Keith Andrews says Liverpool's Jacquet was 'cute and clever' in Yarmoliuk red card as Brentford fall to nine-men defeat

Andrews: Jacquet 'cute and clever' but Yarmoliuk must do better

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews felt Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet was "cute and clever" for his role in Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card in the 2-1 defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

Keane Lewis-Potter had given Brentford the lead, but the match turned on Yarmoliuk's dismissal in the eighth minute of first-half stoppage time. The Ukraine international was sent off for catching Jacquet, which referee John Brooks described after a VAR review as "a headbutting action". Jacquet went to ground in the box, but Liverpool were not awarded a penalty because a corner on the left had not yet been delivered.

"We need to look at ourselves first, which we always do. We don't really tend to look at what part they played within the incident," said Andrews in his post-match press conference. "I do think they were cute, clever - but Yarmo needs to do better, so I can understand why it was a red."

Asked what he meant, Andrews clarified: "If you look at where Jacquet is walking, he's not looking at the ball, is he? He's walking in to Yarmo."

Andrews added: "We focus on us and our actions within that and you can make up your own mind. Yarmo is an amazing young man. I think we need to remember he is young, very young, and he is someone who we love working with and trying to develop. He will learn from it."

Liverpool turn the game with two goals

Goals from Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak turned the game in Liverpool's favour. Andrews conceded that Yarmoliuk's sending off "changes the dynamics of the game".

Brentford were reduced to nine men again after Vitaly Janelt was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Rio Ngumoha on the edge of the penalty area.

"I've seen both of Vitaly's yellows back and where I'm at overall is that I like our players playing with emotion. I think it's a big part of the way we play," he said. "I like us to play on the edge and, when you do that and you feel like some decisions aren't fair, that can be very, very difficult for our players. I feel it and it can become very, very frustrating. Our players aren't robots."

On the second yellow, he added: "I'm more alluding to his first one. I think the second one is about his honesty to get back and chase back towards his own goal, which we have in abundance. We have a spirit within this team that I think is really, really special. Most midfielders wouldn't have been able to get back in to even challenge it." Asked whether there could have been more common sense, he said: "Could there have been a bit more common sense with the second yellow? I think so."

Iraola: VAR should not have intervened

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola felt officials were wrong to overturn the Liverpool penalty award before Lewis-Potter's Brentford opener. Iraola agreed Dango Ouattara touched the ball while challenging Alexis Mac Allister, but said VAR should not have intervened.

He drew a comparison with Nottingham Forest's penalty against Liverpool in their 2-2 draw at the City Ground in August, when Alisson was penalised for fouling Neco Williams. The key match incidents panel unanimously agreed that incident did not reach the threshold for a VAR check, and Iraola believes the same logic should have applied on Saturday.

"I think Dango touches the ball. I don't think it's a penalty. But also I don't think the VAR should intervene in that situation because there is clear contact after," he said. "I wouldn't call it a penalty, live. I think after watching the replay Dango arrives to touch the ball a little bit. But the way they explained to me the situation against Forest is exactly that one. I don't think the VAR should intervene."