Liverpool moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table after a late 2-0 win over Brentford FC on Saturday evening.
Premier League
Result: Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
Date: 18 January 2025
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
Reds coach Arne Slot made just one change from the draw against Nottingham Forest, as Konstantinos Tsimikas replaced Andrew Robertson at left-back while Diogo Jota did not make the squad.
The hosts carved out the game's first big chance after just five minutes when Bryan Mbeumo surged into the box before pulling the ball back for Mikkel Damsgaard, who somehow failed to hit the target from close range.
Liverpool dominated for most of the first half but had to wait around the 20-minute mark for a sight at goal, with Ryan Gravenberch forcing goalkeeper Mark Flekken into a fine save with an effort from distance.
The Reds went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 34 minutes when Dominik Szoboszlai was given time and space to unleash a powerful strike that crashed against the crossbar, while Cody Gakpo passed up a good chance minutes later.
The second half continued in similar fashion to the first, with the Reds on the front foot but struggling to breakdown a stubborn Brentford defence.
Slot responded with a double change after the hour mark as Darwin Nunez and Robertson replaced Luis Diaz and Tsimikas for the final 25 minutes, while Brentford threw on Kevin Schade for Vitaly Janelt.
Robertson's impact was almost immediate as the Liverpool full-back did well to pick out the run of Alexis Mac Allister, who saw his powerful header sail into the side-netting.
While the Reds continued to dominate possession, Brentford still posed a big threat on the break and they nearly opened the scoring with ten minutes to play but Mbuemo's towering header was saved by Alisson.
With the game seemingly headed for a draw, the Reds bagged the winning goal in the 90th minute when Nunez turned home a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to break Brentford hearts.
Nunez put the nail in the coffin three minutes later when latched onto a pass in the box to create space before rifling the ball into the back of the net for his fourth league goal of the season.
