Substitute Darwin Núñez's stoppage-time double gave Liverpool a 2-0 win at Brentford on Saturday, as the Premier League leaders fought back late to record their first league win of 2025.

Brentford started brightly and should have taken the lead in the fifth minute, but Mikkel Damsgaard spurned a golden opportunity with the goal at his mercy.

Liverpool's Luis Diaz should have opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Ibrahima Konaté found him in space in the area, but the Colombian winger's header was all wrong.

Ryan Gravenberch then tested Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken with a shot from outside the area which the goalkeeper tipped over before Virgil van Dijk headed wide from the corner.

Dominik Szoboszlai fired over from outside the area as the visitors piled on the pressure, and Cody Gakpo wasted a good chance from a quick counter-attack.

Arne Slot's substitutions made an immediate impact in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, and the Dutchman almost struck again when Andy Robertson's cross found Nunez, but the striker headed wide.

Alexis Mac Allister headed Robertson's corner into the side-netting before Brentford came close to breaking the deadlock, with Alisson denying Mbuemo, Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa.

Brentford held firm and looked to be on course for a deserved point until Nunez tapped in Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross from close range in the 91st minute to end the Bees' stubborn resistance.

Núñez added a second two minutes later with an emphatic finish to seal the points and has now scored six goals in injury time in the Premier League.

Liverpool remain top with 50 points from 21 games, six clear of second-placed Arsenal, who drew at Aston Villa on Saturday. Brentford are 11th on 28 points from 22 games.