Ian Doyle with the talking points from Liverpool's Premier League clash at Brentford on Saturday afternoon

You’d think supporters would have learned by now. Having missed a gilt-edged chance to build on his hat-trick in Austria against LASK in midweek, Bradley Barcola was serenaded by the Brentford fans with chants of “what a waste of money”.

True, the miss, with the game still scoreless in the first half, was a poor one as Barcola had already done the hard work in pressuring the Brentford defence into a mistake before racing clear only to be far too cute with an attempted finish over Caoimhin Kelleher, the ball sailing wide of the far post.

Maybe there was a bit too much confidence coursing through the veins of the France international.

Everyone, though, probably knew what was coming next. And, sure enough, it was Barcola whose neat lay-off from a deep Alexis Mac Allister cross teed up Alexander Isak to decide this tetchy, fractious encounter.

Barcola struck the crossbar with one later curling effort and was less than decisive on a number of counter-attacks as Liverpool looked to spare themselves a nervy final few minutes.

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But the overall difference between his last two performances and the unsure showings of earlier in his fledgling Reds career is marked.

Credit, too, to Florian Wirtz, who assisted the equaliser and created nine chances from open play - the most by a Liverpool player in a Premier League match since such records began in 2003. Like Barcola, he took his European form into the domestic sphere.

Jacquet very much required

Having had a rare spell on the bench in the Champions League in midweek, this was a landmark occasion for Virgil van Dijk. Recalled to the starting line-up, the Dutchman was captain for the 200th time in his Liverpool career with exactly 150 coming in the Premier League.

But while Van Dijk’s height helped as the visitors looked to repel the inevitable barrage of Brentford set-pieces, he had to cede the spotlight to his centre-back partner.

Certainly, Jeremy Jacquet continues to make a strong case for being at the heart of the Reds defence long after the veteran skipper, in the last year of his current Anfield deal, finally decides to walk away from the club.

This was another test the Frenchman passed in impressive fashion, unfussed by the physical, direct threat of Brentford and unflustered when in possession.

Indeed, there was one superb piece of tracking back first half with a challenge that prevented Igor Thiago what appeared the formality of slotting home a Dango Ouattara cross.

Of course, it was Jacquet involved in the game’s chief flashpoint when on the receiving end of the unwise headbutting action from Yehor Yarmoliuk. He instantly became the pantomime villain for the home fans, a feeling that increased when he was booked for a foul on substitute Kevin Schade.

Jacquet, however, negotiated the remainder of the game without incident. This was another step forward for the France international.

Right-back curse challenged

Hallowe’en may still be a fortnight away but it appeared Liverpool’s infamous right-back curse had struck once again here at Brentford.

First there was the sight of Dominik Szoboszlai, back in the side after missing the previous two games with a hamstring complaint, pulling up lame after barely half-an-hour.

Mind you, the Hungarian lasted longer then Jeremie Frimpong who, having replaced starting right-back Ronald Araujo at half-time, went down in his own penalty area seven minutes later before hobbling off.

That prompted Victor Munoz to become the third Liverpool player used in the position on the afternoon having worked hard without much reward down the right flank during the first half.

Alarms were raised moments later when the Spaniard, who had earlier required lengthy treatment after landing awkwardly when challenging Keane Lewis-Potter, needed further medical attention despite not appearing to be overly caught by Brentford substitute Kevin Schade during an off-the-ball tussle.

But there was no disputing what happened a minute later, Munoz’s pace taking him away from Lewis-Potter on to Wirtz’s cute pass with the wide man then chopping back on to his left foot and rolling the ball into the far corner for the equaliser.

It was a strike his relentless performance merited before he made way for the final 15 minutes as Joe Gomez became Liverpool’s fourth right-back of the evening. The Reds, like Munoz, got there in the end.