Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has shared his thoughts following his team's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford in the Premier League.
The Reds had to come from behind after Brentford took an early lead, but they turned the game around in the second half with Victor Munoz equalising in the 62nd minute, followed by Alexander Isak's winner on the 70th. Brentford ended the match with just nine players after the dismissals of Yegor Yarmolyuk and Vitaliy Yanelyt.
On the match and its finale
Iraola remarked that the first half was fairly evenly matched, but once his side took the lead, they struggled to manage the game effectively.
"The first half was pretty even; we had a good chance. The opponent scored just before half-time, so we had to fight back in the second half. I think we played well until it was 2-1. After that, we started trying to hold onto our lead, but we didn't finish the last few minutes well," the manager told Sky Sports.
He highlighted that Liverpool lacked composure in the final moments of their attacks.
"We had some clear opportunities to seal the win, but we didn't take them. We needed more calmness on the ball. Sometimes it’s better to control it for longer rather than going for goal at the first opportunity."
Iraola on the penalty and red cards
When discussing the contentious incidents during the game, the manager expressed the need to review the footage.
"I need to look back at both decisions. I think the penalty probably shouldn't have been given," he said.
Jeremy Frimpong's situation
Frimpong came on as a substitute after the break but was soon forced off due to muscle issues.
"He had cramps in the last Champions League match, so we knew he couldn't start today. Once the opponent went down to ten men, I was hoping Jeremy would add some attacking threat. But he felt something in his muscle right away," Iraola explained.
Dominik Szoboszlai's condition
The manager also updated reporters on Szoboszlai, who has recently returned to training after an injury.
"He has been working hard and training in recent days, but we weren't sure how many minutes he could manage on the pitch. This is not a new injury; he is still not fully recovered," the manager pointed out.
Despite the injury concerns and a nervy finish, Liverpool held on for the 2-1 win and secured three vital points from Brentford.
