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Iraola showered praises on Wirtz, Barcola
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Liverpool ended Brentford’s Unbeaten Start to the 2026-27 Premier League Season
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Iraola Provides Update On Dominic Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong Injuries
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Iraola Questioned VAR Penalty Call.
October 17, (THEWILL) – Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola has questioned the decision to overturn the penalty awarded to his team in the first half of the 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday.
Brentford took the lead through Keane Lewis-Potter on the stroke of halftime with a sublime header.
Yarmoliuk was sent off just before halftime for a headbutt on Jérémy Jacquet.
Liverpool turned the game around with two second half goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak to grab the maximum points.
The referee initially awarded a penalty for Liverpool after Dango Ouattara fouled Alexis MacAlister, but he overturned the decision following a VAR review.
Iraola questioned the referee’s decision to award his team the penalty.
He said: “I think the penalty situation, watching the replay, I watched it on the screen. It’s clear. I think Dango [Ouattara] touches the ball.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty, but also I don’t think the VAR should intervene in those situations because there is clear contact after. I remember the Nottingham Forest penalty against us this season, where they tell us it’s not a penalty and the VAR is not going to intervene because there’s contact.
“So, I think it is a very similar situation, and I wouldn’t call the penalty live. I think after watching the replay, Dango arrives to touch the ball a little bit, but the way they explain to me the situation against Forest is exactly that one and I don’t think the VAR should intervene.”
It was a disappointing evening for Liverpool, with the likes of Dominic Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong limping off in the encounter.
Frimpong came on in the second half, but he was soon subbed out due to a hamstring injury.
Iraola has now confirmed that both players are expected to be out of action for some time.
He said: “Dominic felt the same injuries, not a new injury, so [it had] probably not healed enough. Jeremie’s injury is new. I thought playing against 10 he’d give us more heading forward. But it will mean we will lose Dom and Jeremie for some time.”
The former Bournemouth manager was also pleased with Barcola’s performance following his sensational hat-trick against LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Iraola concluded: “I think he had a lot of influence on the chances the other day [against LASK] and the goals. Also today, Bradley, I think he has missed probably clear chances.
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“The crossbar, I remember, the situation [where] he tries to chip, then the one when he squares to [Lewis] Koumas, almost against the goalkeeper. [They are] chances that the other day he scored three.
“But I love that he’s having so many chances and being in those situations. Then after that Rio [Ngumoha] and Flo are players that – especially when you are playing against 10 – are lovely to have at that moment.”
Wirtz created the most chances in a Premier League game against Brentford much to the delight of Iraola.
He concluded: “I think, especially in the second half, it’s the situation that if you need a player there, you need Flo. It’s like you’re going to Rio and it’s very similar.
“There’s very few spaces, small pockets, time on the ball, some delicate things you have to find because Brentford is a team that defends really, really well the box. I think you need players like Flo, like Rio, like Victor, who was lovely attacking against the right-back and who can make the difference.”
The defeat ended Brentford’s unbeaten start to the season.
Liverpool are back in Premier League action against Brighton on Sunday at Anfield.
Brentford will face Hull City on the same day at the MKM Stadium.
