Plus: Jean-Phillipe Mateta continues to shine in Crystal Palace’s impressive resurgence; Justin Kluivert stars during another stellar Bournemouth win; pressure builds on Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester lose again
For long periods, it looked like it wasn’t going to be Liverpool’s day.
Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold didn’t have their shooting boots as the ball continued to flash wide of the target.
Darwin Nunez – the hero of the hour for Liverpool – planted a free header wide from Andy Robertson’s cross before blasting a terrible effort over the crossbar from 30 yards as it looked like the Reds were heading for a third straight league draw to start 2025 and more dropped points in the race for the Premier League title race.
But Nunez and Liverpool eventually came good, and it is Arne Slot’s ability to be able to empty Liverpool’s bench with fresh attacking options that could be critical in their bid to win a first title in five years.
Liverpool, who were even without the injured Diogo Jota, racked up an incredible 37 shots at Brentford – a record for an away side in the Premier League – but it was their ability to sustain that pressure with fresh legs that eventually got them over the line.
It was Nunez who came to the rescue on this occasion but Harvey Elliott, who has not had as many minutes as he would have liked this season, also played a key role from the bench with an assist for the second.
If Mo Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo don’t get you, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott will! And when other sides in the league are struggling with injuries and depleted squads, that depth could be the crucial factor in Liverpool’s bid to bring the title back to Anfiel
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