Brentford 0-2 Liverpool: Super-sub Darwin Nunez strikes TWICE in stoppage time to break inspired Bees’ hearts

Darwin Nunez scored two stoppage-time goals to claim a huge victory for Liverpool and send them seven points clear atop the Premier League table.

Arne Slot’s team had huffed and puffed for 91 minutes but could not break down the red and white wall of Brentford, who put in an inspired performance. They racked up 35 shots without breaching the Bees rearguard.

And just when one thought that the league leaders were going to fall to a third straight draw – in what would have been far from a disaster but certainly a blow – up popped substitute Nunez with what could be a defining goal in this title race.

With the 36th and 37th shot of the game, the Uruguayan tapped home a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross and then leathered a second into the top corner. 

All of a sudden, what would have been a dent in their title hopes turned into a seismic moment and memorable day.

Brentford have made a habit of making life hard for the big boys who rock up in west London, shown on Tuesday with their feisty performance and draw against champions Manchester City. And they could have easily taken a 1-0 lead in the first five minutes here.

Nunez was called upon from the bench but was there when needed to break the Bees’ hearts

The Uruguayan’s double salvo in stoppage time were the 36th and 37th shots of the game

Bryan Mbeumo found space behind Kostas Tsimikas on the right flank and combined with Mads Roerslev who put the ball on a plate for Mikkel Damsgaard. 

All the Dane had to do was make contact with the cross but he missed it and a golden opportunity was gone.

Liverpool soon settled and peppered the Brentford penalty area without seriously threatening Mark Flekken. Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all had shots inside the first 20 minutes but could not make the breakthrough.

Dominik Szoboszlai had two chances in a minute, first dancing through the defence and being let down by a tame shot.

Learning from that weak effort, his next was a get-your-laces-through-it thunderbolt that had Flekken beaten and rattled the crossbar.

Gakpo also came close after he started and ended the move of the match, playing a raking pass to Szoboszlai. The Hungary skipper sent Mohamed Salah running and he picked out Gakpo but his shot rolled just wide.

The chances kept coming for Liverpool – just as they did in the dying embers in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Salah saw a shot deflected over Flekken’s head, but Nathan Collins was back to clear up for his goalkeeper.

Red-hot midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard missed a glorious chance for Brentford to take the lead

Dominik Szoboszlai was a threat for the visitors and had two efforts on goal within a minute

Arne Slot’s side had huffed and puffed at the red and white wall but found no way through before Nunez’s arrival

Thomas Frank’s side put in an inspired performance to keep the leaders out for 90 minutes

Despite Liverpool’s constant threat Bryan Mbeumo was a thorn in the Reds’ side on the counter

Diaz also tanned the gloves of Flekken and wanted a penalty for an alleged foul in the aftermath but nothing was doing. 

Brentford’s goal was by this point living a charmed life but they did have some counter-attacks led by the menace Mbeumo.

Slot’s substitutes won the point at Forest with Tsimikas and Diogo Jota – now injured – combining with their first involvement and that was nearly the case again as Andy Robertson crossed for Nunez minutes after coming on. This time, the striker headed wide.

Brentford certainly had chances to win it with Yoane Wissa and Mbeumo both having shots from inside the penalty area. 

Alisson was called into action more than he might have expected but none of the efforts were troubling.

But with the clock ticking towards the end of the match, Nunez came up trumps and doubled his league goal tally for the season in the space of two minutes with two memorable strikes. The away end was sent into delirium.