With time ticking perilously away for a relentless Liverpool on a bitterly chilly afternoon in Brentford, Darwin Nunez acquired the ball on the sting of the field and shanked it like he was a rugby participant at close by Twickenham.
Up, up and away over the posts and heading straight for the M4 which runs behind this stadium. It took Liverpool’s shot tally into the 30s and summed up their afternoon: imperious build-up play, zero finish product. All hat no cattle, because the outdated saying goes.
Arne Slot was left scratching his head on the sidelines as his facet have been about to drop factors for a 3rd successive league sport, hardly opening the door and alluring Arsenal in for a cuppa however definitely leaving it ajar for the Gunners to actually reignite a title problem.
Then, with photographs 36 and 37, Nunez got here up with two golden moments that may have despatched shockwaves across the footballing world to silence doubters within the fanbase and definitely these Arsenal followers on the Emirates considering they have been set to chase down extra floor.
How he wanted it and the way Slot wanted the person who, on Friday, the boss stated he was failing to extract the perfect from. Followers had questioned whether or not Nunez would ever reside as much as his £85million switch price, with some urging the membership to money in if the Saudis put up an honest price this summer season.
If these two objectives assist fireplace Liverpool to the Premier League title, they are going to be priceless. This was a day riddled with frustration that impulsively become a day the travelling Kop won’t be forgetting in a rush.
Darwin Nunez struck twice in stoppage time to stun Brentford and seal a 2-0 win for Liverpool
Nunez was known as upon from the bench however was there when wanted to interrupt the Bees’ hearts
The Uruguayan’s double salvo in stoppage time have been the thirty sixth and thirty seventh photographs of the sport
Nunez lifted his shirt as much as them akin to Lionel Messi in El Clasico a decade or so in the past.
Allow us to cease the comparisons there, however he had each proper to really feel on prime of the world because the Reds followers mockingly chanted ‘he’s only a s*** Andy Carroll’.
Say what you want about his English abilities, however he all the time responds to that chant – whether or not he understands it or not.
‘He is all the time having a variety of impression when he is available in,’ stated Slot on Nunez. ‘Brings vitality and energy. Most of our video games, the primary hour is usually open however the final half-hour (we’re) dominant. Then to have somebody like Darwin is good to have.
‘I used to be very happy with our efficiency. Brentford made it a battle. They’ve good gamers and an excellent sport plan. It was a pleasant sport (for me) to observe, like each time Liverpool are on the pitch.’
For 91 lengthy minutes, that ‘good sport to observe’ assertion felt mistaken. Not for Slot or the Liverpool followers anyway. An anticipated aim (xG) of three.40, 37 photographs, an enormous 15 corners – the league leaders huffed and puffed however couldn’t breach Brentford’s pink and white wall.
Credit score should go to Thomas Frank’s males, who additionally had possibilities to nick a winner on the different finish and would have completed if Mikkel Damsgaard and Yoane Wissa packed their taking pictures boots, however finally nobody might have stated they have been worthy of the purpose they so practically gained.
A valiant show nonetheless and Frank stated: ‘We simply performed Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and now Liverpool in a brief period of time. Liverpool are a degree above the 2. They’re full. It is the perfect crew within the Premier League and the world. They’re big favourites to win it.’
Pink-hot midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard missed a wonderful probability for Brentford to take the lead
Dominik Szoboszlai was a menace for the guests and had two efforts on aim inside a minute
Arne Slot’s facet had huffed and puffed on the pink and white wall however discovered no approach via earlier than Nunez’s arrival
Thomas Frank’s facet put in an impressed efficiency to maintain the leaders out for 90 minutes
Regardless of Liverpool’s fixed menace Bryan Mbeumo was a thorn within the Reds’ facet on the counter
Sensible phrases from one of many wisest males in soccer, who admitted the consequence was truthful. It was, although if we listed each probability they’d this piece would fill the entire paper – however notably gilt-edged alternatives have been squandered by Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Nunez then skied that aforementioned effort into row Z however was quickly popping up within the field to get on the tip of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross. Inside a second, off got here the shirt, the away finish despatched into delirium, any indicators of a dented title bid dashed.
Together with his subsequent contact, it was two and, figuring out what we learn about Nunez, the one shock is that he didn’t take his shirt off once more and get despatched off within the course of. He might have been forgiven if he did, after producing a title-defining second for Liverpool.
