Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE: Arne Slot’s side dealt second defeat of Premier League season by impressive hosts
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool: An excellent first-half performance took the hosts to a fine victory at Craven Cottage
Fulham put Liverpool's procession towards the Premier League title on pause with a deserved 3-2 win, capitalising on some dreadful defending to boost their push for European football next term.
Alexis Mac Allister gave the champions-elect an early lead after Liverpool were arguably fortunate to not concede a penalty, but that was as good as it got for the Reds who then shipped three poor goals in 14 minutes.
Ryan Sessegnon rifled home a superb first-time volley, before Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham a two-goal lead. Conor Bradley set up fellow substitute Luis Diaz with nearly 20 minutes to play, but Fulham held on for the three points.
Liverpool remain top with 73 points from 31 games, 11 ahead of Arsenal. They need a maximum of 11 points from their remaining seven matches to win the title. Fulham moved up to eighth with 48 points, three behind Manchester City in fifth, a spot likely to be enough to secure a Champions League place next term.
Re-live all of the action from Craven Cottage in our live blog below:
Liverpool’s defence implodes as Fulham bag inspired win over Premier League leaders
Who saw this coming? The 22,000 at Craven Cottage certainly didn’t, such was the state of utter stupefaction on a spring afternoon to remember in south-west London. Fulham were both dazzling and dogged and, indisputably, deserved winners. For Premier League champions-in-waiting Liverpool, though, it was simply a day to forget. One to write off. By extension for their defence, the opening period saw an utter implosion from all corners.
Liverpool’s defence implodes as Fulham bag inspired win over Premier League leaders
Elsewhere...
And slightly closer to Craven Cottage, there’s another result to please Fulham fans with Brentford and Chelsea, both potential rivals for a European place, sharing the points.
Southampton relegated from the Premier League
Meanwhile, across London it is bad news for Southampton - they have been relegated from the Premier League after a 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Southampton relegated from Premier League as unwanted record looms
FT: Fulham 3-2 Liverpool
Very, very impressive from Fulham, deserved winners as they end Liverpool’s unbeaten record on the road in the Premier League this season. An 11-point lead it remains for Arne Slot’s side with the title still beckoning, but that is one of the worst performances of their campaign.
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool, 90 + 6 minutes
Into the final minute. Is it going to be just a second Premier League defeat of the season for Liverpool?
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool, 90 + 4 minutes
Time ticks away for Liverpool as the offside flag denies them a corner. A strong tackle from Harrison Reed prevents them from building further in their next offensive.
Mohamed Salah outmuscles Antonee Robinson but can’t pick out his target in the box. Fulham clinging on.
And a free kick! Timothy Castagne’s brave block allows Adama Traore to come away and draw a foul as the hosts edge closer.
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool, 90 + 2 minutes
Impressive speed from Virgil van Dijk, finding reverse gear rapidly to beat the accelerating Adama Traore to a forward ball.
Leno is called into action again as Harvey Elliott shoots, but the effort is tame and collected in relative comfort.
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool, 90 minutes
The signalling of six added minutes is greeted with anxious groans from the Fulham fans.
Bernd Leno denies Federico Chiesa’s skidding shot from 18 yards.
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