Liverpool 2-0 Brentford
Darwin Núñez scored twice in injury time to secure all three points for the team.
Liverpool began the game with attacking intent right from the first whistle. Their attacking waves gained momentum, but despite numerous efforts, they couldn’t find the back of the net. As the game neared its end, the deadlock was finally broken. Substitute Darwin Núñez’s brace guided the title-chasing team to victory.
The Premier League match, held at Brentford’s ground on Saturday, ended 2-0 in favor of Arna Slot’s side.
It was their first win in two league matches.
After an impressive start to the season, Liverpool seemed to lose their way in the new year. They dropped points in two consecutive league matches and, although they won an FA Cup tie, they lost the first leg of the League Cup semi-final to Tottenham Hotspur.
Determined to overcome their recent failures, they fought hard to get back on track, and despite the struggles, they achieved their goal.
The statistics clearly reflect how dominant Liverpool were throughout the match. They controlled over 60% of possession and fired 37 shots, with eight on target. They also earned 15 corners, while Brentford had 11 shots, with six on target.
With 15 wins and 5 draws from 21 matches, Liverpool strengthened their position at the top with 50 points.
Brentford, with 28 points from 22 matches, sits in 11th place.
After scoring twice in the dying minutes to draw with Manchester City in their previous match, Brentford almost took the lead early in this game. In the 5th minute, they had a golden opportunity, but Danish midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard couldn’t convert a pass into an empty net after the ball deflected off an opponent’s foot.
From then on, Liverpool dominated possession and kept up the pressure. They took 19 shots in the first half, five of which were on target, but couldn’t test the Brentford keeper too much.
In the 34th minute, Liverpool caused trouble in the Brentford box. Dominik Szoboszlai, surrounded by several players, made a weak shot after some nifty footwork. The next minute, his powerful shot from distance rattled the crossbar.
The second half continued at the same pace, with Brentford mainly trying to hold off Liverpool’s pressure while occasionally launching counterattacks.
As Liverpool continued to waste chances, frustration began to mount in their camp.
To inject fresh energy into the attack, Liverpool coach made a substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Núñez in place of Luis Díaz. The change paid off as Núñez became the hero.
With just one minute left in regular time, Liverpool thought they had scored, but Mohamed Salah’s shot from outside the box hit the post.
In the first minute of added time, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first pass was blocked by the defense. On his second attempt, he found Núñez, who calmly slotted the ball into the net with his right foot, sending the team into celebration.
Feeling confident after the first goal, Núñez sealed the win in the next attack, just a minute later. He controlled a pass from Harvey Elliott in the box and finished with a perfect shot, ensuring the victory.
