Fulham 1 – 3 Liverpool

Liverpool dismissed their European disappointment to maneuver as much as second within the Premier League – stage on factors with table-topping Arsenal – after a 3-1 win towards Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Jurgen Klopp’s males bounced again from Thursday’s exit to Atalanta within the Europa League and final week’s dwelling defeat to Crystal Palace as they continued their pursuit of Premier League glory.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s excellent free-kick despatched the Merseysiders on their manner (32), however Timothy Castagne hauled Marco Silva’s aspect stage on the stroke of half-time (45+2).

Final Sunday’s shock dwelling loss to Palace had handed the initiative to Manchester Metropolis, and whereas Mikel Arteta’s Gunners aspect moved prime with victory over Wolves on Saturday, Liverpool stored up the tempo with a dominant second-half show.

Ryan Gravenberch restored the guests’ benefit when he collected Harvey Elliott’s move to curve a elegant end previous Bernd Leno and in off the submit (53).

With Alisson a spectator after the interval, Liverpool turned the screw as Diogo Jota put the competition to mattress with a 3rd, racing onto Cody Gakpo’s move to fireplace low into the underside right-hand nook.

The consequence means Liverpool transfer onto 74 factors, together with Arsenal, however in second place by advantage of an inferior purpose distinction. Metropolis sit third on 73 factors however having performed a sport much less. In the meantime, Fulham stay in twelfth place on 42 factors.

How Jota reignited Liverpool’s title problem

Of their 1-0 defeat to Palace, Liverpool had an anticipated targets whole of two.81, probably the most by a Premier League aspect who failed to attain since Newcastle towards Crystal Palace in September 2022.

Klopp’s staff must have hit the entrance inside 5 minutes, however Luis Diaz headed large from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

Over the course of their latest rivalry, Liverpool have had a few seasons the place the race to the road with Man Metropolis has seen them miss out by only a level regardless of matching one another win-for-win for almost all of the run-in.

The guests knew they might not afford to drop any extra factors within the capital, and so they got here shut once more when Alexander-Arnold picked out Diaz inside Antonee Robinson however his cross was directed large by Jota.

Fulham might but problem for a top-10 end – and so they briefly threatened when Alex Iwobi arrange Joao Palhinha for a shot on the sting of the field however Alisson made a routine save. With half an hour on the clock, Palhinha hauled down Jota simply exterior the penalty space. It might show a pricey choice.

Elliott had already seen one free-kick strike the foot of the Fulham wall, however this time Alexander-Arnold pulled rank and curled a luxurious effort into the nook past the attain of Leno.

Liverpool smelt blood as Gakpo instantly pressured the Fulham stopper to tip a ferocious drive over. However Silva vowed his squad was in the perfect place they might be heading into the encounter – and so they confirmed their high quality to stage on the stroke of half-time.

Jarell Quansah initially did properly to dam Rodrigo Muniz’s header from point-blank vary however Castagne was available to brush the free ball past Alisson.

Liverpool have not stored a clear sheet in any of their final 9 league video games at Craven Cottage since a 1-0 win in April 2009. Jamie Carragher identified: “Liverpool do not preserve them like Arsenal. They must get higher defensively even when the supervisor strikes on.”

Elliott was not having fun with his return to Fulham as he dragged a shot large from Jota’s move 5 minutes after the restart – however moments later he was the architect of Liverpool’s second. Iwobi’s tried clearance was intercepted by the England U21 worldwide, who arrange Gravenberch for a exact end from 20 yards out.

Gravenberch celebrated his first Premier League purpose – and the Dutchman was concerned as soon as extra when he mixed with Andrew Robertson to arrange Jota for an instinctive near-post shot that was properly stored out by Leno.

The Portuguese wouldn’t be denied his purpose on his first league begin since February, nonetheless, as he coolly buried a shot low out of Leno’s attain after being slipped by means of by Gakpo to reignite Liverpool’s title problem.

Silva: We did not react properly to second purpose

Fulham boss Marco Silva instructed Sky Sports activities:

“They scored a wonderful free-kick from Alexander-Arnold, and our response was actually good. We had some excellent moments as properly each in open play and with counter-attacks.

“The rating was truthful at half-time as a result of the response was good. I assumed we deserved the equaliser and the purpose in that second. We needed to start out the second half with the identical depth however the way in which we conceded the second was actually laborious to take.

“It was a very good probability for us to make a counter-attack as they had been open and it was one thing we deliberate to discover however we gave the ball away and so they scored. From that second, the response was not so good. We have now to study from that scenario.

“We have now 12 factors to struggle for and that needs to be our focus. It has been a protracted however excellent journey for this soccer membership. The ambition is to get increasingly.

“We have now a bunch of gamers who’re skilled and who will all the time struggle for the shirt. We have now factors to struggle for regardless of who we play. Nobody can doubt our gamers as a result of we have been actually skilled in each second of the season.”

Klopp: That is strongest league in world – we’ll give title a go

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: “We have gained the final two away video games and the efficiency at this time was actually good apart from the ultimate 10 minutes of the primary half. We do not have to concede then, however we clearly do.

“It is a squad sport and we’d like all of them. We have to struggle by means of video games. All these boys have large high quality. Typically the momentum is not there however the high quality is insane. We have to work out who and when for what and for the way lengthy. That is a part of the job.

“It makes it 74 [points] for us – we had a very good feeling that at Atalanta the efficiency was alright however we did not undergo and at this time was even higher.

“Why would not we reply? How did we get the place we’re? That is the strongest and most intense league on the earth and we’re right here on this struggle with two sensational groups. If we did not have character we would not be right here.

“Typically you’ll want to get momentum again and we have got that again a bit of. Do you suppose Metropolis really feel the strain? They’ve gained every little thing in the previous few years.

“We have now to deal with ourselves. I attempt to say issues that may assist – if we begin serious about Metropolis it would not assist.”

Carragher: Huge consequence for Liverpool

Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher:

“A large consequence for Liverpool, not simply when it comes to the title race and the three factors, however to get issues again on monitor.

“In midweek, they gained the sport, however went out of the competitors, however I feel Klopp virtually used that for ‘Liverpool are again’. They stored a clear sheet, they gained the sport and this was a step up once more when it comes to efficiency.

“It may be higher in fact, nevertheless it’s a large consequence. With 5 video games to go within the Premier League, stage on the prime with Arsenal, it is a good place to be in.

“The efficiency in midweek and at this time, it isn’t Liverpool at their greatest. However everyone knows as gamers, while you’re in a poor run of kind and the arrogance goes a bit of bit, you simply start to construct it again up.

“I feel they’re going to be higher once more on Wednesday [against Everton] and that was an enchancment on Thursday evening.

“Klopp has tried to take positives from that [the Europa League exit]. There’s loads of disappointment from Liverpool followers that they’ve gone out of a contest they had been anticipated to win.

“However Klopp used that, it was a clear sheet [at Atalanta], they’ve gained two away video games in a row and so they’ve bought one other two to get by means of. If they’ll get by means of these, which can be actually powerful, it does put them in an ideal place.

“When you can win 4 away video games in 10 days, that places you in an ideal place going into three [Premier League] video games left.”

Nonetheless time for Klopp so as to add to his legacy

Sky Sports activities’ Ben Grounds at Craven Cottage:

“Klopp stays optimistic about Liverpool’s place within the title race and nonetheless believes in the event that they win all their remaining 5 matches they are going to be Premier League champions once more.

“A troublesome run of outcomes – beginning with a draw at Manchester United and adopted by dwelling defeats to Atalanta and Crystal Palace – ended with a 1-0 Europa League victory in Bergamo however that might not stop their exit from the Europa League 3-1 on combination on the quarter-final stage.

“A primary clear sheet in 10 matches was a lift to confidence, particularly as they proceed to wrestle to seek out their greatest kind on the different finish of the pitch, and an ideal run-in is required if they’re to overtake each Arsenal and third-placed Manchester Metropolis, who’ve a sport in hand.

“That the clear sheet went won’t concern Klopp an excessive amount of at this stage of the season, supplied they’re profitable. They’ve scored in 31 of their 33 video games, extra typically than some other staff within the Premier League this marketing campaign, and right here they overpowered their opponents within the second half.

“Judging by the full-time celebrations, Klopp nonetheless believes there’s time so as to add to his legacy.”

Participant of the match – Diogo Jota

Diogo Jota scored the one centesimal purpose of his English membership profession in all competitions throughout his time at Wolves (44 targets) and Liverpool (56).

When requested about Jota’s ending, Klopp stated: “The very best finisher on this membership is Mo Salah, nevertheless it’s tremendous cool to have Diogo again. It is simply as necessary to have Cody Gakpo again. He is been injured however he is bodily there now.”

Away day delight for Liverpool – Opta stats

• Liverpool have gained seven of their final 9 away video games within the Premier League (D1 L1) – greater than their earlier 19 on the highway beforehand (W6 D7 L6).
• Fulham suffered their sixteenth Premier League defeat of the season, now equalling their whole for the entire of final time period. Seven of these losses have come at Craven Cottage – yet one more than they misplaced at dwelling within the league in 2022-23 (6).
• Ryan Gravenberch’s purpose, assisted by Harvey Elliott, was the primary time Liverpool had a Premier League purpose each scored and assisted by gamers aged 21 or youthful since November 2014 v Chelsea (Emre Can assisted by Raheem Sterling).
• Liverpool have scored 4 targets from exterior the field towards Fulham within the Premier League this season, the primary aspect to attain so many towards the identical opponent in a Premier League marketing campaign since Leeds v West Brom in 2020-21, whereas the Reds final did so in 2015-16 v Aston Villa.

What’s subsequent?

Fulham host Crystal Palace on Saturday April 27, kick-off 3pm.

Liverpool face a visit throughout Stanley Park to face Everton on Wednesday April 24, kick-off 8pm.