Fulham 1 Liverpool 3
Much like their rivals Arsenal, Liverpool have had a week to forget. They travelled to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side who have dealt many a blow to sides in the top half of the table this season. The Reds could not afford to drop anymore points if they still had title ambitions.
Jurgen Klopp made six changes to his starting line-up as he looked to freshen things up. They created an early chance as Alexander-Arnold put a pinpoint cross in to pick out Diaz in the box. He glanced a header wide when he really should have been hitting the back of the net.
Gakpo then robbed Iwobi of the ball on the halfway line. He fed it to Jota, who skipped past challenges before being scythed down by Palhinha. Alexander-Arnold stepped up to take it and bent one over the wall and into the top corner of the goal, giving Leno no chance in the Fulham goal.
It was the perfect start for the visitors and they grew in confidence. Fulham were struggling with their high press and Klopp’s side were just pickpocketing them repeatedly. Gakpo received the ball on the edge of the box and let fly but on this occasion, Leno was able to tip it over the bar.
Credit: @LFC
Palhinha took a leaf out of the visitors’ book as he stole the ball off Endo. Iwobi exchanged a pass with him before he picked out Muniz in the box. The ball seemed to get stuck under his feet and he could not get enough power into his shot to cause Alisson any real problems.
Marco Silva’s side started to ask more questions of the Liverpool defence. Just before the interval the ball was lofted into the back post where Iwobi recycled it. Muniz’ headed rebounded off Quansah, into the path of Castagne, who drilled his shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
The Reds’ defensive vulnerabilities were once again exposed as The Cottagers put a big dent in their push for the title. After Crystal Palace had got an unexpected win at Anfield last week, anything but victory in the capital would surely see an end to any Premier League trophy hopes.
Into the second half and as Elliott tried to switch play for the visitors, Iwobi did well to cut out the pass. Then he tried a dangerous pass himself which the former Fulham youngster seized upon. He played it into Gravenberch who had plenty of Fulham players between him and the goal.
The midfielder shifted the ball onto his right foot and with no Fulham player closing him down, went for a speculative effort. He bent the ball into the far corner with Leno unable to get anywhere near it, despite being at full-stretch. What a strike.
Fit-again Diogo Jota was looking menacing in the Liverpool attack. His close control and movement was causing the hosts problems. He fed the ball in towards Diaz but as Bassey tried to get a toe in to cut out the pass, he almost diverted it past his own keeper as it shaved the outside of the post.
Credit: @LFC
You felt as though The Reds needed another goal to put the game to bed. As the ball was played in behind the hosts’ defence, Jota ran onto it and hit a left-footed shot past Leno and into the far corner. The goal could prove massive in Liverpool’s pursuit of silverware.
Mac Allister then gave the ball away in the middle of the park. Fulham played some neat one-touch passes before Muniz laid it off to Cairney. His shot into the bottom corner of the goal was brilliantly saved by Alisson as he got down to deny him.
Fulham tried to make it a nervy end to the game for the visitors but they just could not find a way past Alisson Becker. Jurgen Klopp will be glad to have his number one back for this run in. The Reds moved to second in the table, level on points with Arsenal at the top.
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