DARWIN NUNEZ silenced the taunting Brentford fans with his stoppage-time goals that saved Liverpool from yet another costly draw.

 

“You’re just a s**t Andy Carroll,” mocked the home supporters as Liverpool boss Arne Slot introduced the underwhelming Uruguayan in hopes of breaking the deadlock.

 

Darwin Nunez was the hero with two goals after coming onCredit: PA

 

Both his goals were scored in stoppage timeCredit: Getty

 

Liverpool were frustrated for large spells and missed with their first 35 shotsCredit: Getty

But in the first minute of added time, Nunez tucked home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross to turn his team’s dominance at last into a goal.

The away fans responded by turning the Bees’ chant back on them.

But when Nunez struck again to end all doubt, the travelling supporters opted for “Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league” and “We shall not be moved”.

These are the days that titles are won and lost.

If the Reds had come away with only a point despite having more than 40 shots, it would have been six points dropped out of nine.

Instead Nunez threw down the gauntlet to Arsenal ahead of their teatime kick-off with two of the most important goals of his Liverpool career.

Brentford could have no complaints but threatened themselves in a harum-scarum second half.

But Liverpool were not to be denied after a slow start.

 

 

Brentford should have scored inside five minutes.

Right-back Mads Roerslev crossed from near the byline but a slight deflection deceived Mikkel Damsgaard and he was unable to adjust himself, failing to get even a touch on the ball as he lurked at the back post.

Kostas Tsimikas started the game after his immediate impact as a substitute against Nottingham Forest but soon gave Slot cause to wonder if it was the right decision.

Inside eight minutes the Greek was booked for tugging back Bryan Mbeumo on the halfway line and a long afternoon beckoned against Brentford’s main man.

Mbeumo had a couple of shots easily saved by Alisson and in between Liverpool started to look a bit more threatening, with one particularly good chance.

Centre back Ibrahima Konate chipped in a pass but Luis Diaz got his attempted header all wrong, so much so that the ball came off his back and went behind.

Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken kept out a Ryan Gravenberch shot without too much trouble and Liverpool’s attacking play lacked authority in the final third.

Home skipper Christian Norgaard sent a header over from Mbeumo’s free kick. Dominik Szboszlai’s effort at the other end was deflected behind for one of a number of corners for the away team, none of which they could make count.

The Hungarian was coming into the game and after ending a good run with a tame shot, his next effort, this time from distance, clipped the crossbar.

Moments later Szoboszlai was involved again in a lovely move started by Gakpo.

The Dutchman should have finished it, too, but his shot from Mo Salah’s cross would not have been hard enough even if it had been on target.

The Reds ended the half with 18 shots and nine corners yet no goals.

 

 

Within seconds of the restart, Szoboszlai’s cross-shot drifted wide.

Then one brilliant break ended with Salah’s shot being half blocked and headed behind for another corner, and another with a Diaz effort being cut out by Sepp van den Berg.

Brentford looked dangerous at times, too. Alexander-Arnold sprinted back to tidy up after one pass sent Mbeumo bearing down on goal.

Liverpool, through Diaz, finally forced another save out of Flekken but the Colombian was guilty of taking a dive as he followed up.

Slot soon sent on Darwin Nunez for Diaz, and the Uruguayan was greeted by the home fans with a chorus of “You’re just a s**t Andy Carroll.”

Nunez hardly made them eat their words when he failed to make the most of his first chance and headed off target.

And the Liverpool fans’ cheers stuck in their throats when they realised Alexis Mac Allister’s header had gone the wrong side of the post.

There were jitters at the other end when an Mbeumo free kick made it all the way through to Allison, who pushed it away in a panic and moments later saved from the same player.

Alexander-Arnold was furious when Nunez wasted a promising position with a brainless shot well over the bar.

The only previous occasion on which Liverpool had failed to score in the league was in their only defeat, at home against Forest in September.

Slot sent on Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones in search of the breakthrough.

Instead Yoane Wissa tested Alisson with a shot, before Alexander-Arnold fired wide and then Van Dijk cleared a dangerous Kevin Schade cross.