Updated / Saturday, 17 Oct 2026 18:52
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Vitaly Janelt is shown a red card
Brentford manager Keith Andrews claimed that Liverpool were "cute and clever" after his side finished with nine men as they were beaten [2-1 for their first Premier League defeat of the season](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/1017/1595781-reds-rally-to-hand-brentford-first-defeat-of-the-season/).
The match exploded into life shortly before half-time when Brentford took the lead as Keane Lewis-Potter, among the smallest players on the pitch, met Igor Thiago's cross with a bullet header into the top corner.
But in stoppage time Brentford fell foul of a VAR decision, when Yehor Yarmolyuk was spotted to have aimed a 'headbutting action’ towards Jeremy Jacquet as the pair grappled at a corner.
Liverpool equalised when Florian Wirtz sent Victor Munoz racing down the right and the Spanish winger turned inside Lewis-Potter before arrowing a left-footed shot past Caoimhin Kelleher.
The winner arrived in the 70th minute when Mac Allister swung a deep cross towards the far post, Barcola headed the ball back and Isak took a touch before lashing home.
To rub salt in the Brentford wounds, German midfielder Vitaly Janelt was sent off in stoppage time for pulling back Rio Ngumoha.
"A lot went on in the game," said Bees boss Andrews. "I think we were edging it, getting into a good rhythm.
"We got ourselves in front and I felt pretty confident. But obviously the sending-off changes the dynamic of the game. We knew we would have to make changes in the second half and slightly change the shape, looking for a bit of pace on transition.
"If you look, Jacquet is walking into Yarmo. We need to look at ourselves first – Yarmo has to do better – but I think they were cute and clever.
"Overall, the performance - again - fills you with immense pride because right until the end, we continued to throw punches."
Meanwhile Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola admitted his side need to be more ruthless.
"I think we played really well the minute until we scored for 2-1 against 10 players," said Iraola.
"I think we were being patient, we were finding good positions and we were controlling the game really well. I'm probably more disappointed after we scored, because you score for 2-1 and then you feel like you have something to lose.
"We were playing freely, finding good spots, sending a lot of players forward. And then at 2-1 we missed clear counters to finish the game."