Alexander Isak marked his return from injury with the winning goal as Liverpool came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 in a dramatic Premier League encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Víctor Muñoz produced an excellent equaliser before Isak completed the turnaround, but Liverpool had to work hard for their three points despite Brentford finishing with nine men following the dismissals of Yehor Yarmoliuk and Vitaly Janelt.
The victory lifted Andoni Iraola’s side to fifth in the Premier League, ended Brentford’s unbeaten start to the campaign and provided a welcome response to Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City last weekend.
There was a considerable cost, however, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both forced off injured. Frimpong lasted only a few minutes after coming on at half-time, while Szoboszlai suffered a recurrence of the hamstring problem that had already disrupted his season.
Premier League | Saturday 17 October 2026 | Gtech Community Stadium
A frustrating first half for Liverpool
Liverpool arrived in west London looking to build on their midweek 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK, but they found Brentford a far more stubborn proposition.
Keith Andrews’ side had started the Premier League season unbeaten and approached the contest with confidence, pressing Liverpool into mistakes and threatening whenever they moved the ball forward quickly.
The visitors had an excellent opportunity to take control after 20 minutes when Bradley Barcola seized upon a defensive error and raced through on goal. With former Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher advancing to narrow the angle, the French winger attempted to lift the ball over him, only to send his effort wide.
It was a costly miss in a half when Liverpool struggled to turn possession into clear opportunities.
Brentford also posed a threat at the other end. Igor Thiago was particularly dangerous, and Jeremy Jacquet needed to intervene at the back post to prevent the Brazilian from converting a promising opening.
Liverpool’s afternoon became more complicated in the 32nd minute when Szoboszlai was forced to leave the field. The Hungarian midfielder, returning after his recent hamstring trouble, was visibly frustrated as Trey Nyoni replaced him.
The biggest talking points of the half were still to come.
VAR drama, a Brentford goal and a costly red card
With the interval approaching, referee John Brooks awarded Liverpool a penalty following a challenge by Dango Ouattara on Alexis Mac Allister.
However, VAR recommended an on-field review, and the decision was overturned after replays showed that Ouattara had played the ball.
Almost immediately, Brentford made Liverpool pay.
In the 44th minute, Thiago delivered a cross from the right and Keane Lewis-Potter rose to power a header past Alisson, giving the hosts a deserved lead on the balance of their first-half performance.
Liverpool appeared set to enter the dressing room trailing, but a moment of indiscipline transformed the contest deep into stoppage time.
As the players prepared for a Liverpool corner, Yarmoliuk made a headbutting motion towards Jacquet. The incident was initially missed by Brooks, but following another VAR intervention and pitchside review, the Brentford midfielder was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in the eighth minute of added time.
Brentford had gone from leading against eleven men to facing the prospect of protecting their advantage with ten for the entire second half.
It was the turning point Liverpool desperately needed.
Muñoz produces the magic as Liverpool fight back
Iraola reacted to Brentford’s numerical disadvantage by introducing Frimpong for Ronald Araújo at half-time, hoping to stretch the home side with his pace.
However, another injury disrupted the plan almost immediately. Frimpong pulled up in the 52nd minute and had to be replaced by Rio Ngumoha, leaving Liverpool with an increasingly makeshift right flank.
Muñoz was shifted to right-back, but his new defensive responsibilities did nothing to diminish his attacking ambition.
With an extra player, Liverpool began to dominate possession, moving the ball more confidently and forcing Brentford deeper into their own half.
Mac Allister tested Kelleher with a powerful effort from distance, while Virgil van Dijk was unable to direct an attempt on target following a corner.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 62nd minute, thanks to two players who have increasingly become central to Liverpool’s attacking play.
Florian Wirtz spotted Muñoz making a run down the right and threaded an excellent pass into his path. The Spaniard carried the ball into the penalty area, cut inside Lewis-Potter and unleashed a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner beyond Kelleher.
It was a goal of genuine quality, combining Wirtz’s vision with Muñoz’s confidence and composure.
For Wirtz, whose performances have been closely scrutinised since his expensive move from Bayer Leverkusen, the assist was another indication of his growing influence. His ability to find space and unlock a packed defence was precisely what Liverpool needed against ten men.
There was also something particularly impressive about Muñoz’s contribution. Asked to operate in an unfamiliar position because of Frimpong’s injury, he continued to provide the attacking threat Liverpool required.
Isak strikes to complete the turnaround
Liverpool’s equaliser changed the atmosphere of the contest, and the visitors sensed an opportunity to finish the job.
Eight minutes later, they were ahead.
Mac Allister delivered a deep cross towards the far post, where Barcola rose to nod the ball back into the danger area. Isak reacted quickly, controlled the knockdown and drove a clinical finish past Kelleher from close range.
It was the sort of instinctive finishing Liverpool had been missing during much of the afternoon.
The Swedish international had been relatively quiet in the first half, but when the decisive opportunity arrived, he made no mistake.
The goal continued Isak’s remarkable record against Brentford, taking him to five goals in five appearances against the west London club. His return from a thigh problem could prove particularly important for Liverpool as their attacking options continue to be affected by injuries.
It was also a significant moment for Barcola, whose pace and movement had troubled Brentford throughout the afternoon, even if his finishing had been inconsistent.
The Frenchman had missed a golden opportunity in the first half, but his intelligent header provided Isak with the chance to complete Liverpool’s comeback.
For the first time in the match, Liverpool had the lead. Yet their work was far from finished.
Liverpool survive a scare before Brentford finish with nine
Despite trailing and playing with ten men, Brentford refused to surrender.
Three minutes after Isak’s goal, they created a tremendous opportunity to equalise. Mamadou Sangaré released Keith Andrews’ side into space, and a low cross from Antony found Thiago in the penalty area.
The Brazilian was unable to turn the ball home from close range under pressure from Van Dijk, allowing Liverpool to escape.
It was a reminder that numerical superiority did not automatically guarantee victory, particularly against a side prepared to attack whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Liverpool should have settled the contest shortly afterwards.
In the 79th minute, Barcola collected a loose ball after Kelleher punched away a corner and curled a superb effort against the crossbar. The goalkeeper was beaten, but the woodwork denied the Frenchman his first Premier League goal for the club.
Iraola introduced Joe Gomez and Lewis Koumas for Muñoz and Isak as Liverpool attempted to protect their narrow advantage.
Brentford continued to search for an equaliser, but their task became even more difficult in stoppage time.
Janelt, already on a yellow card, brought down Ngumoha on the edge of the penalty area in the 92nd minute and received his second booking.
The hosts were reduced to nine men, and Liverpool saw out the remaining moments to secure a hard-earned away victory.
Wirtz and Muñoz offer encouragement, but injuries remain a concern
There were several positives for Iraola beyond the result.
Wirtz delivered one of his most influential Premier League performances, creating nine chances according to the statistics highlighted by The Times and The Guardian. His assist for Muñoz was particularly impressive, but his general distribution, movement and willingness to take responsibility helped Liverpool take control after the interval.
Muñoz was another standout performer, combining the versatility demanded by Liverpool’s injury problems with the attacking quality that made his equaliser possible.
Jacquet also produced some important defensive interventions, particularly during the opening period when Brentford threatened on the counterattack.
Isak’s winning goal offered further encouragement. The striker’s Liverpool career has been interrupted by fitness problems, but his finishing ability was decisive once again.
Barcola’s performance was less straightforward. He was one of Liverpool’s most threatening attackers, playing a part in the winning goal and later hitting the crossbar, but his missed opportunity in the first half was another example of the chances Iraola will want his side to take.
The manager also has a growing injury problem to consider.
Szoboszlai’s recurrence of his hamstring injury and Frimpong’s new setback are particularly concerning. Liverpool are already without several players, and losing two more in the same afternoon threatens to complicate their preparations for the upcoming fixtures.
Iraola indicated afterwards that both players could be unavailable for some time, although a precise recovery timetable had not been established.
Iraola pleased with the response but frustrated by Liverpool’s finishing
The Liverpool manager was satisfied with the three points, recognising the difficulty of winning away at a Brentford side who had not previously lost in the league this season.
However, he believed his players had performed better while chasing the game than when they were trying to protect their lead.
Iraola praised the patience and movement Liverpool displayed against ten men, particularly their ability to find space through Wirtz and Barcola.
His main frustration came after Isak’s winner, when Liverpool became less composed and failed to make the most of several promising counterattacks that could have put the result beyond doubt.
Brentford manager Keith Andrews, meanwhile, acknowledged that Yarmoliuk’s dismissal had fundamentally changed the contest.
His side had grown into the game during the opening 45 minutes and appeared increasingly confident before the midfielder’s red card handed Liverpool a considerable advantage.
Andrews nevertheless praised his players for continuing to compete, particularly during the second half when they managed to create opportunities despite their numerical disadvantage.
Three points, but Liverpool still have work to do
This was not a flawless Liverpool performance, nor was it a victory that completely erased the concerns raised by their recent defeat against Manchester City.
The opening half exposed familiar issues. Liverpool failed to capitalise on their early opportunities, struggled to contain Brentford’s transitions and needed a significant disciplinary mistake from their opponents to change the direction of the match.
However, they also demonstrated qualities that will be important throughout a demanding season.
Their response after the interval was encouraging, with Wirtz’s creativity, Muñoz’s adaptability and Isak’s ruthless finishing ultimately proving too much for Brentford.
The victory moved Liverpool into fifth place and provided some much-needed momentum ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Villarreal, before Brighton visit Anfield next Sunday.
With Szoboszlai and Frimpong joining the injury concerns, Iraola will know that the coming fixtures could demand further changes to his side.
For now, though, Liverpool can take satisfaction from a valuable victory at a difficult venue.
They needed a helping hand from Brentford’s indiscipline, but when the opportunity presented itself, their attacking quality eventually delivered.
Three points secured, another comeback completed and Isak back among the goals. Liverpool still have plenty to improve, but this was an important result.
Match details
Premier League — Saturday 17 October 2026
| Result | Brentford 1-2 Liverpool |
|---|---|
| Goals | Lewis-Potter 44′; Muñoz 62′, Isak 70′ |
| Red cards | Yarmoliuk 45+8′, Janelt 90+2′ |
| Venue | Gtech Community Stadium |
| Referee | John Brooks |
| Attendance | 17,232 |
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araújo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Muñoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.
Liverpool substitutions: Nyoni for Szoboszlai (32′), Frimpong for Araújo (HT), Ngumoha for Frimpong (52′), Gomez for Muñoz (79′), Koumas for Isak (79′).
Unused substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Gakpo, Tsimikas.
