Late Darwin Nunez double earns Liverpool huge three points at Brentford
DARWIN DOUBLE: Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring his sides second goal. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
A DAY after Arne Slot had admitted Liverpool have failed to get the best out of Darwin Nunez, the striker stepped off the bench to score twice in added time and inject fresh momentum into Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge.
Prior to Nunez’s dramatic late intervention, Slot’s side appeared destined for a third successive league draw. The failure to make more of a succession of chances looked as though it would be costly for the leaders before Nunez turned home from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross in the first minute of added time before slotting home his second two minutes later, doubling his league return this season in the process.
The goals brought huge relief to Slot and his players while the sight of the Brentford defenders laid out on the pitch after the first goal told it’s own story.
Slot was entitled to wonder how his side had not managed to force the lead during the opening half. After recovering in the second half to claim a point at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, Liverpool appeared keen to ensure they didn’t find themselves in the position of having to come from behind once again.
Brentford were buoyed by their thrilling late comeback against Manchester City here four days previously but after a positive opening they were quickly forced into full-time defensive duties as the visitors took control.
Bryan Mbeumo’s regular forays down the right troubled Kostas Tsimikas and ensured Slot’s side had to remain alert to the threat of a Brentford counter-attack.
Liverpool, though, were well on top and while there was no questioning their dominance, there were plenty of grounds for questioning the quality of their finishing as a succession of first half chances.
Cody Gakpo was guilty of wasting the best first half chance five minutes before the interval after a move that summed up the best and worst of the Reds’ first half display.
A thrilling attacking move took Slot’s side from one end of the pitch to the other with Gakpo playing a key role s he switched play from left to right. But when Mohamed Salah delivered a low cross into the penalty are, the Netherlands forward produced a tame, close-range finish that was diverted to safety by keeper Mark Flekken.
Before that, Dominik Szoboszlai had struck struck the bar from 25 yards during a three-minute period when he might have had a hat-trick had fortune been on the Hungary international’s side. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, also found Flekken in fine form when the keeper reacted well to save from the Liverpool midfielder.
The pattern was maintained after the break with Brentford continuing to defend tenaciously, working hard to limit the number of clear chances created by the visitors. And as Liverpool pressed forward with greater urgency as the second half progressed, Thomas Frank’s side posed a greater threat on the break.
The introduction of Nunez for Luis Diaz initially had little effect and the sense this would not be Liverpool’s day grew when Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah saw shot drift narrowly wide during the final ten minutes.
But the breakthrough finally came in the first minute of added time when Nunez was on hand to turn home Alexander-Arnold’s cross from close range before adding the second after being set up by Harvey Elliott.
Flekken 7; Roerslev 6, Collins 8, Van den Berg 8, Lewis-Potter 6; Norgaard 7, Janelt 6 (Schade 65, 6), Yarmoliuk 6; Mbeumo 7, Wissa 6, Damsgaard 6 (Jensen 80, 6).
Valdimarsson, Henry, Carvalho, Mee, Konak, Maghoma, Ji-Soo.
Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 6, Konate 8, Van Dijk 7, Tsimikas 6 (Robertson 65, 6); Gravenberch 8, Szoboszlai 7 (Elliott 80, 6), Mac Allister 6 (Jones, 80, 6); Salah 6, Diaz 6 (Nunez 65, 8), Gakpo 6 (Chiesa, 87, 6).
Kelleher, Endo, Quansah, Bradley.
Andrew Madley 6.
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