Alexander Isak shows Liverpool’s value as Andoni Iraola move proves brilliant – 5 talking points

Liverpool came from behind to collect three hard-earned points against Brentford. This is what we noticed when Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak turned the tables.

GTECH, WEST LONDON // Liverpool recovered from a lost goal against Brentford, with a controversial red card and Alexander Isak making the difference.

A relatively boring first half hour gave way to an action-packed end to the first half. Alexis Mac Allister thought he had won a penalty, but it was correctly ruled out, Keane Lewis-Potter scored the opening goal and Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off for a perceived header.

Dominik Szoboszlai went off injured in the first half and Jérémie Frimpong in the second, with the Reds turning things around thanks to Isak and Victor Munoz. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the match unfolded.

Alexander Isak decisive

As triple boosts arrive, Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo are available again — although the latter only from the bench – was, on paper, a pretty big problem for Liverpool. Andoni Iraola promised that no member of the trio would be away for too long, and it proved… sort of.

Just as Lewis Koumas played, Isak is a marked improvement – ​​and against a physical Brentford, Szoboszlai was vital. The Hungarian captain did not last long, however. Half an hour later he went down and had to be replaced by Trey Nyoni.

Isak, fortunately, made a bigger difference. While he was barely involved in the match, he scored a superb goal to put Liverpool in front, showing his clinical side and coming out of nowhere. That’s exactly why he’s a $169m (£125m) striker.

Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz mixed

Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick and Florian Wirtz suddenly seemed to be playing with a spring in his step midweek against LASK. The big question, however, was whether this was due to European competition and a less physical opponent rather than a suitable and lasting change in fortunes.

Here, Barcola and Wirtz would never have had so much time and space to operate. Even when the first did, he wasted a huge chance horribly wide in the first half.

Barcola offered some glimpses, like when he hit the ba with a curling shot late in the match. He looked more confident standing and dribbling forward, and his overall performance was good, but not great.

Wirtz also showed some flashes. Against 10 men, however, the second half should have been a platform for him to take the game by the scruff of the neck. He did it to some extent, but not to the same extent as others.

In fact, Munoz did the most. The Spaniard was moved to right-back, a position from which he advanced and scored. It was a risk to play him there, but it paid off.

Alexis Mac Allister animated

Alexis Mac Allister was a lively presence for Liverpool in the center of the pitch. The former Brighton man – bizarrely booed because he was from Argentina – was strong in the tackle and moved as often as he could.

With Szoboszlai not lasting long and Ryan Gravenberch suspended, Mac Allister was expected to help Nyoni throughout the match, and that’s exactly what he did. But there remains a question about the balance within the Liverpool team.

Of course, it doesn’t help that there were two injury setbacks. Without Szoboszlai and Frimpong, Munoz ended up playing right back with Rio Ngumoha in front of him. But the midfielder, facing 10 men, was not exactly in control. The red card was a great moment.

Jérémie Jacquet gets up

Jeremy Jacquet has been a sensational signing for Liverpool so far, and he has been heavily involved here, much to the chagrin of those at home.

It was Jacquet that Yarmoliuk was accused of headbutting quite harshly, and Igor Thiago also received a warning for a pulling arm that landed on him early in the second half.

Jacquet fought hard and rose to the challenge, but his passing was not as precise as it usually is, and he was rightly booked for a foul on Kevin Schade shortly after such a stray ball.

He and Liverpool carried on, as you would expect, and there aren’t many tests like a trip to Brentford. He got through it and should be better for this experience.

Andoni Iraola boosts

Iraola isn’t exactly under pressure, and Liverpool were still unlikely to be in title contention just months after firing Arne Slot, but he went into this weekend with just two Premier League wins from six.

Brentford, meanwhile, a team who have long been seen as one of the examples for newly promoted sides to copy as they move up to the top flight, were a point ahead of Liverpool before kick-off, once again off to a good start under Keith Andrews.

Leading 1-0 was huge for the host, giving them something to hang on to. However, going down to 10 (and eventually nine) men was always going to make things difficult. Liverpool fought, Isak scored and Iraola can be proud of his perseverance. Any away victory at this stadium will have been hard-fought.