Liverpool edge nine-man Brentford 2-1 after VAR drama and red cards

[SportsMafia Wire]

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Liverpool became the first side to defeat Brentford this season with a 2-1 victory that featured two Brentford dismissals and a controversial VAR reversal.

Brentford took the lead through Keane Lewis-Potter in the 44th minute, but the first half turned when Yehor Yarmoliuk received a red card for a headbutt on Jérémy Jacquet. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola later questioned a separate VAR intervention that overturned a first-half penalty awarded to Alexis Mac Allister after Dango Ouattara's challenge, citing a Nottingham Forest precedent. The official cited contact with the ball first.

Liverpool equalized through Víctor Muñoz after halftime and won it via Alexander Isak, assisted by Bradley Barcola. Brentford finished with nine men when Vitaly Janelt collected a second yellow in the 92nd minute.

Iraola praised Barcola's positioning, Florian Wirtz, and substitutes Rio Ngumoha and Muñoz, but delivered injury blows. Dominic Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both departed with setbacks. Iraola said, "We will lose Dom and Jeremie for some time."

Brentford manager Keith Andrews praised his side's 11v11 display and accepted Yarmoliuk's red, saying the midfielder needs to improve. Andrews questioned Janelt's consistency and described Liverpool as cute and clever, claiming Jacquet walked into Yarmo without watching the ball.

Source: ESPN - Sat Oct 17, 2:11 PM ET

Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).