Fulham 1-3 Liverpool

Match Report

Liverpool suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace despite generating an impressive expected goals total of 2.81, marking the highest for a Premier League side failing to find the net since September 2022, when Newcastle faced a similar fate against Palace.

Jurgen Klopp's side squandered early opportunities to take the lead, notably when Luis Diaz missed the target with a header from Trent Alexander-Arnold's delivery.

In recent seasons, Liverpool's intense rivalry with Manchester City has seen them narrowly miss out on the title race, often trailing by just a single point despite matching their rivals win-for-win. Understandably, the visitors were determined not to drop points in the capital. They came agonizingly close once more as Diogo Jota failed to convert a chance created by Alexander-Arnold's precise cross.

Fulham, eyeing a potential top-10 finish, briefly threatened Liverpool's dominance, with Joao Palhinha testing Alisson with a shot from outside the box. However, their hopes were dashed when Palhinha conceded a foul on Jota just outside the penalty area. Trent Alexander-Arnold seized the opportunity, delivering a sublime free-kick that eluded the grasp of Bernd Leno to give Liverpool the lead.

Despite Liverpool's ascendancy, Fulham demonstrated resilience, equalizing just before halftime through Timothy Castagne's close-range finish following Rodrigo Muniz's initial effort. Liverpool's defensive frailties at Craven Cottage were highlighted, with Jamie Carragher emphasizing the need for defensive improvement.

Harvey Elliott, facing his former club, missed an opportunity to extend Liverpool's lead before playing a pivotal role in their second goal. His interception led to Ryan Gravenberch's precise strike from distance, marking the Dutchman's maiden Premier League goal.

Gravenberch continued to impress, combining well with Andrew Robertson to create another chance for Jota, whose effort was thwarted by Leno. However, Jota eventually found the back of the net, calmly slotting past Leno to reignite Liverpool's title aspirations in his first league start since February.

Despite the victory, Liverpool's defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern, especially away from home. Klopp will be eager to address these issues as they look to maintain their title challenge.