Fulham capitalized on Liverpool’s disastrous first half to secure a 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage, marking only the second Premier League loss of the season for Arne Slot’s team.
Despite having the opportunity to extend their lead to 14 points following Arsenal’s draw with Everton, Liverpool allowed three goals in a chaotic 14-minute stretch after Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a long-range shot, ending Fulham’s 26-match unbeaten streak.
The comeback for Fulham commenced when Ryan Sessegnon fired in the equalizer following a cross that came off the thigh of Liverpool’s makeshift right-back Curtis Jones. This marked a troubling moment for Liverpool, who then fell behind when Andrew Robertson’s poor pass gave Fulham an advantage, allowing Alex Iwobi to score with a deflected effort.
Liverpool was still reeling from the earlier setbacks when Rodrigo Muniz scored Fulham’s third with a composed finish, flicking the ball over Virgil van Dijk before beating Caoimhin Kelleher. This marked the first occasion since their 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa in October 2020 that Liverpool conceded three goals in a first half during a Premier League match.
Despite Luis Diaz pulling a goal back from a pass by fellow substitute Conor Bradley in a more promising second half, Liverpool was unable to overcome the deficit. The loss leaves Liverpool with only an 11-point lead over Arsenal, having missed a crucial opportunity to move closer to the Premier League title.
WATCH: All the goals
Slot: Blame on Errors for Defeat
Liverpool manager Arne Slot commented to Sky Sports: “There’s always significant attention surrounding Liverpool. It isn’t new; it’s been there all season. While some may like to stir narratives, my focus is solely on our match against Fulham, who are a strong side. Making three errors makes it hard to win against them.”
“In general, we do not typically commit many errors, let alone three in a single match. There were also moments, like with Ibrahima Konate, where we lost possession. Our second half was notably better, but conceding three times like that makes winning very difficult.”
Analysis: Van Dijk’s Vulnerability Noted
Slot defended Van Dijk during the press conference, noting that it’s typical for defenders to struggle against physical strikers like Fulham’s Muniz. Yet, Van Dijk’s performance raised eyebrows, particularly as he was outperformed by Muniz during the decisive goal. This match further underscored Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities, with Konate and others also underperforming.
Silva Praises First Half Efforts
Fulham manager Marco Silva stated to Sky Sports: “Our first-half performance was exceptional. Perfection may not exist, but we came close. Starting by conceding a goal within the first 10 minutes and reacting with ten shots and three goals was impressive. Our pressing from the start maintained a high tempo and energy, which was key to unsettling Liverpool. We deserved the three points.”
