Liverpool moved level on points with Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League as they got their title challenge back on track with a 3-1 win over Fulham.
Second-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota saw Jurgen Klopp’s side get the job done at Craven Cottage.
Timothy Castagne had sent Fulham into half-time on level terms, cancelling out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delicious free-kick, though Liverpool’s quality told after the break as they bounced back from their loss to Crystal Palace last week.
With Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, the Reds leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s team into second place, remaining behind Arsenal on goal difference, while Fulham stay in 12th.
How the match unfolded
Liverpool dominated the early stages but squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the third minute when Luis Diaz headed Alexander-Arnold’s cross wide from close range.
The Reds did, however, find the breakthrough in spectacular fashion in the 32nd minute, with Alexander-Arnold curling a superb 25-yard free-kick into Bernd Leno’s top-right corner.
Yet Fulham were level in first-half stoppage time – Castagne pouncing on a loose ball in the box to slot home his first league goal for the club.
Liverpool regained their advantage within eight minutes of the second half. Harvey Elliott intercepted Alex Iwobi’s poor pass before finding Gravenberch, who broke his Premier League duck with a fierce 20-yard strike that flashed in off Leno’s left post.
The Reds then secured the victory 18 minutes from time with Jota latching onto Cody Gakpo’s throughball and sliding home an all-important third goal, which was confirmed by VAR after a lengthy check for a tight offside call.
Tom Cairney tested Alisson late on, but his long-range effort was the closest Fulham came to setting up a grandstand finish.
Liverpool moved level on points with Arsenal at the summit of the Premier League as they got their title challenge back on track with a 3-1 win over Fulham.
Second-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota saw Jurgen Klopp’s side get the job done at Craven Cottage.
Timothy Castagne had sent Fulham into half-time on level terms, cancelling out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delicious free-kick, though Liverpool’s quality told after the break as they bounced back from their loss to Crystal Palace last week.
With Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, the Reds leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s team into second place, remaining behind Arsenal on goal difference, while Fulham stay in 12th.
Liverpool dominated the early stages but squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the third minute when Luis Diaz headed Alexander-Arnold’s cross wide from close range.
The Reds did, however, find the breakthrough in spectacular fashion in the 32nd minute, with Alexander-Arnold curling a superb 25-yard free-kick into Bernd Leno’s top-right corner.
Yet Fulham were level in first-half stoppage time – Castagne pouncing on a loose ball in the box to slot home his first league goal for the club.
Liverpool regained their advantage within eight minutes of the second half. Harvey Elliott intercepted Alex Iwobi’s poor pass before finding Gravenberch, who broke his Premier League duck with a fierce 20-yard strike that flashed in off Leno’s left post.
The Reds then secured the victory 18 minutes from time with Jota latching onto Cody Gakpo’s through ball and sliding home an all-important third goal, which was confirmed by VAR after a lengthy check for a tight offside call.
Tom Cairney tested Alisson late on, but his long-range effort was the closest Fulham came to setting up a grandstand finish.
Ton up for Jota
With a mouth-watering Merseyside derby against Everton coming up on Wednesday, Liverpool are still very much alive in the title race.
Jota sealed the victory with his 100th goal in English football – his 56th strike for the Reds after netting 44 times for Wolves.
Alexander-Arnold broke the deadlock with his sixth Premier League free-kick, a tally only bettered for Liverpool in the competition by Jamie Redknapp (eight) and Steven Gerrard (seven).
Now unbeaten in six Premier League visits to Craven Cottage, Liverpool have scored in each of their last 20 away games – their longest league streak since the mid-1950s (21).
Fulham come unstuck at the Cottage
It is the first time this season that Marco Silva’s Fulham side have been beaten in successive games at the Cottage.
Fulham’s difficult record against Liverpool continues, with the Cottagers having now lost nine of the last 12 Premier League meetings between the sides.
On a brighter note, however, Castagne’s strike gave Fulham their 50th goal of the season. Having netted 55 times last term, it is the first time they have scored 50 or more goals in successive Premier League campaigns since 2003-04 and 2004-05.
They can still finish in the top half, but need to rediscover their form at home if they are to do so. London derbies against Palace and Brentford come next.
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