Liverpool needed an answer, and West London delivered the perfect stage. On 17 October 2026, the Reds came from behind to beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium, one week after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Alexander Isak scored the winner on his return from injury, Florian Wirtz ran the show, and Brentford finished with nine men. Here is the full Brentford vs Liverpool match report.
Brentford Strike First, Then Self-Destruct
Brentford, unbeaten all season, thought they had the edge. Liverpool had a penalty overturned in the 43rd minute after Dango Ouattara was shown to have touched the ball first. One minute later, Keane Lewis-Potter powered a header past Alisson from Thiago’s cross. Then came madness.
In first-half stoppage time, Yehor Yarmoliuk headbutted Jeremy Jacquet before a Liverpool corner, and after a VAR check he was sent off. The game flipped on one reckless moment.
Muñoz and Isak Turn It Around
Liverpool had injury chaos, yet kept their nerve. Víctor Muñoz, moved to right-back after Jeremie Frimpong went off, still charged forward. In the 62nd minute, Wirtz slid a clever pass through, and Muñoz cut inside and finished with his left foot.
Eight minutes later, Mac Allister crossed to the back post, Bradley Barcola knocked it down, and Isak snapped a quick shot past Caoimhín Kelleher. He has now scored in all five of his Premier League games against Brentford. Igor Thiago then missed a big chance to level for ten-man Brentford.
Wirtz Answers His Critics
This was Wirtz’s night. He created nine chances from open play, tying Sadio Mané’s Liverpool record, set against Burnley in January 2021. It was also the first time anyone created nine or more open-play chances away from home in the Premier League since Samir Nasri in August 2011. Wirtz added the assist for Muñoz and took Player of the Match.
Jamie Carragher had said after the City defeat, “He shouldn’t be in the Liverpool team right now.” Fair is fair: Brentford played the second half with ten men. Still, Iraola kept faith in his playmaker, and the faith was repaid.
Injury Worries and the Road Ahead
The bad news came in the treatment room. Dominik Szoboszlai went off in the first half with a recurrence of his hamstring problem, and Frimpong lasted just seven minutes after half-time with a new injury. Iraola expects to be without both for some time. In stoppage time, Vitaly Janelt tripped Rio Ngumoha for a second yellow, leaving Brentford with nine men and their first defeat of the season. Liverpool climb to fifth. Next up: Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, then Brighton on 25 October.
What the Managers Said
Iraola called the three points very valuable but admitted his side lost control after going 2-1 up, wasting clear counter-attacks that would have ended the game. Brentford boss Keith Andrews said his team were edging the contest until the first red card, which handed Liverpool a real advantage.
Brentford vs Liverpool: Quick Facts
Date: Saturday 17 October 2026. Venue: Gtech Community Stadium. Brentford: Keane Lewis-Potter (44′). Liverpool: Víctor Muñoz (62′), Alexander Isak (70′). Red cards: Yehor Yarmoliuk (45+8′), Vitaly Janelt (90+2′).
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