Restricted largely to efforts outside the D, Dominik Soboszalai still managed to rattle the crossbar with first-half efforts.
It took until the 39th minute for either side to catch the other in transition. Kodi Gakpo Bypass BrentfordA brilliant, first-time cross-field switch of play with a superb effort to gain possession, sparked a move that ended with the Dutchman poking an effort narrowly behind the post.
Liverpool continued to press and probe, racking up a swelling shot count that was dwarfed by Brentford’s body count in the way of each attempt. The stats certainly paint a picture of comical dominance – and there’s no doubt the Reds had a grip on the game – but Slott’s side were rarely guilty of missing any clear-cut chances and didn’t push Mark Flecken into many heroics.
Trent Alexander-Arnold bundled his way down the right wing, just as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, and got a lucky bounce off the ball before squaring for Nunez.
Liverpool’s ecstatic tourists had barely stopped booing by the time Nunez grabbed his second, lashing a crisp shot over the flank with an air of confidence that has often been lacking this season.
Check Brentford vs Liverpool player rating here.
Unlike Liverpool’s other substitutes, Nunez’s arrival was met with a “who?” was not greeted with a sarcastic bark of Instead the divisive forward was met with a powerful burst from three corners of the pitch and wrongly compared to old, Liverpool’s Andy Carroll. Within seconds of his arrival, Nunez immediately fired wide with a header that his predecessor could very well have done.
However, when Nunez ran into the far end, shirt removed to a wave of cheers, those traveling fans reminded their Brentford counterparts exactly what had been said. Perhaps comparisons are being made to the Geordie forward who fired Nunez, as the Uruguayan hit a late winner against Nottingham Forest after hearing similar jeers from the crowd.
Nunez’s heroics were needed after Luis Diaz’s painfully anonymous performance.
Colombia led the line on Saturday, but it wasn’t by itself. Flitting around the pitch like an indecisive hummingbird, Diaz was clearly unfazed by the illness that has hampered him this week.
Virgil van Dijk has spent most of Liverpool’s recent matches wearing a permanent expression of indifference. Having overseen just one clean sheet in his last seven top-flight matches, the Dutch defender was once again the picture of calm.
Much of the focus will be on Liverpool’s shot tally, but the hosts were confused for much of the game. The Reds were particularly impressive in transition, running towards their goal quicker and harder than the Brentford forwards. As Slott has pointed out on numerous occasions this term, the secret to Liverpool’s defensive resolve is simple: work rate.
However, there was one Brentford forward who troubled the Reds. Bryan Mbeumo didn’t find the net, but he handled the Bees’ clear threat comfortably. The Cameroon international also had more shots (four) than Mohamed Salah (three) – a move that could change if the Egyptian does not extend his Anfield deal.
Thomas Frank is quick to give his answer to those questioning whether Mbeumo could possibly be on the move this month: “No!” Dan expanded this week: “That’s too easy to answer – no chance! It would have to be such a big fee that I can’t imagine the size of the fee.”
In summer that fee may not be so astronomical.
Mbeumo fits the transfer model that worked so well for Michael Edwards during his first spell at the club; A talented player who has proven his worth in the Premier League for a club outside the elite. Diogo Jota (Wolves), Andy Robertson (Hull), Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mane (Southampton) – could Mbuyomo be next?
