WHEN the second-placed team in the division are incapable of putting together a proper title challenge, defeats like this do not really matter.
Liverpool were blown to pieces by Fulham in 14 first-half minutes but still finished the weekend 11 points clear with just seven games to play and their fans still celebrating at the end singing that they are going to win the league.
Liverpool suffered a frustrating afternoon in west LondonGetty
RexRodrigo Muniz took his goal brilliantly to put Fulham 3-1 up[/caption]
ReutersAlex Iwobi found the net with the help of a deflection[/caption]
PAAlexis Mac Allister opened the scoring with a fine strike[/caption]
Of course they are.
Alexis Mac Allister’s belting strike was followed by goals from Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz. While Luis Diaz pulled one back with 18 minutes left, Liverpool were unable to draw level but ultimately, they did not really need to worry.
Arsenal’s inconsistent form, as illustrated by their 1-1 draw at Everton 24 hours earlier, is the reason for that.
Yet this loss for the champions-elect also made you think of another Arsenal team – one 21 years ago.
Because it was the 2003-04 season that Arsene Wenger’s team managed to go 38 games without being beaten and it seems unthinkable that it will ever be replicated.
Liverpool have been completely dominant this season and this was only their second defeat and first away from home.
Although the Premier League is less entertaining these days, the overall strength of clubs outside the so-called big six is much higher.
And that is proved by Nottingham Forest winning at Anfield and now Fulham who have certainly enjoyed a decent season under Marco Silva and can still dream of Europe.
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Fulham deserved the win even though they had to withstand some major Liverpool pressure at the end.
It started off superbly for Slot’s side who overcame two poor results against PSG and Newcastle with a win over Everton in midweek.
Mac Allister had only scored five times for Liverpool this season but maybe he should try a few more shots from outside the area.
He took the ball off the toes of Iwobi, kept on his feet despite a challenge from Sander Berge and then hammered an unstoppable shot into the top left corner.
Fulham deserved their equaliser, though, although Slot will be annoyed at the way Berge was able to saunter forward so easily.
Andreas Pereira’s first-time cross bounced off Jones’ knee and fell perfectly for Sessegnon who lashed his shot past Caoimhin Kelleher before Van Dijk could deliver a block.
Yet if that was poor defending from Liverpool, Fulham’s second was even worse.
Andy Roberton’s suicidal diagonal ball out of defence was cut out by Iwobi. Although his first shot was blocked by Ryan Gravenberch, his second effort was deflected into the goal off the unfortunate Robertson who had scampered across to try and make amends for his cock-up.
Iwobi thought he had made it 3-1 and although Kelleher made a decent save, it was from Pereira’s subsequent corner that saw Muniz deliver his moment of genius.
Liverpool failed to clear the corner properly and Iwobi accidentally punted the ball almost vertically into the air.
Yet Munoz kept his eye on the ball, delivered a killer first touch to move the ball beyond Van Dijk and then buried a shot through Kelleher’s legs.
Diogo Jota was denied by a brilliant save from Bernd Leno at the start of the second half and Liverpool barely threatened again until Diaz produced a delightful finish.
The end to the game was entertaining enough, though. Kelleher kept out a ferocious shot by Harrison Reed and at the other end, Bernd Leno made a good save from Federico Chiesa.
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