Defensive gaffes allow Fulham delay Liverpool title party
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (left) and Fulham's Calvin Bassey (right) battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Craven Cottage. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Liverpool put back their own title party thanks to a first-half defensive disaster class that saw them lose in the Premier League for only the second time this season.
Arne Slot's side remain nailed on for the title despite Fulham goals from Ryan Sessgnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz in between Liverpool strikes from Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz.
But talk of wrapping up a 20th title in the next two games had to be shelved after the hosts withstood a second-half onslaught to inflict a first league defeat since Nottingham Forest won at Anfield on September 14.
Fulham could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't going to be their day when they were denied a stonewall penalty early on.
Andreas Pereira robbed Ibrahima Konate in the Liverpool box and Caoimhin Kelleher took him out as he set up Muniz in front of goal. Muniz sliced his shot milliseconds before Virgil van Dijk bodychecked him but although VAR checked both challenges no spot-kick ensued.
Liverpool's response was to take the lead with the game's first shot on target. And what a shot it was. Mac Allister shrugged off Iwobi and then Sander Berge before launching a rising rocket from 20 yards.
The away end's high spirits were doused by more defensive blundering however - and this time there was to be no reprieve.
A Berge burst forward saw Pereira cross from the right - and Curtis Jones, filling in at right-back, skewed a clearance straight to Sessegnon, who rifled in first time.
Fulham took the lead through Iwobi as another Liverpool defender lost the plot. Andy Robertson needlessly passed across his own goal to the ex-Arsenal man. Iwobi's first shot was blocked but his follow-up went in off Robertson's chest.
Not even the great van Dijk could lead by example as Fulham took a deserved 3-1 lead. Iwobi sliced a half-cleared corner high into the air and Muniz bamboozled the Dutchman with a sublime first touch before slotting across Kelleher. The lead was entirely deserved.
The second period began with Bernd Leno denying Diogo Jota before Mo Salah ballooned a decent chance over from almost as close range.
A goal was coming and Diaz netted it, slotting home in the 72nd minute after fellow sub Conor Bradley had surged forward and played him in.
Fulham were nervous but although Diaz's dive to win a penalty did not fool referee Chris Kavanagh ex-Cottager Harvey Elliott pinged the crossbar soon after.
Another sub, Federico Chiesa, fired at Leno in stoppage-time but Fulham hung on.
Leno 7; Castagne 6, Andersen 7, Bassey 7, Robinson 7; Berge 7, Lukic 6 (Reed 76, 3); Sessegnon 7 (Traore 82, 3), Pereira 7 (Smith Rowe 76, 4), Iwobi 7 (Tete 82, 3); Muniz 7 (Jimenez 77, 4).
Benda, Cuenca, Cairney, Willian.
Kelleher 6; Jones 6, Konate 5 (Bradley 67, 6), Van Dijk 6, Robertson 6 (Chiesa 83, 3); Gravenberch 6, Mac Allister 7; Salah 5; Szoboszlai 5 (Elliott 55, 4), Gakpo 5 (Diaz 55, 6)' Jota 5 (Nunez 67, 4).
Jaros, Endo, Tsimikas, Quansah.
Chris Kavanagh 6
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