Fulham 3-2 Liverpool: Reds endure second Premier League defeat in quest for record-equalling 20th title | OneFootball

Liverpool are on the verge of winning a record-equalling 20th championship, but their coronation will be delayed following a 3-2 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

With their nearest rival, Arsenal, drawing 1-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday, coupled with this loss, Liverpool now holds an 11-point lead and requires only eight points from their remaining six matches to clinch the Premier League title.

Perhaps complacency had crept in, as they found themselves trailing by two or more goals at halftime in England’s top division for the first time since February 2023 (against Wolves), and they have yet to win a Premier League match after being two or more goals down at halftime since October 2008, when they came back to win 3–2 against Manchester City. From then onwards, the Reds found themselves in this situation on 23 occasions (including today) and lost each time.

Had they won, the road map would be smooth: the Merseyside giants could be crowned English champions later this month, but that would also have required Arsenal to lose their subsequent two matches: at home against Brentford next weekend and away at Ipswich Town on April 20th. The Gunners kick off before Leicester entertains Liverpool.

While there are many factors contributing to Liverpool’s current position, none is more significant than Mohamed Salah, their undisputed talisman. However, today was an uncharacteristically anonymous showing from the soon-to-be-crowned PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

It was his counterpart, Alex Iwobi, who stole the show in a historically bad first-half performance from the Reds, who could have conceded an early spot-kick. Fulham were aggrieved they weren’t handed an early penalty when Andreas Pereira robbed a casual Ibrahima Konaté in his own box and squared for Rodrigo Muniz as Caoimhín Kelleher sprawled at his feet, but the big Brazilian immediately had Virgil van Dijk in his face and snatched at the shot, which he sliced horribly. Muniz did rush his shot, but only because he was about to be wiped out by a 6ft 7ins man-mountain of a goalkeeper.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher at Craven Cottage: “Has VAR missed something with Kelleher and Pereira?”

To add insult to injury, the deadlock was finally broken ten minutes later when Alexis Mac Allister struck a remarkable shot from 20 yards, finding the back of the net beyond Leno. Muniz was outmanoeuvred on the halfway line, and both Alex Iwobi and Sander Berge were unable to stop the Argentine. Mac Allister then found space at the edge of the Fulham box before firing a precise shot into the far corner.

Of Mac Allister’s nine Premier League goals for Liverpool, three have come from outside the box, matching the number he scored during his 16 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion. This goal is a milestone for him, as Mac Allister becomes the fourth Argentine player to reach 25 Premier League goals, joining the ranks of Sergio Agüero (184), Carlos Tevez (84), and Manuel Lanzini (27).

The hosts quickly responded as Ryan Sessegnon scored shortly after, following an attack down the opposite flank. Timothy Castagne delivered a cross that was slightly too high for Muniz, who was under pressure from Konaté. Curtis Jones failed to anticipate the play, and the ball deflected off his thigh, ricocheting back across the goal to Sessegnon. He then struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner. Sessegnon has now been involved in four Premier League goals in his last five matches, with three goals and one assist.

The game took a dramatic turn when the runaway leaders were unexpectedly halted on the banks of the Thames. It started with a poor pass from Andy Robertson across the edge of his own box, which was intercepted by Alex Iwobi. Iwobi exchanged passes with Pereira, allowing him to advance into the area. Facing limited options due to Van Dijk’s presence, Iwobi chose to strike with power. A deflection off Robertson deceived Kelleher and gave Fulham the lead.

Before Liverpool could recover, disaster struck again at the back. Van Dijk was easily outplayed by Muniz, who made a lovely first touch while waiting for a high ball to drop. Muniz’s first touch took Van Dijk out of the equation, and he calmly finished into the bottom corner as Kelleher rushed out.

This is the first time two Liverpool outfield players (Robertson and Jones) have made errors leading to a goal in the same Premier League game in the last nine seasons. On each of the seven previous occasions, at least one of the errors was by the goalkeeper.

No wonder Liverpool’s fans were stunned into silence. This is the first time they have been two goals behind in the Premier League all season. Furthermore, it is the first time in Premier League history that the Reds have conceded three goals in a first half after scoring the opening goal.

An ear-bashing from Reds head coach Arne Slot at half-time would not have been ruled out as Liverpool produced a masterclass in how not to defend. It was roles reversed after the break as Fulham went to sleep defensively. Jones found substitute Conor Bradley in a huge expanse of space in the Fulham half, and the full-back charged forward and slipped in fellow off-the-bench player Luis Díaz, who took a touch and finished clinically. He took it brilliantly. And it meant Díaz has scored 10 Premier League goals in a season for the first time.

Harvey Elliott, who came through Fulham’s academy, was another to come on for Liverpool and saw a 79th-minute effort crash off the woodwork. Despite throwing everything at Fulham in the final 10 minutes, the West Londoners held on. For the first time this season, Liverpool lost after going in front; they had previously dropped the fewest points (eight)—22 wins and four draws—after taking the lead.

Liverpool’s first away defeat of the season, which ended a 25-game unbeaten run in the competition, would have been greeted with frustration in north London as Arsenal were unable to capitalise given their recent indifferent form. Even though Slot’s men are within touching distance of Liverpool being crowned England’s number one side again, today was a reminder that the Premier League remains unpredictable and competitive as ever.

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