Andoni Iraola questioned VAR's decision to overturn a first-half penalty awarded to Liverpool during their 2-1 win at Brentford, calling for less intervention. Liverpool secured their first victory over Brentford this season, with Víctor Muñoz scoring a stunning equalizer and Alexander Isak netting the winner via Bradley Barcola's assist.
Brentford took an early lead through Keane Lewis-Potter but were reduced to 10 men after Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card for headbutting Jérémy Jacquet. A second red card for Vitaly Janelt in the 92nd minute left them with nine players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Liverpool struggled to capitalize on chances after going 2-1 up.
Iraola praised the impact of substitutes Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha, and Muñoz, stating that players like them can make the difference in tight spaces. However, the win came at a cost — Dominic Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both suffered injuries requiring substitution. Szoboszlai's issue was a recurrence of a previous injury, while Frimpong sustained a new one.
Iraola expressed concern over squad fatigue following a late-night Champions League fixture, complicating recovery decisions. He confirmed both players will be sidelined for an extended period. Brentford manager Keith Andrews acknowledged the red card shifted momentum, noting his team had been gaining rhythm and confidence before the dismissal.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing