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:
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 21 minutes
That Alexis Mac Allister strike remains Liverpool’s only effort on goal - which will frustrate Marco Silva. His side have made a really solid start here but have already been stung.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 18 minutes
Mohamed Salah cuts in on to his left foot and looks for Cody Gakpo, putting just a tiny bit too much on his pass, which curls away from the opposite winger.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 15 minutes
That really was a gorgeous goal. How good have those two been at the base of Arne Slot’s midfield this season? What looked a potential problem position for the Dutchman has proved anything but.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 LIVERPOOL (Alexis Mac Allister, 14 minutes)
Spectacular! What an opener from Alexis Mac Allister!
That’s some goal. Ryan Gravenberch wins the ball back for Liverpool and releases his midfield partner, Mac Allister able to hold off the significantly larger Sander Berge and drive onwards. A little jink to the right opens up room for the Argentine to unfurl a rasping drive which rattles past a sprawling Bernd Leno and into the top corner.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 11 minutes
At the other end, Alexis Mac Allister produces a rather more dangerous cross from a corner kick, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno gets just enough on his punch with Konate in close attention.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 9 minutes
An unconvincing start from Ibrahima Konate, this. The centre half hacks an attempted clearance behind, conceding a soft corner.
Andreas Pereira’s delivery is poor and easily cleared.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 8 minutes
Liverpool are certainly attempting to explore that side. A raking pass from Virgil van Dijk briefly appears to have sprung Jones but Antonee Robinson retreats in time.
Andreas Pereira is having a prolonged discussion with the referee, perhaps feeling that he had been fouled by Caoimhin Kelleher after releasing the pass to Rodrigo Muniz earlier. VAR did have a look at that passage but concluded that there had been no obvious error.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 7 minutes
A first glimpse of Liverpool in attack with Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones combining. Calvin Bassey cuts out the latter’s cross.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 5 minutes
This is a good little start from Fulham, keeping Liverpool pinned in.
And that’s a great chance, the hosts winning the ball high up the pitch as Ibrahima Konate dilly-dallies but Rodrigo Muniz unable to get a shot away after Andreas Pereira squares it past Caoimhin Kelleher. Was there a foul from Virgil van Dijk to deny him? Nope, just about a fair challenge and an opportunity passed up.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 3 minutes
On the opposite side, Timothy Castagne limps away having been caught accidentally by Cody Gakpo after beating the Liverpool man to a forward hoist. Just a turned ankle, by the looks of things, but a little bit sore for the Belgian. He’ll be fine to continue.
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