Liverpool Stumble at Fulham as Unbeaten Run Ends
Liverpool’s long Premier League unbeaten run came to a jarring halt in west London, undone by a confident and clinical Fulham side who flipped the contest on its head in an unforgettable first-half flurry.
Arne Slot’s men, previously unbeaten in 26 Premier League matches, arrived at Craven Cottage with title ambitions in full swing. They left, however, with a bruised ego and just a slender reminder of their fragility when the rhythm slips.
Mac Allister Sparkles but Fulham Take Control
The early signs were promising for Liverpool. Alexis Mac Allister, whose adaptation to life in Merseyside continues apace, produced a moment of sheer quality, curling a 25-yard effort beyond Bernd Leno to silence the home end. It was a goal of composure, vision, and technical excellence—everything Liverpool fans have come to expect of the Argentine World Cup winner.
But if Liverpool looked poised to dictate the tempo, Fulham had other ideas. With an impressive response, Marco Silva’s side delivered three goals in 13 breath-taking minutes before the break. It was a stretch of football defined not by panic or pressure, but poise and purpose.
Ryan Sessegnon provided the equaliser, reacting smartly to Andreas Pereira’s low cross after it deflected into his path. His first-time finish showcased his sharp instincts in a crowded penalty area.
Then came the moment that shifted the momentum decisively. Andy Robertson’s loose cross-field ball gifted possession to Alex Iwobi. His first effort was blocked, but the second, helped by a deflection off Robertson himself, spun beyond Caoimhin Kelleher to send the home crowd into raptures.
Liverpool looked stunned. Minutes later, Rodrigo Muniz—ever alert—latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the area. His quick feet and delicate touch wrong-footed the defence, before a calm finish under Kelleher gave Fulham an astonishing 3-1 lead.
Substitutes Inject Hope but Liverpool Fall Short
To their credit, Liverpool responded with intent after the interval. Arne Slot turned to his bench, and the changes almost paid off. Luis Díaz, always lively in the final third, pounced on Conor Bradley’s clever ball to reduce the deficit midway through the second half.
Momentum shifted briefly, and it was Harvey Elliott, returning to his former stomping ground, who nearly levelled the scores. His curling effort from distance had Bernd Leno beaten but not the bar, the ball crashing back into play with the Fulham keeper rooted.