Liverpool’s Premier League title ambitions took an unexpected hit at Craven Cottage, where a frustrating 3-2 defeat to Fulham saw the Reds miss a golden opportunity to gain ground in the title race. Following Arsenal’s draw the previous day, the stage was set for Arne Slot’s side to capitalize. Instead, a chaotic and error-strewn first half undermined their efforts, leaving them with an uphill battle they ultimately couldn’t win.
The match started with promise. Alexis Mac Allister stunned the crowd with a thunderous long-range strike, giving Liverpool an early lead and setting the tone for what many expected to be a routine afternoon. However, Fulham refused to fold. What followed was a disastrous spell of 15 minutes that completely shifted the momentum. Defensive lapses and poor positioning allowed Fulham to score three times in quick succession. It wasn’t just one player out of form — the entire backline looked rattled, disjointed, and unusually vulnerable.
Curtis Jones, tasked with filling in at right back, raised questions before kickoff. His inclusion in defense while Conor Bradley sat on the bench came as a surprise. Ironically, Jones may have been the most composed of the back four in a first half where composure was hard to find. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher struggled to command his area and failed to provide the sort of assurance Liverpool needed in such a tense period. By the time halftime arrived, the visitors found themselves trailing, their early advantage undone by a series of self-inflicted wounds.
The second half, though, saw a vastly improved performance. Slot turned to his bench, introducing Luis Diaz and Conor Bradley — and their impact was immediate. Bradley’s pinpoint cross met Diaz, who calmly converted to narrow the deficit. Liverpool piled on the pressure, dictating the tempo and forcing Fulham into deeper defensive positions. The equalizer felt inevitable, but time worked against them.
Arne Slot didn’t mince words in his post-match remarks. Reflecting on the chaotic first half, he admitted, “That was a difficult spell of 14 minutes. Apart from quality and finishing, it was mostly to do with our errors.” The manager highlighted that such mistakes have been rare this season, adding, “In general we are not making many of these errors — let alone three in one game. Our second half performance was so much better but it is hard to win a game at this level if you concede three in the first half.”
Despite the disappointment, Slot praised the team’s fight and second-half response. “Unfortunately we lacked time in the end to score a third,” he said. “The second half performance was outstanding. We had chances but in the end we lacked time.” The frustration in his voice was unmistakable, yet there was also perspective.
He dismissed any suggestion that complacency had crept into the squad. “There’s no reason for us to be complacent. We are not No. 1 at the moment because we win every match by three or four goals. It takes us so much hard work to win the games, and everyone can see that.” Slot emphasized that the title challenge is far from over and that every remaining match must be treated as a final. “We are fully aware of the fact we have to compete for seven more games. We showed on Wednesday. That was a close call and today was, too. We were on the right side of that then, and the wrong side today.”
Virgil van Dijk, often seen as the rock at the heart of Liverpool’s defense, also came under scrutiny following a below-par display. But Slot defended his captain, stating, “I mainly give credit to other players as well. Van Dijk is not the first player to find it difficult to defend against Beto. And the one that played here today, you have to give credit to him also.” Acknowledging the heavy workload top players carry, he added, “I still see a lot of things that Virgil does really well, but if you play 50-60 games a season, there will be moments, even for him, where you could have done better.”
The loss serves as a warning shot. In a race this tight, every error is magnified, every opportunity must be seized. Liverpool now face a defining run of fixtures with no margin for further mistakes. The response to this setback will reveal much about their title credentials. The quality is undeniable, but resilience — especially after a painful defeat like this — will determine whether they lift the trophy come season’s end.
