Brentford 0 Liverpool 2: Has Darwin Nunez just given the title race a decisive turn?

Liverpool delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the Arne Slot era with a late, late win at Brentford.

The source was unlikely, with Darwin Nunez — a much-maligned striker in recent weeks — delivering two stoppage-time goals to seal victory and tighten his side’s grip at the top of the Premier League.

We dissect the big talking points.

Has the momentum swung decisively?

Title races are always defined by big moments, and this felt like a giant one for Liverpool.

Arne Slot’s title charge was threatening to hit another bump as they toiled against a stubborn Brentford before Nunez’s dramatic interventions in stoppage time (illustrated by their steep climb in expected goals in the graphic below) sparked euphoric scenes in the stadium’s away end.

With Arsenal yet to play, a third consecutive draw would have offered an opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side to close the gap further and raise more questions about if Liverpool’s blip was developing into something more. Instead, it provided proof that the resilience of this side is not to be underestimated as the season’s run-in looms large.

Such battles are often all about winning ugly with individuals producing moments of quality at the perfect moment. This was that ugly win and just as it looked like momentum was swinging away from Slot’s side, it is right back with them now.

Andy Jones

Can Nunez now kick on?

Nunez is a mercurial talent but had recently been showing precious little of the talent part of that description. Well, that debate will be quieter over the few weeks.

Slot’s apparent lack of trust in the Uruguay international was underlined by the fact that he started on the bench despite Diogo Jota being ruled out by the minor injury he sustained during his goalscoring cameo against Nottingham Forest.

The stage should have been set for Nunez to start but Slot continued with the front three he has picked with increasing frequency: Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo. With Diaz operating as the centre-forward, the trio combined brilliantly in high-scoring victories over Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in December — but since the start of 2025, they have looked increasingly ineffective.

Diaz brings energy and technical skill but in recent games against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Brentford in the league, Liverpool have needed a more natural striker to occupy opposition centre-backs.

Nunez had to wait until the 65th minute for his chance to come from the bench and, initially, the signs were not promising. One snatched shot from outside the area almost sailed out of the stadium and he was struggling to make an impression against a well-drilled defence.

Then, as the clock ticked into stoppage time, his moment came. First, he turned in a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold from close range; then, seconds later, he showed the kind of ruthlessness he has not traditionally displayed to hammer in the second.

It was not the first time Nunez has made a decisive late contribution — Nottingham Forest away last season is one example — but it felt like a big moment for a striker Liverpool will need to fire in these closing weeks. He needs to show this was not a one-off.

Andy Jones

Why do Liverpool not threaten more from corners?

For all of Liverpool’s attacking potency this season, their inability to score from corners continues to plague them.

With Brentford’s compact defensive block frustrating Slot’s side for long periods, one of their best methods of attack was to force the opposition back and maximise chances created from wide or from dead-ball situations.

Despite the sheer volume of deliveries into the box — they had nine in the first half alone, the most they have had in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game this season, and six more in the second — Liverpool’s attempts were continually swatted away. Only Alexis Mac Allister’s header from an Andy Robertson delivery in the second half really threatened a goal.

A higher volume of inswinging corners has been a theme of Liverpool’s approach this season, but there was a notable variety at the Gtech Community Stadium as they took more outswinging corners than any other game this campaign.

When games are tight, set pieces can be such a key attacking weapon to shift the game state, with their recent headed corner goal scored by Jota against Forest being a key example of that. However, over the season, Liverpool have not done enough to move the dial anywhere near as much as their attacking threat suggests. Accounting for opportunity, their 1.7 goals scored per 100 set pieces is the second-lowest among all Premier League teams across the campaign.

Development coach Aaron Briggs got his steps in on Saturday afternoon as he strolled into the technical area every time Liverpool attempted a corner, only to shuffle back to his seat after another opportunity was spurned. There has been little to criticise Liverpool at the top end of the field this season but there is plenty of room for improvement in their dead-ball threat.

Mark Carey

Struggles in the press

Sometimes it is tricky to know when to criticise one team and when to credit another.

Brentford were brave and intelligent when building out from the back, constantly keeping Liverpool guessing by going long on one occasion before mixing it up with a short goal kick that attracted Liverpool onto them.

What was notable was just how many times Brentford were able to bypass Liverpool’s press when they did play it short. It has been something that Slot’s side have not looked imperious in across recent weeks, with their home clash against Manchester United being another example of players not quite getting it right when squeezing the pitch.

Whether it is personnel or tactics is worthy of greater scrutiny, but it was abundantly clear that Liverpool’s out-of-possession play was not firing at the top end of the pitch — just as much as their in-possession play.

Mark Carey

What did Slot say?

Liverpool’s head coach said that Nunez’s dramatic late intervention was just what his side had deserved after a game in which they rained 37 shots on the Brentford goal.

“During the season you’re hoping for these moments,” he told the BBC. “We could have scored a late winner against Manchester United, Forest, Fulham. Today it worked. We managed to score in the last few seconds.

“We were close to not getting what we deserved. The amount of chances we created was like on Tuesday against Forest — a lot. We were close to going off without a win. That combined with a late winner is what we were most happy about. And it was a significant game.”

On Nunez, the Dutchman praised his “energy and power” when he came on as a second-half substitute.

“The first hour is often open but the last 30 minutes dominant,” Slot added. “Then to have someone like Darwin is nice to have.”

What next for Liverpool?

Tuesday, January 21: Lille (H), Champions League, 8pm GMT, 3pm ET

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(Top photo: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

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