Liverpool Slip at Fulham but Maintain Commanding Premier League Lead | OneFootball

Liverpool Stumble at Fulham as Unbeaten Run Ends

Liverpool’s long Premier League unbeaten run came to a jarring halt in west London, undone by a confident and clinical Fulham side who flipped the contest on its head in an unforgettable first-half flurry.

Arne Slot’s men, previously unbeaten in 26 Premier League matches, arrived at Craven Cottage with title ambitions in full swing. They left, however, with a bruised ego and just a slender reminder of their fragility when the rhythm slips.

Mac Allister Sparkles but Fulham Take Control

The early signs were promising for Liverpool. Alexis Mac Allister, whose adaptation to life in Merseyside continues apace, produced a moment of sheer quality, curling a 25-yard effort beyond Bernd Leno to silence the home end. It was a goal of composure, vision, and technical excellence—everything Liverpool fans have come to expect of the Argentine World Cup winner.

But if Liverpool looked poised to dictate the tempo, Fulham had other ideas. With an impressive response, Marco Silva’s side delivered three goals in 13 breath-taking minutes before the break. It was a stretch of football defined not by panic or pressure, but poise and purpose.

Photo: IMAGO

Ryan Sessegnon provided the equaliser, reacting smartly to Andreas Pereira’s low cross after it deflected into his path. His first-time finish showcased his sharp instincts in a crowded penalty area.

Then came the moment that shifted the momentum decisively. Andy Robertson’s loose cross-field ball gifted possession to Alex Iwobi. His first effort was blocked, but the second, helped by a deflection off Robertson himself, spun beyond Caoimhin Kelleher to send the home crowd into raptures.

Liverpool looked stunned. Minutes later, Rodrigo Muniz—ever alert—latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the area. His quick feet and delicate touch wrong-footed the defence, before a calm finish under Kelleher gave Fulham an astonishing 3-1 lead.

Substitutes Inject Hope but Liverpool Fall Short

To their credit, Liverpool responded with intent after the interval. Arne Slot turned to his bench, and the changes almost paid off. Luis Díaz, always lively in the final third, pounced on Conor Bradley’s clever ball to reduce the deficit midway through the second half.

Photo: IMAGO

Momentum shifted briefly, and it was Harvey Elliott, returning to his former stomping ground, who nearly levelled the scores. His curling effort from distance had Bernd Leno beaten but not the bar, the ball crashing back into play with the Fulham keeper rooted.

Further half-chances fell to Elliott and substitute Federico Chiesa, but Liverpool could not muster the clinical touch they needed to rescue a point. Leno remained largely unbothered in those nervy final minutes.

Fulham Eye Europe as Liverpool Regroup

While Liverpool remain 11 points clear at the summit, with just seven matches to play, this was a sharp reminder that the Premier League rarely allows for complacency. Slot’s side still need 11 more points to guarantee a 20th league title—one that would bring them level with Manchester United’s all-time haul.

Fulham’s ambitions, meanwhile, shift upwards. Victory moves them up to eighth, just five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea. European football, once a distant dream, now feels tantalisingly close for Marco Silva and his players.

Slot and his side will likely bounce back—but they will do so knowing the margin for error has narrowed. And at this stage of the season, that is a pressure few sides welcome.