Premier League - Sunday 21st April 2024, 4:30 PM
Fulham1
(1)
-
(1)
3
Liverpool
Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Match events
Palhinha (f)
30
32
Alexander-Arnold
Adarabioyo (dis)
39
Castagne
45
53
Gravenberch
Cairney
71
Palhinha
71
Wilson
71
De Cordova-Reid
71
72
Jota
74
Nunez
74
Jota
74
Mac Allister
74
Gravenberch
74
Salah
74
Díaz
Castagne (dis)
79
80
Gomez
80
Alexander-Arnold
Traore
85
Iwobi
85
86
Szoboszlai
86
Gakpo
Match review
Match Report
Fulham (1) 1-3 (1) Liverpool
Premier League Match Day 34 23_24 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 21st April 2024 KO: 16:30
Referee:
Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Live on Sky Sports
|
Fulham were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool on Sunday afternoon at a sunkissed Craven Cottage.
An even first half saw the teams go in level after Timothy Castagne’s first goal for the Club had cancelled out Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick, but the Reds upped their game after the break to take the points.
A peach of a strike from Ryan Gravenberch had them back in front within eight minutes of the restart, before Diogo Jota wrapped things up.
Marco Silva made one enforced change from the side that beat West Ham, with a minor groin strain ruling Willian out. Bobby De Cordova-Reid took his place, and also wore the Captain’s armband from the off for the first time since our 2-2 draw at Arsenal at the start of the season.
Liverpool started brightly and could have taken the lead three minutes in when Luis Diaz got a head on an inch perfect Alexander-Arnold cross, but he glanced inches wide of the far post.
Fulham began to exert more control after that, with half chances for Antonee Robinson from long distance and Tosin at an Andreas Pereira free-kick, but neither defender could find the target.
A first save by either ‘keeper arrived on 25 minutes at the end of a neat Fulham move, but Alisson got down easily enough to João Palhinha’s first time strike from 25 yards.
Liverpool won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions from Palhinha fouls, and after Harvey Elliott had poorly passed one straight to the Fulham wall, Alexander-Arnold took charge of the next and duly found the top left corner.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Liverpool |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
3 (1) |
|
| Scorers |
Castagne 45+2 |
Alexander-Arnold 32 |
| Scorers |
- |
Gravenberch 53 |
| Scorers |
- |
Jota |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
14 |
| On target |
5 |
7 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
42% |
50% |
| Possession |
39% |
61% |
| Passes |
403 |
647 |
| Passes Success |
78% |
86% |
| Crosses |
16 |
15 |
| Crosses Success |
31% |
7% |
| Corners |
1 |
4 |
| Tackles |
10 |
12 |
| Tackles Success |
60% |
50% |
| Saves |
4 |
4 |
| Fouls |
5 |
11 |
| Offsides |
1 |
3 |
| Yellows |
3 |
0 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
That galvanised the Reds who would have doubled their leads moments later had Bernd Leno not made a terrific stop to push Cody Gakpo’s vicious strike over the bar.
Fulham’s best chance so far arrived four minutes before the break, with Palhinha at the heart. After winning possession, he played a one-two with Alex Iwobi before picking out Rodrigo Muniz, who saw his shot saved at the second time of asking by Alisson.
The Whites went close with a free-kick of our own in stoppage time when Andreas was denied by some Alisson fingertips, but it was an unlikely source who restored parity a minute later.
After Muniz’s header bounced against Jarell Quansah, Castagne was first to the loose ball and showed all the composure of a top class striker to slide it through a host of red shirts and into the back of the net.
But another fast start to a half from Liverpool saw their lead quickly restored. After Harvey Elliott had cut out Iwobi’s spread of the play, Gravenberch picked his spot from the edge of the D and curled a beautiful strike in via the post.
Some precise interplay in the Whites box gave Jota an opening from a tight angle, but he was denied by Leno who then bravely dove onto the loose ball to prevent the follow-up.
We had Leno to thank once more in the 64th minute when another turnover in possession allowed Gakpo to break through, but our big German got a big hand to his shot to keep it out.
The third Liverpool goal wasn’t far away, though, when Gakpo managed to bustle his way beyond Tosin before slipping in Jota who fired across Leno for 3-1.
Fulham had struggled to create clear cut chances since the restart, but late on a Muniz overhead kick smashed into Tosin, with Sasa Lukic firing the rebound over.
Substitute Tom Cairney almost made things interesting when he placed one into the corner in the 89th minute, but a full stretch Alisson save pushed it away. Muniz was first to the follow-up but smashed into the side-netting from a near impossible angle.
A frustrating second 45, and ultimately not our day.
Fulham boss Marco Silva told Sky Sports:
"They scored an excellent free-kick from Alexander-Arnold, and our reaction was really good. We had some very good moments as well both in open play and with counter-attacks.
"The score was fair at half-time because the reaction was good. I thought we deserved the equaliser and the goal in that moment. We wanted to start the second half with the same intensity but the way we conceded the second was really hard to take.
"It was a good chance for us to make a counter-attack as they were open and it was something we planned to explore but we gave the ball away and they scored. From that moment, the reaction was not so good. We have to learn from that situation.
"We have 12 points to fight for and that should be our focus. It's been a long but very good journey for this football club. The ambition is to get more and more.
"We have a group of players who are professional and who will always fight for the shirt. We have points to fight for no matter who we play. No one can doubt our players because we've been really professional in every moment of the season."
Fulham : Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson, Palhinha (Cairney 71), Lukic, Iwobi (Traore 85), Pereira, De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 71), Muniz
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Tete, Reed, Jimenez, Broja, Ream
Goals:
Castagne 45+2) (BIG GOAL IN THE TITLE RACE!!
A deep ball finds Iwobi at the back stick and sends in a cross that Muniz meets but Van Dijk blocks. Castagne is the man following in and he smacks a low effort beyond two sprawling Liverpool defenders. Fulham have had their moment and they have struck!
FPL assist: Rodrigo Muniz)
Booked: Palhinha (32,f), Adarabioyo (39,dis), Castagne (78,dis)
Liverpool : Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez 80), Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson, Elliott, Endo, Gravenberch (Mac Allister 74), Diaz (Salah 74), Jota (Nunez 74), Gakpo (Szoboszlai 86)
Unused substitutes: Konate, Jones, Tsimikas, Kelleher
Goals:
Alexander-Arnold 32 (There are fewer better from this distance. Beckham-esque.
One swipe of his right boot sends the ball curling almost perfectly towards that top corner. Such quality!
FPL assist: Diogo Jota)
Gravenberch 53 (FINALLY, A DEADLY LIVERPOOL FINISH! What a strike.
Fulham play a sloppy ball out and Elliott nips in. He feeds Gravenberch in space about 20 yards out. He shows some composure and whips a fantastic finish into the corner, past Leno. His first Premier League goal. Well timed, son.
FPL Assist: Elliott)
Jota 72 (This is what this guy does. Scores goals!
He stays just onside. Just. And he accelerates away past Bassey before driving a low finish through the grasp of Leno.
VAR CONFIRMS THE GOAL!!)
Referee:
Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Attendance: 0
Fulham host Crystal Palace on Saturday April 27, kick-off 3pm.