There are no prizes for guessing who grabbed all the headlines after Liverpool’s crucial win over Brentford.

Darwin Nunez was the Reds’ hero as the much-maligned striker struck twice in stoppage time to secure a 2-0 win in London that takes Arne Slot’s side six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with Arsenal stumbling in their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Unsurprisingly, it was Nunez that got much of the attention as the UK media gave their verdicts on Liverpool’s latest victory, which once again strengthens their push for the title. Liverpool.com has rounded up some of the reports that came from the press after yesterday’s vital win.

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Jonathan Northcroft - The Times

"Up flew the jackets from the Liverpool bench and off came the shirt, that of Darwin Núñez, agent of chaos, a roulette wheel of a footballer who sometimes comes up with winning numbers but more often not. But, to Liverpool supporters, an absolutely loveable trier who leaves no emotion unexplored as he tries to make a difference. And here, so very memorably, Darwin did.

"He bounded on to strains from the Brentford support of “s*** Andy Carroll”. And he strode off circled by TV cameras and teammates and staff eager for a hug or high-five after a remarkable performance in stoppage time. When it began, Liverpool were dreading a third consecutive draw and their title race lead being whittled further away. When it ended, they were seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"Brentford had defended deep and heroically. Liverpool had taken 35 shots but only six were on target, and only one really worked Mark Flekken, as Thomas Frank’s players repelled the rest with blocks or forced opponents into shooting from bad positions.

"Núñez was not the player you expected to suddenly bring control and clarity to proceedings, especially given his belt from 20 yards and miscued header shortly after coming on as a substitute, had been among Liverpool’s most impulsive moments. But life is like a box of chocolates with this Uruguayan. Never feel sure what you’re going to get."

Sam Wallace - The Telegraph

"There were 90 minutes played when Liverpool made their 36th attempt of the afternoon on the Brentford goal – and this time it was substitute Darwin Nunez, coming in from the cold to win what suddenly felt like a giant game in the title race.

"By then Arne Slot had played all his cards – Nunez, Harvey Elliott, even Federico Chiesa on the pitch to find something. Some other angle of attack, some fresh trajectory that might break what had been a determined effort by the home side to keep Liverpool out.

"The Premier League leaders had come at Brentford every way they could and yet it took the late intervention of their mercurial Uruguayan to change the course of the game and perhaps the title race.

"For Nunez it was the first Premier League goal since November 9 and these two doubled his total for the whole season. But not just Nunez off the bench made the difference. It was Elliott’s nudge down the right channel that made the opening for Trent Alexander-Arnold to cross for Nunez for the first.

"It was Elliott’s pass in the Brentford area a minute later, as the home team’s shape finally disintegrated, that made the second for Nunez. For most of the afternoon this was about Diogo Jota’s absence and then suddenly it was filled by Nunez."

David Hytner - The Guardian

"The Brentford fans ought to have known better. After all, Darwin Núñez had scored a fabulous goal against their team in the corresponding fixture last season. Still, when the centre-forward entered as a 65th-minute substitute, they were ready with their taunt, one that compared him unfavourably with his Liverpool predecessor, Andy Carroll.

"Núñez had travelled to London having scored four times all season. The scrutiny burned. It is no kind of return for an £85m record signing. Arne Slot had insisted he would come good, that it was simply a matter of getting him into the right spaces and situations against deep-set opponents. How it would do so at the very last.

"The initial signs were not good. Núñez misdirected a decent headed chance. He would send a blast into the stands. Liverpool threatened throughout. They dominated in pretty much every area, every metric. But when the board went up to show four additional minutes, they had failed to find the breakthrough with 35 shots.

"Finally, they got one to work and Núñez’s delight knew no bounds, the celebrations wild. Another substitute, Harvey Elliott, had sparked the move up the inside-right and when Trent Alexander-Arnold got a kind ricochet off Yehor Yarmoliuk, he tried again, crossing low and there was Núñez to sweep home.

"There would be more. It again involved Elliott and was again a Núñez conversion; this one lashed high into the net. His goal here in last season’s 4-1 win had been a lifted finish after a quick break. This was all about the power. It was emphatic, never in doubt, defined by a sense of liberation. “You’re just a s*** Andy Carroll,” went the chant. Now it was delivered by the travelling supporters, tongues in cheeks."

Miguel Delaney - The Independent

"A punchline of a different sort. Darwin Nunez hasn’t had the most enjoyable season so far, to the point that his performances have been met with some derision, but on Saturday he had his best day at Liverpool for over a year. Or, perhaps, his best few minutes.

"This trip to Brentford was an occasion when his team needed goals, and especially a match-winning stoppage-time double like this, almost more than Nunez himself. As the board went up to show a mere four minutes remaining, the 0-0 scoreline was about to bring Liverpool’s fifth draw in eight games. That would only have invigorated second-placed Arsenal, who were starting against Aston Villa immediately afterwards.

"The entire mood instead turned on Nunez’s pivot. At 91 minutes, with the ball finally breaking the right way for Liverpool in the Brentford box, Trent Alexander-Arnold clipped in a low cross for the striker to swivel and finish with power. Moments later, he doubled his tally for the game and his entire league campaign, by turning and smashing in another. It was quite a moment to claim his first goals in a month, and just his third and fourth in the league overall, as Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory at what Arne Slot described as one of the hardest away trips in the Premier League.

"The Dutch coach did make a point of stating that his team had subjected Brentford to one of their own toughest experiences, as there won’t be too many occasions when they face 37 shots. One of those efforts was an absurdly wayward Nunez header, of the type that looks a visible example of a striker struggling for confidence and has caused much rolling of eyes among Liverpool’s support.

"It’s why the Uruguayan displayed a steel, and admirable perseverance. You wouldn’t have guessed he has endured such an unproductive period from the manner in which he took both goals."