Liverpool net key Brentford win but will injuries hurt them?،
LONDON — Even though he was running at goal with just the Brentford keeper to beat, you never really knew what Darwin Núñez was going to do. The Uruguayan striker has been labeled an “agent of chaos”, a player capable of winning a match, as he did with two goals against Bournemouth last month, or struggling in equal measure, as he did by hitting the post four times against Chelsea. without scoring 10 days later. Sometimes he's great; other times it's frustrating. But it's still entertaining.
On Saturday, 35 minutes into the game, a moment of Núñez magic broke the deadlock as Liverpool opened the scoring against the run of play. A long ball caught Brentford at the back and Diogo Jota's header sent Núñez clearly on goal. Most attackers would have passed the ball past goalkeeper Mark Flekken or made a simple sideways pass for a teammate to head home. Not Nuñez.
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With Flekken standing right in front of him, the €75 million striker opted for a daring chip that floated just over the keeper's head and nestled perfectly in the back of the net. It was confidence personified and showed how reliable he has become for Klopp – with a run of five goals and two assists in his last seven games coming at just the right time.
Further second-half efforts from Alexis Mac Allister and substitutes Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo – before a consolation from Ivan Toney – helped Liverpool to a comfortable and important 4-1 away victory which consolidated their place in the top of the Premier League. for the rest of the weekend, at least. However, the good news for Liverpool ends there.
Saturday's first half also plunged Jurgen Klopp's side into an injury crisis, with midfielder Curtis Jones forced off after suffering discomfort and later spotted on crutches, while Jota was forced to go down on a stretcher after Brentford's Christian Norgaard landed awkwardly on his knee following an aerial challenge.
Even Núñez was substituted at half-time, as Klopp confirmed after the match that the striker had complained of a “small problem”, meaning he was sent off as a precaution with a final of the Carabao Cup to play against Chelsea next week and a key race. encounters that could have an impact on their title challenge.
“[It is] Mixed emotions because we lost players and we don't know how bad it is,” Klopp said afterwards. “It doesn't look good for either of them. [Jones and Jota]”.
They will join a growing injury list which already included Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Joël Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alisson.
Saturday's victory will therefore be bittersweet. Further injuries could hurt Liverpool at a crucial time of the season, but they managed to break a hoodoo that would have worried them before the game. Brentford's Community Stadium was the only Premier League ground Klopp had failed to win at during his eight years at Liverpool – he managed it twice, with a 3-3 draw two years ago. years followed by a demoralizing 3-1 defeat last season.
“That’s the strange thing about football. [Brentford] “It's probably one of the nicest teams, the coaching staff, everything you can face,” Klopp said. “Then you play against them and you [want to] knock them over every five seconds because they're just annoying. I love everything about them, but I don’t play them.”
And until Núñez's magic, Liverpool hadn't looked too threatening. Klopp then insisted Liverpool were patient; in reality, they were in second place. Brentford had the better chances early on after numerous one-touch passes, but wasted every one they created.
The Bees could still have a say in the prospects of the title race as they face the other two main contenders – Manchester City and Arsenal – over the next three weeks.
The same goes for Liverpool's ability to bounce back from injuries. They have shown impressive squad depth this season, as evidenced by the fact that four players (Salah, Jota, Núñez and Gakpo) have scored more than 10 goals in all competitions this season. However, two of them came out on Saturday.
Absences at this time of the season can dictate the end of a campaign. Just ask Arsenal. Last March, key defender William Saliba suffered a back injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season. Without him, Arsenal have won just three of their last nine league matches and City overhauled them to win their fifth title in six seasons.
With some winning momentum behind them at the moment, Liverpool will be hoping the injuries suffered against Brentford don't have the same effect. “We have to see how much it costs us – we don’t know yet,” Klopp said.
