Liverpool manager Arne Slot reacts after after his team's loss to Brentford. Photo: GLYN KIRK
Champions Liverpool suffered a fourth successive English Premier League defeat, losing 3-2 at Brentford to continue their miserable run of form in the capital.
Arne Slot's stumbling side fell behind after five minutes, when Dango Ouattara volleyed in from a long throw and Kevin Schade went through to make it 2-0 in the 45th minute.
Milos Kerkez replied for the visitors in first-half stoppage time, with his first Liverpool goal from Conor Bradley's cross.
Liverpool's expected second-half siege never really materialised and Igor Thiago restored Brentford's two-goal advantage from the penalty spot on the hour mark.
Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool hope with clinical finish in the 89th minute, but they had left it too late.
Liverpool have lost four successive league games for the first time since 2021 and they now lie sixth in the table on 15 points, four behind leaders Arsenal, who could extend that margin overnight, when they host Crystal Palace.
Brentford's second win in a row moved them up to 10th place, two points behind Liverpool.
The Reds weren't the only big name team to stumble, with Chelsea upset 2-1 at home by high-flying Sunderland.
The visitors, who moved up to second place in the table, went behind in the fourth minute, when Alejandro Garnacho claimed his first goal for Chelsea, cutting in from the left and shooting through the legs of Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
The Londoners' lead was cancelled out by Wilson Isidor's equaliser in the 22nd minute, when the Frenchman stabbed in from close range, after Chelsea failed to deal with a long throw.
The game appeared to be heading for a draw, before substitute Chemsdine Talbi curled in the winner deep into stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's improvement under coach Ruben Amorim continued, as Matheus Cunha, Casemiro and two goals from Bryan Mbeumo secured a 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, their third successive EPL win.
Looking to build on last weekend's first victory at Liverpool since 2016, Cunha arrowed home a sublime 24th-minute strike into the bottom corner, the Brazilian's first goal for United.
There was fortune about the second from Casemiro 10 minutes later, his shot taking a huge deflection, before finding the net, but Mbeumo's well-taken third just after the hour mark put the hosts in complete command.
Danny Welbeck's sublime free-kick against his former club pulled one back for Brighton, before Charalampos Kostoulas's header in stoppage time ensured a nervy finish at Old Trafford.
With Brighton committing everyone forward in search of the equaliser, Mbeumo fired a fine strike into the roof of the net to lift United to fourth in the standings. Brighton stayed 12th.
Newcastle United's dramatic late 2-1 win over Fulham may prove more than just three points - it could be the emotional spark their season needs, said United boss Eddie Howe.
Bruno Guimaraes' 90th-minute strike rescued the Magpies from what looked like a damaging draw and Howe believed the timing of the goal could have a ripple effect.
"Late goals don't just affect the game you've won, they affect mood and belief going forward," Howe said. "It can have a big knock-on effect.
"We've had heartbreak the other way. This felt like a massive moment for us - we found a way to win."
Newcastle's win was just their third of the season and saw them climb provisionally to 10th in the table.
- Reuters
