Brentford 0-2 Liverpool: Late Nunez double powers leaders to much-needed win

Darwin Nunez produced a stoppage-time double as the Liverpool substitute powered the Premier League leaders to a 2-0 victory away at Brentford.

Arne Slot’s side seemed destined to suffer a third league game without victory to start 2025, having seen Dominik Szoboszlai rattle the crossbar and Cody Gakpo waste a glorious chance in the first half.

Mohamed Salah then went close with just minutes remaining at the Gtech Community Stadium, whipping narrowly wide of Mark Flekken’s bottom-right corner.

However, substitute Nunez made no mistake with his late brace in the dying stages, the first of which coming when converting Trent Alexander-Arnold’s well-worked cutback pass in the 91st minute.

The Uruguayan striker combined with Harvey Elliott just two minutes later, hammering home from close range to seal a much-needed win for Liverpool, who still have a game in hand on Arsenal to come next month.

A dramatic triumph moved Liverpool seven points clear of second-place Arsenal, who host Aston Villa later on Saturday, while Brentford remain 11th after this late heartbreak.

WHAT. IT. MEANS pic.twitter.com/VDGrXLgAwS

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 18, 2025

Data Debrief: Red-hot Nunez keeps Liverpool on course

Liverpool have now scored in all eight of their Premier League meetings with Brentford (19 goals in total), while also keeping five clean sheets in these games.

It appeared that scoring run would not continue here, however, as Slot’s side struggled to make their chances count.

In fact, Liverpool fired 37 shots, with eight of those on target, for their massive 3.4 expected goals (xG) total – but it was the two from Nunez in stoppage time that proved decisive.

Liverpool have had at least 20 shots in their last four Premier League away games (24 vs Tottenham, 22 vs West Ham, 23 vs Nottingham Forest and 37 here), becoming the first team to do so in four in a row since Manchester City in November 2014.

Slot will hope his side can find their shooting boots next time out when they host Ipswich Town in their next league match at Anfield.