Match reportDarwin Nunez scores two late goals to give Liverpool dramatic win at Brentford

The striker stepped off the bench in the 65th minute at Gtech Community Stadium and became the match-winner with his late, late heroics.

It looked like it was going to be a day of frustration for the title-chasing Reds until Nunez ended the deadlock in the first minute of added-on time, before making sure of the win with 90+3 on the clock.

Team

There was only one change to the line-up deployed in the draw at Nottingham Forest in midweek, with Kostas Tsimikas coming in for Andy Robertson at left-back.

Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Nunez, 65), Szoboszlai (Elliott, 80), Mac Allister (Jones, 80), Salah, Gakpo (Chiesa, 87), Tsimikas (Robertson, 65), Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold.

Unused subs: Kelleher, Endo, Quansah, Bradley.

First half

There were plenty of openings created by both teams during the early period, the first of which came to the hosts.

Mikkel Damsgaard was positioned at the back post but unable to touch Mads Roerslev’s drill across the box. Had he done so, it would have likely led to the opener.

Cody Gakpo headed straight at Mark Flekken and Luis Diaz went close on two occasions as Liverpool began to gain a foothold. Then, Ryan Gravenberch’s side-footed effort from 20 yards out following patient play was turned behind by a full-stretch Flekken.

Brentford, however, provided reminders of their various threats, Christian Norgaard heading just over off a free-kick and Bryan Mbeumo testing Alisson Becker on a counter-attack.

Dominik Szoboszlai was unfortunate to not break the deadlock in minutes 34 and 35. He was first frustrated by Flekken in the penalty area and then the crossbar, which kept out his blast from distance.

The Reds crafted their best opportunity six minutes prior to the interval, though they were unable to make the most of it as Gakpo was off target with his close-range finish. The Dutchman had raced to meet Mohamed Salah’s delivery, having been the one to start his side’s breakaway.

Second half

Liverpool turned defence into attack in an instant on three separate occasions in the early exchanges but were thwarted by desperate interventions from Brentford defenders each time.

Their pressure continued and firmly penned the Bees in. Diaz was the next to threaten and his low drive forced a reactive stop from Flekken.

Arne Slot made a pair of alterations just after the hour mark and they nearly made an immediate impact, with Nunez heading wide from Robertson’s whipped delivery.

For all their time spent on the back foot, Brentford were now exploiting space left by the searching Liverpool.

In minute 84, Yoane Wissa broke and drove towards goal, eventually seeing his near-post shot kept out by Alisson.

After Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah went agonisingly close as the clock ticked towards 90, it looked like it was going to be a case of dropped points for the visitors.

But Nunez was in the right position inside the area to nudge home an Alexander-Arnold cut-back to send the away end wild, and then the No.9 sealed the three points by adding the finishing touch to a counter.