Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka came in as substitute in Brentford 4-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday.
Fresh from helping Nigeria win silver medal at the AFCON 2023, Onyeka joined the fray in the 63th minute when his team was already trailing Liverpool by 2-0.
Darwin Nunez’s goal in the first half put the game ahead, and goals by Alexis Mac Allister and the returning Mohamed Salah in the second half put an end to the match.
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Brentford’s Ivan Toney managed to pull one back, but Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored the game’s fourth goal to seal an easy victory for the guests.
Liverpool now has 57 points after the win, ahead of second-place Manchester City and third-place Arsenal, who can both cut the margin later on Saturday to 52 points apiece. With 25 points, Brentford maintains their 14th-place position.
A bitter pill to swallow for Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp, who was already saddled with a long list of injuries, was the removal of both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota in the first half, and Nunez did not return from the break.
The Liverpool manager, who was already missing a number of important players due to injury, including goalie Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dominik Szoboszlai, must have been impressed with the ease with which his team handled a potentially difficult road encounter.
On the sidelines, he appeared irritated as Brentford quickly retaliated to challenges and forced Liverpool back, with Toney missing a few opportunities.
But Nunez’s excellent finish in the 35th minute was what gave the visitors the advantage and ended the tie.
Jota headed Virgil van Dijk’s long clearance forward into Nunez’s path, and the Uruguayan sprinted free before deftly chipping the ball over the charging Flekken to score his ninth league goal of the year.
After recovering from an injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah replaced Jota off the bench. He had two opportunities to score after halftime.
He went through with just the custodian to beat after Luis Diaz’s dangerous cross bobbled up in front of him, but he was unable to convert it.
Shortly after the half, he punched wide again.
But in the 55th minute, the Egyptian set up Liverpool’s second goal when he cut in from the right and supplied Mac Allister, whose initial touch put him ahead of the final defender before he punched the ball into the net.
Thirteen minutes later, Gakpo headed on a long ball forward from stand-in keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and Salah was on target.
As the Brentford defence froze, Salah pounced, beating Nathan Collins and finishing with a left footed shot.
In the 75th minute, Toney equalised, scoring off the rebound after Kelleher made a fantastic save on Sergio Reguilon’s attempt.
However, it was merely a comforting thought, and Liverpool’s fourth goal in the 86th minute made sure there would be no dramatic finish.
After halftime, the Dutchman came on to replace Nunez. Diaz’s pass put him through on goal, where he finished with ease with his left foot.