Fulham stun Liverpool with 3-2 win as title charge stalls

Fulham produced a ruthless first-half blitz to hand Liverpool just their second Premier League defeat of the season, running out 3-2 winners at Craven Cottage and putting a serious dent in the Reds’ momentum in the title race.

Arne Slot’s side had the chance to move 14 points clear at the top after Arsenal’s draw with Everton on Saturday, but a chaotic 14-minute spell saw them ship three goals before the break. Despite a spirited second-half push, the damage was already done.

Liverpool’s Champions League and Carabao Cup exits have already made this a bumpy spring, and this loss  their third in four games in all competitions further highlighted the vulnerability creeping into a once-imperious side. With just seven matches left, they still hold an 11-point cushion at the summit, needing 11 more to seal the title. But cracks are showing.

Alexis Mac Allister’s long-range strike gave Liverpool an early lead, but that was quickly cancelled out by Ryan Sessegnon’s precise volley, which came after Curtis Jones mishandled a cross in an unfamiliar right-back role. Minutes later, Andrew Robertson’s loose pass gifted Fulham the ball in a dangerous area, allowing Alex Iwobi to net via a deflection. Rodrigo Muniz then capped the collapse with a smart flick over Virgil van Dijk before slotting past Kelleher  all within a blistering 14 minutes.

It marked the first time Liverpool had conceded three first-half goals in a Premier League match since their infamous 7-2 defeat to Aston Villa in 2020.

Luis Diaz’s goal from Conor Bradley’s assist gave Liverpool hope in the second half, and Salah missed a golden opportunity to equalize, ballooning a shot over the bar. Harvey Elliott struck the woodwork, but Fulham defended doggedly and held on for a deserved win.

Mohamed Salah, once the talisman of Liverpool’s title charge, cut a frustrated figure. The Egyptian had just one shot fired wildly off target and lost possession 19 times. Opta stats showed Salah won just one of his eight duels. In contrast, Fulham defender Calvin Bassey won six of eight, dominating the one-on-one battle.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Arne Slot lamented the defensive lapses: “We don’t usually make these kinds of errors let alone three in one match. We created chances, and the second half was far better, but when you concede like that, it’s tough.”

He defended his players but acknowledged the performance wasn’t good enough, particularly from a backline that looked rattled throughout. Konate was hooked early in the second half, while Van Dijk’s positioning was questioned once more as Muniz beat him with ease.

Fulham manager Marco Silva was full of praise for his players: “The first half was brilliant. The energy, the pressing we made them uncomfortable from the first minute. Even after going behind, our response was outstanding. We were the better team over 90 minutes.”

The win lifts Fulham to eighth, within touching distance of the European spots, and provides a real belief that a top-six finish could be within reach.