Brentford twice came from behind to hold league leaders Liverpool in a thrilling game at the Brentford Community Stadium.
In an even first half, Liverpool went closest to opening the scoring in the 6th minute, Mohamed Salah’s toe poke being cleared off the line by Kristoffer Ajer.
It was a great recovery from the Danish international, especially considering he had been off the pitch receiving treatment for a head injury moments before.
Brentford had their own effort cleared off the line five minutes later, Joel Matip just getting back in time after Bryan Mbeumo had dinked the ball over Alisson.
The Bees did open the scoring midway through the first half, defender Ethan Pinnock finishing a wonderfully worked free-kick by stabbing home at the back post for his first Premier League goal.
Their lead lasted just four minutes, however, Diogo Jota heading home from Jordan Henderson’s cross after Ajer had misjudged the flight of the ball.
Jota almost bagged a second before the end of the first half, but the Portugal international was denied by a magnificent save from goalkeeper David Raya after Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones had struck the post.
Salah then stroked home his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool to put Jurgen Klopp’s team ahead nine minutes into the second half. The Egyptian had initially been ruled as offside from Fabinho’s pass, but a VAR check showed that wing-back Sergi Canos was playing the winger onside.
Brentford equalised for the first time in the 63rd minute, German U21 Vitaly Janelt heading home at the second attempt after defender Pontus Jansson had struck the bar.
Once again, however, Liverpool replied just four minutes later, Jones restoring the Reds’ lead after his piledriver was deflected over Raya by Ajer’s outstretched leg. It was the 20-year-olds last contribution, the midfielder being substituted immediately after scoring.
Salah then had a golden chance to kill the game off ten minutes later, but the winger uncharacteristically lifted the ball over the crossbar when through on goal.
It proved to be a costly miss as substitute Yoanne Wissa equalised again for Brentford, the forward delicately chipping the onrushing Alisson after a scramble inside the Liverpool penalty area.
Ivan Toney thought he’d won it for the Premier League new boys when he fired past Alisson into the far corner minutes later, but the flag immediately and correctly went up for offside.
It stayed end-to-end to the final whistle, Virgil van Dijk preventing Toney from going through one-on-one in added time before Raya produced another brilliant save from Liverpool’s next attack, the Spanish goalkeeper reacting to stop Jansson from steering home into his own goal.
The chance produced a great reaction from Thomas Frank and Jurgen Klopp on the touchline, both managers turning and smiling at each other. They also warmly embraced at the final whistle, recognising that a draw was a fair result.
Brentford will nonetheless be the happier of the two sides, moving above Tottenham back into 9th place. Having only lost one game so far this season, they look at home in the Premier League, mixing their style of play to go direct at times and short at others and causing the 2020 champions problems every time they came forwards.
For Liverpool, there will be greater disappointment, being denied victory by a combination of the excellent David Raya, the woodwork, and poor finishing. Now 16 games unbeaten, however, they look back to title winning form, also moving a point clear at the top of the table after results went their way today.
