Liverpool escaped from the Gtech Community Stadium with three points when they beat Brentford 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, maintaining their advantage over rivals Arsenal.
Thomas Frank's side produced the first real chance of the game within the first 10 minutes, but Arne Slot's Reds dominated much of the first half, producing 19 shots and two big chances.
Arne Slot's side pushed in the second half for the breakthrough, and it looked as if his team would leave with just a point, but Darwin Nunez struck home twice in stoppage time to steal all three points.
The result leaves Liverpool seven points ahead of second-placed Arsenal having played the same number of games, though Mikel Arteta's side face a tricky test against Aston Villa later on Saturday.
Brentford are 11th with 28 points and are two points ahead of 13th-placed Manchester United and four points ahead of 15th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
All that mattered for Liverpool was that they left London with all three points, as they could not afford to draw a third consecutive Premier League game.
Winning away to Brentford should not be understated given how difficult Frank's side can be to best, and the victory will give the Reds a significant boost ahead of a potentially tricky fixture schedule that sees them play Bournemouth, Everton and Manchester City away from home in three of their next five league games.
Though Brentford conceded 37 shots on the day, many of Liverpool's efforts were not particularly threatening, and the hosts can take pride in how well they defended their penalty area.
BRENTFORD VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
5th min: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) miss
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Bryan Mbeumo charges into the penalty area and passes to Mads Roerslev on the touchline before he fires a low cross flashes across Liverpool's goal but Mikkel Damsgaard fails to make reach the ball despite being unmarked in the six-yard box.
He should have got on the end of that!
35th min: Dominik Szoboszlai (Brentford) hits crossbar
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Dominik Szoboszlai strikes ferociously from the edge of the box on the right, and his effort travels across goal before thundering against the crossbar.
What an effort!
38th min: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) miss
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Liverpool race away and counter-attack at pace, finding Mohamed Salah on the right flank before the Egyptian threads a ball through to an unmarked Cody Gakpo in the penalty area, but the forward fails to make the most of his golden chance.
What a miss!
91st min: Brentford 0-1 Liverpool (Darwin Nunez)
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Harvey Elliott slips a pass into the right side of the penalty area to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who second attempted cross rolls along the floor to Darwin Nunez, and the striker sweeps home from close range.
Nunez has won it!
93rd min: Brentford 0-2 Liverpool (Darwin Nunez)
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Harvey Elliott picks up the ball in a central area just outside the box and plays to his left towards Nunez, and the striker drifts infield before striking past a helpless Mark Flekken.
Could this revitalise his career?
MAN OF THE MATCH - DARWIN NUNEZ
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Nunez came on as a substitute and immediately provided creators like Salah and Alexander-Arnold with a focal point, helping provide the Reds with a target in the box.
The Liverpool striker has often been maligned for his inconsistent finishing ability in front of goal, but he showed immense composure to score two of his four shots.
BRENTFORD VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: Brentford 39%-61% Liverpool
Shots: Brentford 11-37 Liverpool
Shots on target: Brentford 6-8 Liverpool
Corners: Brentford 2-15 Liverpool
Fouls: Brentford 6-14 Liverpool
BEST STATS
Liverpool are the first side to have 20+ shots in four consecutive Premier League away games since Manchester City in November 2014.
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 18, 2025
◉ 24 vs. Tottenham
◉ 22 vs. West Ham
◉ 23 vs. Nottingham Forest
◉ 37 vs. Brentford
Their 37 vs. Brentford is the most in a PL away game since... pic.twitter.com/uXHmWFm4g5
Darwin Núñez in Liverpool shirt
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) January 18, 2025
60 GA
39 Goals
21 Assists pic.twitter.com/yovVgUL3eQ
WHAT NEXT?
Frank's side travel to Selhurst Park on January 26 to take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League, before hosting Tottenham Hotspur on February 2.
As for Liverpool, they return to Anfield on Tuesday when they play Lille in the Champions League, and they will host Ipswich Town in the league on January 25.
Lewis Nolan
