Liverpool's title procession put on hold by shock Fulham loss

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Slot: No reason for Liverpool to be complacent in title race

Arne Slot denies that complacency led to Liverpool's 3-2 loss against Fulham.

Updated: Apr 6, 2025, 12:18 pm

Fulham put Liverpool's procession towards the Premier League title on pause with a deserved 3-2 win on Sunday, capitalising on some dreadful defending to boost their push for European football next term.

Alexis Mac Allister gave the champions-elect an early lead after Liverpool were arguably fortunate to not concede a penalty, but that was as good as it got for Arne Slot's side who then shipped three poor goals in 14 minutes.

Ryan Sessegnon rifled home a superb first-time volley, after stand-in right-back Curtis Jones failed to clear a cross, before a series of mistakes from Andy Robertson let Alex Iwobi score.

Rodrigo Muniz completed the turnaround, winning a second ball with a lovely first touch ahead of Virgil van Dijk then producing a sublime finish through Caoimhín Kelleher's legs.

Conor Bradley set up a nervy finish when he played in fellow substitute Luis Díaz to poke home with nearly 20 minutes to play, but Fulham held on for the three points.

Liverpool remain top with 73 points from 31 games, 11 ahead of Arsenal. They need a maximum of 11 points from their remaining seven matches to win the title and, while that remains a virtual certainty, their form will concern Slot.

Mohamed Salah failed to score for Liverpool against Fulham.
Harry Murphy - Danehouse/Getty Images

Fulham moved up to eighth with 48 points, three behind Manchester City in fifth, a spot likely to be enough to secure a Champions League place next term.

Liverpool came into the game with one hand on the Premier League trophy but started poorly and could have given up the opener inside five minutes when Ibrahima Konaté dawdled in his own box and was dispossessed by Andreas Pereira.

Pereira tried to feed Muniz, with Kelleher taking down Pereira as Van Dijk clattered Muniz to the floor, but referee Chris Kavanagh waved away Fulham's protests.

Liverpool then took the lead through Mac Allister, who shrugged off a weak challenge from Sander Berge and had time to pick his spot from 25 metres.

But Fulham drew level in the 23rd minute through academy product Sessegnon, who met Jones's skewed clearance with an unstoppable finish.

Robertson then had a shocker, giving the ball to Iwobi whose shot was blocked and then headed back to him by Robertson, who deflected Iwobi's effort past Kelleher in the 32nd minute.

Muniz doubled the lead five minutes later when he plucked the ball out of the air with a fantastic touch matched by a clinical finish to stun the league leaders.

Bradley's 67th-minute introduction for the lacklustre Konate gave Liverpool some impetus and Diaz's goal five minutes afterwards gave the visitors late momentum.

Former Fulham player Harvey Elliott hit the bar and fellow substitute Federico Chiesa and Elliott forced saves from Bernd Leno in added time, but Liverpool simply did not deserve a point.