10-man Brentford reduced to nine as Liverpool's Munoz and Isak seal comeback win

Liverpool came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, with second-half goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak completing a comeback that owed much to Brentford’s own indiscipline.

Keane Lewis-Potter had given the hosts a deserved lead after Alexis Mac Allister lost possession inside his own half, allowing Igor Thiago to deliver a cross that Lewis-Potter converted. At that point, Brentford — unbeaten heading into the fixture — looked capable of holding on.

The turning point arrived at a corner when Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk headbutted Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet, an incident comparable to Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card against Manchester United the previous week. VAR official Darren England spotted the clash and referee John Brooks had no choice but to dismiss Yarmolyuk, reducing Keith Andrews’ side to ten men before the interval.

The first half had already been shaped by VAR. Brooks initially awarded Liverpool a penalty for a challenge by Dango Ouattara on Mac Allister, only to reverse the decision after replays showed Ouattara had made contact with the ball rather than the man.

Andoni Iraola’s half-time adjustments proved decisive. Munoz drew Liverpool level before Isak, making his return to the starting line-up after a spell out, converted what proved to be the winner. A second Brentford red card further complicated the hosts’ afternoon, though Liverpool were made to work even against nine men.

The victory was tempered by concern over Dominik Szoboszlai, who had also returned to the starting eleven after missing two games. The Hungarian midfielder lasted just 32 minutes before going off in what appeared to be a recurrence of his previous injury, raising doubts over his availability for Liverpool’s Champions League fixture against Villarreal on Tuesday.