Virgil van Dijk paid tribute to Darwin Nunez after the forward's "well-deserved" late double saw Liverpool past Brentford.

The Premier League leaders looked set to record a third straight draw, as they struggled the break down the stubborn Bees at the Gtech Community Stadium.

However, Nunez climbed off the bench to score two well-taken goals in stoppage time to snatch all three points, and move Liverpool six clear at the summit.

The Uruguay international doubled his Premier League goal tally for the season with his brace, and Van Dijk feels he was rewarded for his hard work behind the scenes.

"Darwin, since the day he came in, he brings a lot of energy," the Reds skipper said after the match. 

"As a striker, you're judged by your goals. Maybe, it's tougher than ever. He's working hard and learning. Today, he played a massive part in the victory. It was well-deserved.

"You have to earn these things. As a striker, you get judged on goals, especially at a club like Liverpool. Today, he put his mark on the game. We need everyone at their best, and today was his day."

The two goals came from Liverpool's 36th and 37th shots of the contest; the joint-most they have recorded in a Premier League game on record (since 2003-04), also doing so against Everton in April 2016.

The Reds also became the first team in the English top flight since Manchester City in November 2014 to register at least 20 shots in four straight away games.

"It was a lot of hard work," Van Dijk added. "Brentford away is a difficult place to come; the way they press high, eventually going to a low block and the quality they have on the break.

"We did well. We kept working, kept trying. Today was a small piece of the puzzle. We have to keep going."

Pitchside views of Darwin's last-minute heroics#TeamPixel | #ad pic.twitter.com/VfQPxTMAK8

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 19, 2025