Thank you for joining me for this match. Liverpool bank all three points which are critical in a tight title race. They have five games left of this season to try and muscle Arsenal off the top and keep Manchester City quiet. Fulham, meanwhile, will lament chances missed but they put up a good fight at Craven Cottage. Revisit the action below and have a good rest of the weekend:
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Match of the Day: “For 80 minutes we played a really good game. I didn’t like the last 10 minutes of the first half and they got the goal. But that’s alright because I loved the second half.
“We could show again what we did really well in the first half - we kept the ball, created, and scored some good goals. We had some good chances on top of that too. We made some changes and the boys did really well.”
Before Manchester City play their game in hand, Arsenal and Liverpool are back in Premier League action. Arsenal play Chelsea on Tuesday and Liverpool have Everton on Wednesday. This gives the Gunners and the Reds to extend the gap between themselves and Manchester City, who play Brighton on Thursday, and put all the pressure on the defending champions’ shoulders.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold told Sky: “I think at this point in the season now [if] you don’t get the result you want you are out of the title race. Today was a very important game for us, seeing Arsenal get their result last night so it was a big one. The rest of them are big now, five finals. Throw the kitchen sink at it and try and get it over the line.”
Some reaction from pundit Jamie Carragher:
"This was a step up" 😤 @Carra23 reacts to Liverpool's victory over Fulham 👇 pic.twitter.com/cEYXkxOu1Q
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 21, 2024
This game was a good response from Liverpool’s loss last weekend but Jurgen Klopp will want them to be more clinical. Some chances went begging and they could have taken Fulham to the cleaners.
The Liverpool win means Manchester City will have to reply as they are in third but they have a game in hand. City will play Brighton on Thursday.
Full time: Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool are back up to second in the table with this convincing score line but it wasn’t the full performance from the Reds. Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring and Castagne equalised. In the second half Liverpool pulled away but many chances were left out in the pitch.
Updated
90 + 4 min: Fulham have a free kick and Pereira is standing over it, his delivery is okay but Nunez heads clear.
Updated
90 + 3 min: Robinson looks to cross in but it’s initially blocked, Fulham are trying to close the gap here but it’s too little too late.
90 + 1 min: There will be six minutes additional time.
90 min: Cairney has a shot but Alisson saves, he can’t control and Muniz’ picks up the rebound but it hits the side netting.
88 min: Traore’s first touch is a good one with a cross into the box but no one is there to turn it home, the replacement gets it again and thinks he has won a corner but the referee rules a goal kick. Traore’s arms outstretched in frustration. Szoboszlai is on for Gakpo.
86 min: Fulham make another change with Iwobi off for Traore.
84 min: Pereira and Wilson stand over it but it is Pereira who takes it, it is initially repelled but Cairney sends it back in. Muniz hits the bicycle kick but it hits his own player – that would have been some goal.
83 min: Bassey does well to repel a Liverpool chance and Fulham counter. Pereira tries to cross but Elliott handballs, the hosts have a free kick.
82 min: A really poor ball from Fulham goes straight out, the hosts seem to have given up the fight.
81 min: Cairney wants a free kick and the fans agree, boos rain down but Liverpool peel away. Salah tries to find Nunez but he is offside. Liverpool make a change with Alexander-Arnold off for Gomez.
79 min: Bassey is down injured here, there is a break in play as he looks in some pain. He is okay to continue though.
77 min: Salah and Nunez are immediately on the ball but Nunez finish hits the side netting.
75 min: The goal stands and that is Jota’s 100th goal in English football, his combined total from Wolves and Liverpool. Liverpool now make some changes with Nunez, Salah and Mac Allister in – what a trio to join the game.
73 min: Oh VAR are checking this, was Jota offside?
GOAL! Fulham 1-3 (Jota, 72)
It was an easy tap home and that should be the three points.
Updated
72 min: Robinson deals with a good pass from Elliott well and Leno clears the danger, if Liverpool get a third you would feel the game is done. Fulham make the first changes of the game with Cordova-Reid and Palhinha is off for Wilson and Cairney.
70 min: Liverpool have the wind behind their sails now and Gakpo is the latest to put in an attempt but Leno saves.
68 min: Liverpool are so close to a third, Jota makes a good run and he tries to play it to Diaz but Bassey has an intervention – his deflected ball out for a corner. Robertson takes but it is easily cleared.
66 min: A really sloppy pass from Bassey sees Gakpo intercept but his shot, which is a little weak, is picked up by Leno.
64 min: With a lull in the game let’s have a look at the Alexander-Anrold discussion. Martin has emailed and said: “I think Alexander Arnold is a tremendous footballer - with the ball.
”Without the ball is where I question him. Admittedly I have seen him in the flesh only twice - at Spurs - but each time he had a torrid game against Son in particular, reduced to pulling and tugging and fouling him any time Son took him on. I was genuinely surprised how poor he was when his opposite number ran at him.”
Any thoughts? Let me know.
61 min: Some boos come from the stands as Liverpool continue to play predominantly in the midfield.
Updated
59 min: A lot of build-up here from Liverpool, they are happy to keep passing as they are in control of this match at the moment.
57 min: Alisson comes to gather a cross from Iwobi as Fulham looked to hit back immediately. The visitors come again and Cordova-Reid has a good cross into goal but no one is there to tap home.
55 min: Iwobi has a sloppy pass which Elliott picked up and he passed to Gravenberch who whacked it home, what a strike. This game seems like players only want to score worldies.
GOAL! Fulham 1-2 Liverpool (Gravenberch, 54)
What a goal.
Updated
53 min: Alexander-Arnold’s cross is blocked by Tosin and possession exchanges hands before Liverpool come forward again. Jota passes to Elliott and his shot is wide, to the delight of the home fans.
51 min: Iwobi does well to keep the ball with red shirts starting to swarm him but then Liverpool win it back.
49 min: Robertson crosses in but it doesn’t find a teammate, just the gloves of Leno. The energy that was there in this game heading into half-time seems to have disappeared.
47 min: Liverpool looked to set up an attack but Elliott’s pass is loose.
Back underway! Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
The action is back underway. Can Liverpool keep their title hopes going? Or will Fulham take something from this? 45 minutes to come.
Crystal Palace’s tweet about their win today is poking fun at Nottingham Forest, who tweeted about decisions that had gone against them. Here is the Palace tweet and the Forest story if you aren’t up to date:
Five extremely good goals - two goals conceded - which we simply have to accept.#CPFC will now enjoy their Sunday.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 21, 2024
“I find the debate over Alexander-Arnold’s quality as a footballer mystifying,” Kari Tulinius emails. “His skill with free kicks alone puts him up there with the greats.”
His goal in that first half was sublime and I do agree the debate around him is curious. Any one else have thought? Get in touch.
If the result stays as it is Liverpool will finish this Premier League weekend in third, behind Manchester City who have a game in hand. Fulham would be 11th.
Half-time: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
The game took a while to come to life but a brilliant strike from Alexander-Arnold in a free kick move had put Liverpool ahead. After some pressure, Fulham penetrated the Liverpool goal with a powerful effort from Castagne. All to play for in the second 45.
45 + 4 min: Well that goal has livened the crowd up as Liverpool try to react to conceding.
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (Castagne, 45 +1')
Pereira goes for goal from the free kick and Alisson tips it over the bar but the referee awards a goal kick. Fulham keep coming and Castagne finishes the move.
Updated
45 + 1 min: Gravenberch gives away a free kick in a good position for Fulham, there will be four minutes additional time.
44 min: I do find it interesting the pressure heaped on strikers’ shoulders, so many times the commentators have commented on Muniz not scoring in the last three matches but he had scored in the previous eight before that. He is still having an incredible season. Fulham come forward again but Van Dijk is there to prevent a cross in and Liverpool counter, it is a lightning run from Gakpo but Alexander-Arnold’s cross is blocked.
42 min: Tosin is booked for a foul on Gakpo and Liverpool clear their lines but it isn’t long until Fulham win it back. Iwobi chooses the wrong option though as he passes a long ball into space with no Fulham players chasing. The hosts get their engine revving again but Muniz’ effort was straight at Allisson.
40 min: Robinson has a beautiful cross into the box and it comes to Muniz – who has been really quiet in this one – but his effort is over the bar.
38 min: Quansah is okay to continue here and we are back underway.
36 min: Jeers from the stands as they Cordova-Reid should have a penalty after a clash with Van Dijk but the referee doesn’t blow for it and VAR don’t review it. Quansah is down with injury and so there’s a break in play.
35 min: Liverpool are lively now, the jolt of energy this game needed has come with the Alexander-Arnold goal and Gakpo almost immediately doubles their lead. He win a corner and Robertson takes it short, it comes in but Fulham clear it.
34 min: Alexander-Arnold blows a kiss to the home end as they boo his goal celebration, a nice moment for the England international who has his first start today for a few weeks.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Liverpool (Alexander-Arnold, 32')
WOW. The same two Liverpool players are over the free kick and Alexander-Arnold takes it this time and what a strike!
Updated
31 min: Iwobi losses the ball and he remains on the floor, he doesn’t get a free kick and Liverpool race into an attack. Jota is fouled by Palhinha on the edge of the box and he is handed a yellow card – he is the most booked player in the league. Free kick to come.
30 min: Alexander-Arnold and Elliott stand over the set piece but it is Elliott who takes it, the ground is silent on his run up and then erupts in jeers as his attempt smacks the wall.
28 min: Liverpool win a free kick in a really good position with a foul from Palhinha on Gakpo.
26 min: Iwobi passes to Palhinha just outside of the area and he fires his effort at goal but it is a comfortable save for Alisson. The pace of the game was high tempo in the early stages but the life seems to have been sucked out of it, it needs something to shake it up.
24 min: Liverpool are trying to shift the ball forwards and do so eventually through Alexander-Arnold. He passed to Diaz, who laid it back to Jota but the finish is poor and wide. Jurgen Klopp clapping his hands in frustration on the sidelines.
22 min: Fulham are having more time on the ball now but they aren’t being as precise as Liverpool, they are forcing a pass or two but if they came off they could be a lot more dangerous.
20 min: A loose pass sees Alexander-Arnold intercept, it comes into the area but Gakpo cannot connect. Fulham look to counter but Elliott does enough to prevent a cross coming in.
18 min: Gakpo tries to cross in but Castagne puts in a good block, Liverpool keep coming but Fulham’s defence holds firm for now.
16 min: Every time former Fulham player Elliott gets a touch the boos rain down from the stands, it sounds like a composer is pointing at them to make noise at the slightest involvement from the player.
14 min: The delivery is a good one from Pereira but it is easily cleared, Robinson attempts to get it back in but it is way wide. They are quick to win a free kick and Pereira’s delivery again is pin point but Liverpool do just enough – the hosts slowly growing into this one.
12 min: A good pass finds the run of Pereira but he can’t control and Liverpool are able to clear, Fulham are yet to throw a punch in this fixture. But just as I type that Iwobi makes a great run and cross in and wins a corner.
10 min: Another sublime pass to Diaz but again he cannot get a clean touch to it but Liverpool do win a corner. Robertson pops it in but Alexander-Arnold’s shot is over the bar.
Updated
8 min: Fulham wanted a free kick but pundit Gary Neville calls it a ‘mini dive’ and it seems the referee agrees as nothing is given. Liverpool are being patient in their build-up now and pass multiple times in the midfield.
6 min: Fulham win the ball back and try to launch an attack of their own but it is intercepted and comes to nothing after a few passes. The visitors definitely the ones to start the brighter so far.
4 min: Alexander-Arnold is over the corner, he plays it short and it eventually comes into the box and Diaz almost get a head to it but he can’t quite connect.
3 min: Diaz is passed a peach of a ball and he makes a good run into the box, he finds Jota who wins a corner.
2 min: Liverpool have not won at Craven Cottage in their last three visits, a slightly ominous record but as the saying goes you are only as good as your last result and Liverpool will want to change the tide today. A slow pace to start with both finding their feet in this one.
Kick-off! Fulham 0-0 Liverpool
Here we go. Can Liverpool keep their title race going? Or can Fulham have a say in the top of the table? All to come.
If Fulham score today they will become the first Fulham side to score 50+ goals in consecutive Premier League seasons since the 03/04 and 04/05 campaigns. The players are out at Craven Cottage, kick-off imminent.
I’d like to hear from you on all your football thoughts but your Sunday plans too. It’s such a nice day in England today, what are you doing and where are you doing it? You can get in touch via email or X (@rendellx).
Updated
So what does Liverpool’s title race run in look like? Well they face Fulham, Everton, West Ham, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves. We may be in the business end of the season but there are many opportunities for the title race to swing back and forth between the top three a few more times.
Fulham boss Marco Silva praised his opposition manager: “If Jurgen said this is the reason, we have to accept and understand. I understand what this job demands from ourselves.
“We have to understand the character and person of a manager and it always has been a pleasure to be with him on the touchline and to be challenging against him. The Premier League is going to miss him. He is a great man and character.”
Nottingham Forest have tweeted this from their official account after losing to Everton:
Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) April 21, 2024
We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
NFFC will now consider its options.
Everton have beaten Nottingham Forest 2-0 in another match in the Premier League. You can catch all of the latest reaction below. Elsewhere in the league Crystal Palace are running riot against West Ham and they are 4-1 up at the moment and Bournemouth are leading Aston Villa 1-0.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “How can we make sure that we start winning games again? We had a bad week [last week] result-wise – not even performance-wise [in] all of them and [had] good moments, created an awful lot of chances and didn’t use one of them more or less, so that’s not great. But the worst thing in football is not to have chances – that’s the worst thing.”
Team news
Fulham:
Your Fulham. 🫶#FULLIV pic.twitter.com/mwUicDrohC
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) April 21, 2024
Liverpool:
Team news is in for #FULLIV 👥
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 21, 2024
Come on you Reds 👊🔴
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool. The latter needs to win this match in order to keep realistic hopes of winning the Premier League title alive.
Liverpool’s loss to Crystal Palace put a dent in their league title hopes but they are still in the mix, along with Arsenal and defending champions Manchester City. Arsenal won their match against Wolves yesterday which saw them retake top of the table. If Liverpool beat Fulham today they won’t top the table because of goal difference but they will remain in the fight.
A win for Fulham, however, would see them rocket up the table to tenth provided other results go their way. The London club are having a solid season but they will want a better table return for the performances they have put in.
We will take a look at what has been said in the build-up shortly but first let us have a look at the team news before kick-off at 4.30pm BST.
