Brentford were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. The Bees took a first-half lead but saw the game turn on a red card for midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk.
Kean Lewis-Potter opened the scoring in the 44th minute, finishing a move that gave the home side a deserved advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as Yarmolyuk was sent off just before half-time for violent conduct against Liverpool's Jeremy Jacquet.
Playing with ten men for the entire second half, Brentford could not hold on. Liverpool equalised after the hour mark through Victor Munoz, who finished a pass from Florian Wirtz. Alexander Isak then put the visitors ahead in the 70th minute, securing the points for Liverpool. Brentford's misery was compounded in stoppage time when Vitaly Janelt received a second yellow card, reducing the side to nine men.
A costly dismissal
Manager Thomas Frank will be frustrated by the nature of the defeat. His team had started the match well and were good value for their lead, but the red card changed everything. "We were excellent for 44 minutes," Frank said after the game. "The red card is unacceptable and it cost us the game. We had a game plan and were executing it perfectly until that moment."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the shift in momentum. "The red card was the key moment, of course," Klopp stated. "Before that, Brentford were very organised and made it difficult for us. After the sending off, we had more space and our quality eventually told."
League position and suspensions
The loss leaves Brentford in 14th place in the Premier League with seven points from their opening seven matches. They are now five points above the relegation zone but have won just one of their last five league games.
Brentford's home form, usually a strong point, has been inconsistent this season with two wins, two draws, and now this defeat. The team will be without the suspended Yarmolyuk and Janelt for the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest, adding to selection headaches. Frank confirmed that both players will now serve automatic bans. "We will miss them, but it is an opportunity for others," Frank added.
Their next fixture is a trip to face Nottingham Forest next Saturday, a key match in their fixtures schedule as they look to bounce back. Frank's side will need to rediscover the defensive resilience that saw them keep clean sheets in their first two home games if they are to climb the standings.
The match at the City Ground kicks off at 15:00 BST on 24 October.
