Everyone agreed that Liverpool's trip to Brentford on Saturday was going to be a challenge, but Andoni Iraola's side departed the Gtech Community Stadium with all three points. At one stage, it certainly looked like being yet another miserable trip to West London for the 1,725 Kopites in attendance.
That's because, on the cusp of half time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty but, following VAR review, referee John Brooks agreed that Dango Ouattara did not make any contact with Alexis Mac Allister. Well, within seconds of the restart, Keane Lewis-Potter had the Bees in front.
However, in the eighth minute of first half stoppage time, Yehor Yarmolyuk was sent off for a head-but on Jérémy Jacquet, and that proved to be the key turning point. Goals from Víctor Muñoz and then the returning Alexander Isak saw the Reds secure all three points; Keith Andrews' side ended the afternoon down to nine men, with Vitaly Janelt given his marching orders at the end.
That was only Brentford's fourth Premier League home defeat under Andrews across 23 matches. Meantime, for Liverpool, following wins at Ipswich and Bournemouth, they have won three successive away league games for the first time since October 2024. That though is far from the most remarkable statistic of the afternoon.
As noted by James Pearce of the Athletic, this is the first time Liverpool have won a Premier League game away from Anfield in which they've gone 1-0 down since December 2023. Back then, after Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a spot-kick for Crystal Palace, Mohamed Salah equalised 13 minutes from time for Jürgen Klopp's team, before Harvey Elliott, remember him, snatched victory in stoppage time.
For context, before today, the Reds have gone a goal down in 21 Premier League away games during this almost three year period, losing 12 of them and drawing the other seven. This is something they never achieved under Arne Slot, despite winning the title the season before last, so the victory in the capital is a sign of the new found resilience under Iraola.
The win propels Liverpool up to fifth, above the team they have just defeated, a point below Chelsea, who were victorious across Merseyside at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the day's early kick off. The games keep coming thick and fast for Iraola's team, welcoming Villarreal to Anfield in the Champions League as soon as Tuesday.
With key players Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai returning following injury, Liverpool are looking stronger, and should take enormous confidence from this comeback win at the Gtech.
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