Isak scores Liverpool winner at nine-man Brentford
Yehor Yarmoliuk and Vitaly Janelt were both sent off for Brentford as Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Gtech Community Stadium in the Premier League.
Yarmoliuk saw red for thrusting his head into Jeremy Jacquet eight minutes into first-half stoppage-time, shortly after Keane Lewis-Potter's thumping header had given the Bees the lead.
That moment proved costly as Brentford suffered its first defeat of the Premier League season, with Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak, the latter on his return from injury, scoring to flip the game on its head.
The hosts caused Liverpool a few nervy moments even with 10 men, but Vitaly Janelt's second yellow card killed any hopes of an equaliser as the Reds leapfrogged the Bees to go fifth on the table.
Jacquet made a strong block to thwart Michael Kayode from Brentford's first chance, but Liverpool should have scored on the counter from the resulting corner, with Bradley Barcola's lob drifting wide after Janelt's poor header gifted him possession.
Another excellent recovery challenge from Jacquet put Igor Thiago off after Dango Ouattara unselfishly attempted to square the ball for his team-mate, before Liverpool had a penalty overturned after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
John Brooks pointed to the spot when Ouattara slid in on Alexis Mac Allister, but replays showed the Brentford man flicked the ball away with his heel and the spot-kick was overturned.
Brentford then hit the front in the 44th minute, with Liverpool's defence standing off Thiago and allowing him to cross completely unopposed for Lewis-Potter, whose header sailed into the top-right corner.
But the Bees would have to play the entire second half with 10 men because of a petulant act from Yarmoliuk, who headbutted Jacquet while the players were jostling in preparation for a Liverpool corner.
Liverpool did not truly threaten Caoimhin Kelleher's goal until Mac Allister had a long-range attempt beaten away just before the hour mark, but their next attack resulted in the equaliser as Munoz raced onto Florian Wirtz's pass, cut back on to his left foot, then steered his finish into the bottom-left corner.
It was 2-1 soon afterwards, with Isak drilling home from the left side of the area after Barcola nodded Mac Allister's deep delivery down to him.
Barcola almost put the game beyond Brentford when his curling attempt bounced off the crossbar, but when an enterprising run from substitute Rio Ngumoha ended with a cynical foul from Janelt, who received his marching orders, Liverpool could finally breathe easily.
