Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago were on target as Brentford beat reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2 in a breathless game at Gtech Community Stadium.

After Ouattara and Schade had found the net for the Bees, Milos Kerkez reduced the deficit for the visitors on the brink of half-time. Thiago struck from the penalty spot to restore the west Londoners’ two-goal advantage, before Mohamed Salah’s late finish set up a nervy finish. Keith Andrews’ side stood firm during more than 10 minutes of stoppage time to secure a memorable victory in TW8.

Andrews opted for the same side that lined up against West Ham United on Monday night. Four former Liverpool players were included in the west Londoners’ squad: Jordan Henderson, Caoimhín Kelleher and Sepp van den Berg started at Gtech Community Stadium, while Fábio Carvalho was named among the substitutes.

It took Brentford less than five minutes to open the scoring. Michael Kayode launched in a trademark throw from the left, Kristoffer Ajer made first contact in a crowded six-yard box, and Ouattara’s first-time volley left Giorgi Mamardashvili with no chance. Ouattara’s hooked finish was the Bees’ 200th competitive goal at the Gtech.

Liverpool came within inches of an equaliser midway through the half. Having worked the ball into the box, Hugo Ekitiké’s backheel struck Nathan Collins and dropped perfectly for Florian Wirtz, but the German drove just wide of Caoimhín Kelleher’s right post.

Moments later, Cody Gakpo swung in a cross from the left and Ekitiké’s glancing header bounced wide. Gakpo then pulled the trigger himself but his shot from distance sailed over the crossbar and into the west stand.

Brentford were forced into a change before the half-hour mark as Vitaly Janelt replaced the injured Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Henderson and Ouattara both had shots from distance as the Bees went in search of a second goal.

Virgil van Dijk only half cleared his lines under pressure from Thiago and Mikkel Damsgaard seized possession. The Dane skipped forward and saw his dipping effort from 20 yards tipped over the bar by a back-pedalling Mamardashvili.

Brentford’s persistence was rewarded. After Liverpool surrendered possession, Damsgaard released Schade with a defence-splitting pass. The forward pulled clear of Ibrahima Konaté and stroked the ball beyond Mamardashvili and into the net.

Frustratingly for the Bees, Liverpool pulled a goal back in the final seconds of the first half. Conor Bradley’s low delivery from the right evaded Ekitiké and Kerkez beat Ouattara to the ball before turning in from close range.

Brentford were the brighter side after the break. Having latched on to Sepp van den Berg’s pass over the top, Schade centred for Thiago. The Brazilian’s first touch took him away from goal and Mamardashvili smothered the ball at his near post.

The Liverpool keeper then launched himself to his left to deny Damsgaard, who had struck sweetly from the edge of the area.

The Bees were presented with a huge opportunity to restore their two-goal advantage on the hour mark. After Ouattara was fouled by van Dijk, the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. However, following a VAR review, a penalty was awarded as replays showed that contact was made inside the area.

Thiago made no mistake from the spot, coolly sending Mamardashvili the wrong way to take his tally for the season to seven.

Shortly after the restart, Nathan Collins and van den Berg made brave defensive blocks after Dominik Szoboszlai's low cross from the byline caused chaos in the Bees’ penalty area.

Ouattara headed Kayode’s cross from the right wide, while Ekitiké struck hard and low across the face of goal, as the second half continued at a frantic pace.

Another opportunity fell to Ouattara with 84 minutes on the clock. The former Bournemouth man got across Konaté to meet Keane Lewis-Potter’s arrowed ball into the box, but his glancing header dropped wide.

Salah brought down Szoboszlai’s cross from the right with a sublime first touch before blasting into the top corner via the underside of the crossbar to set up a nervy finish at the Gtech.

Liverpool threw the kitchen sink at Brentford during more than 10 minutes of stoppage time, but the Bees stood firm to secure back-to-back victories in the Premier League.

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Ajer (Henry 90+6); Henderson, Yarmoliuk (Janelt 29), Damsgaard (Jensen 79); Ouattara (Onyeka 90+6), Thiago, Schade (Lewis-Potter 79)

Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Carvalho, Nelson

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Bradley (Mac Allister 62), Konaté, van Dijk, Kerkez (Robertson 61); Szoboszlai, Jones (Ngumoha 70); Salah, Wirtz (Gomez 83), Gakpo (Chiesa 61); Ekitiké

Subs: Woodman, Endo, Nyoni, Morrison

Attendance: 17,214

Andrews thrilled with ‘fearless’ Brentford

Head coach Keith Andrews heaped praise on his Brentford side following Saturday’s 3-2 win over Liverpool.

“I’m very proud of everybody,” said the Bees boss.

“There was something in the air; I felt good coming into the game.

“But you’re playing the Premier League champions, so it was always going to be a difficult evening. The way we approached the game was fearless.”

Van den Berg proud of ‘deserved’ win

Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg has expressed his delight at the Bees’ win over the Premier League champions and his former club.

“I’m very happy, and I think we deserved it,” the centre-back explained.

“We struggled a bit at the start of the game - the way they pressed and the way they built up was a bit different to what we expected.

“We stuck together very well, scored two good goals, and then the 2-1 [Liverpool goal] was a bit frustrating; we have to do better there.

“But second half, coming out, the pressure we gave, the confidence we had the whole game, I’m just so proud of the boys.”