Liverpool remain alive in the Premier League title race after a crucial win over mid-table Fulham on Sunday. The Reds knew they had to emerge victorious at Craven Cottage if they were to follow Arsenal’s lead from Molineux last night and keep their championship dreams alive and continue to challenge FA Cup finalists Manchester City.
While it was not a vintage display from Liverpool for the most part, they secured the three points they so desperately needed to move into second place and behind the Gunners only by virtue of their inferior goal difference. Trent Alexander-Arnold marked his first league start for two months after injury with a stunning free-kick that was later cancelled out by Timothy Castagne’s first Fulham goal on the stroke of half-time.
Ryan Gravenberch blasted his first Premier League goal in off the post to restore the visitors’ advantage early in the second half, before Diogo Jota’s third then stood after a tight VAR check for offside. Follow Fulham vs Liverpool reaction live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage!
Fulham vs Liverpool highlights
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GOAL! Jota notches crucial third for Liverpool
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GOAL! Gravenberch thunders Reds back in front
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GOAL! Castagne equalises just before half-time
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GOAL! Alexander-Arnold nets brilliant free-kick
GOAL! Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | Ryan Gravenberch 53′
18:34 , George Flood
53 mins: A fantastic strike from Gravenberch – and boy how Liverpool needed that!
A really poor pass from Iwobi is cut out by Elliott, who finds the Dutchman.
Gravenberch then makes the space to unleash an unstoppable effort beyond the despairing dive of Leno and in off the post.
Full-time
18:29 , George Flood
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
A vital bounce-back victory for Liverpool that takes them level on points with Arsenal at the Premier League summit.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 97 mins
18:29 , George Flood
One last attack from Fulham but former Liverpool winger Wilson’s flicked header is easily gathered by Alisson.
The full-time whistle sounds.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 95 mins
18:26 , George Flood
Salah races through and fires wide after a flick-on from Nunez.
But the offside flag is up.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 94 mins
18:26 , George Flood
Nunez can’t connect with a dangerous pass from Salah as Liverpool break, with the Uruguayan then hitting into the side netting from an impossible angle.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 90 mins
18:24 , George Flood
Six minutes of added time for Liverpool to negotiate.
They are looking pretty comfortable though at the moment.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 88 mins
18:21 , George Flood
Fulham aren’t done yet here as Alisson saves low from Cairney and Muniz fires the rebound into the side netting.
Liverpool need to stay switched on.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 85 mins
18:19 , George Flood
Gakpo makes way for Szoboszlai for Liverpool.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 84 mins
18:18 , George Flood
Fulham send on Adama Traore for Iwobi with just over five minutes to play.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 82 mins
18:15 , George Flood
Chaos inside the Liverpool box after Elliott is penalised for handball, with a well-struck overhead kick from Muniz hitting his own team-mate in Tosin before Lukic blasts over.
Time is running out for Fulham to rescue this.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
18:14 , George Flood
Liverpool’s third goal from Jota, awarded after the very tightest of VAR calls…
GOAL! Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | Diogo Jota 72′
18:13 , George Flood
72 mins: A massive third goal for Liverpool!
But will it count? VAR looking at a potential offside… YES IT DOES!
Jota was sent through by Gakpo and just stayed on before beating Leno with a low strike.
My word that was tight.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 78 mins
18:12 , George Flood
Castagne into the book for dissent as Cairney falls under the challenge of Endo and Elliott outside the Liverpool box, but does not get a free-kick.
Alexander-Arnold makes way for Gomez.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool | 74 mins
18:09 , George Flood
That potentially vital goal was to prove Jota’s last contribution for Liverpool.
Mac Allister, Salah and Nunez are all on.
Diaz and Gravenberch also heading off.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
18:07 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
Jota is sent through by Gakpo and finishes well. A crucial third goal for Liverpool.
VAR checks that he’s onside when the ball is played and he just about is.
Tough for Fulham, who have looked tired in recent moments and are paying the price now.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 71 mins
18:04 , George Flood
Wilson and Cairney have come on for Fulham.
De Cordova-Reid and Palhinha make way.
A number of Liverpool changes are also imminent.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
18:03 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
The game has without doubt slowed in pace since Gravenberch restored Liverpool’s lead.
Fulham look shot, their press no longer as intense as it was throughout the first half.
Liverpool will back themselves to wind the game down from here, but surely they should be searching more intently for a third goal?
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 68 mins
18:00 , George Flood
A couple of lovely touches from Gakpo before he fires another low shot straight at Leno.
Some good stuff from the Dutchman this afternoon, but his shooting needs improving.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 66 mins
18:00 , George Flood
Diaz is just offside as he tries to connect with a Jota through ball that is turned behind on the slide by Bassey.
If it was a goal it wouldn’t have counted, but as the offside wasn’t signalled initially and there’s nothing for VAR to get involved in – the corner stands.
Fulham do end up clearing their lines anyway.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 63 mins
17:56 , George Flood
Bassey’s blushes are spared by Leno after a major error as Gakpo’s disappointing low strike is repelled by the German.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
17:54 , George Flood
How about that for Ryan Gravenberch’s first Premier League goal…
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 60 mins
17:53 , George Flood
Gravenberch looks full of confidence now as he dances to the byline and pulls back for Robertson, who touches off for Jota in close proximity.
The Portuguese tries an inventive effort with the outside of his right boot, but it’s saved by Leno at his front post.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool | 57 mins
17:51 , George Flood
Dominant Liverpool want that killer third goal now as a dangerous cross into the six-yard box is crucially headed away by Bassey.
The away end is now in fine voice as ‘The Fields of Athenry’ belts out.
Liverpool’s subs have now returned to the bench.
The funny thing is I think Gravenberch was probably nailed on to come off soon before hitting that goal.
He’d done very little else.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
17:48 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
Liverpool were just beginning to find rhythm and benefit from the ball landing kindly for Gravenberch.
He can’t believe the space he has to work with and duly bends the ball past Leno and in off the post.
Good finish. Good news for the Reds’ need to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool | 51 mins
17:43 , George Flood
Chance for Liverpool to regain their lead as Jota lays off for Elliott, who tries to pick out the far bottom corner with a swept left-footed finish but gets it all wrong and fires well wide.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool | 49 mins
17:42 , George Flood
All very slow from Liverpool at the start of this crucial second half.
Salah and Co already look to be warming up down the touchline.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
17:37 , George Flood
Back underway at Craven Cottage – no changes from Marco Silva or Jurgen Klopp.
A massive 45 minutes ahead for Liverpool in the title race.
They must win here, no excuses.
How long before Klopp turns to that incredibly strong bench?
17:36 , George Flood
And how about this brilliant free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold…
17:35 , George Flood
Here is that late first-half equaliser from Timothy Castagne, his maiden Fulham goal…
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
17:29 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
For Liverpool, conceding that late equaliser before the interval here will really hurt.
At this point of the season and with the title race as close as it is, there really is no more room for error.
They must raise their game after the break. But Fulham have grown into the encounter, not faded.
They always give themselves a chance here at Craven Cottage.
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Liverpool | Timothy Castagne 47′
17:28 , George Flood
47 mins: Fulham are level on the stroke of half-time!
Really sloppy defending from Liverpool inside their own box and they pay the price, Belgian full-back Castagne side-footing through a crowd of bodies and past Alisson to net his first goal for the club.
Klopp will be fuming. Game on!
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
17:26 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
It’s Timothy Castagne of all people who has got Fulham back level, thrashing home the loose ball after a sustained attack from the hosts.
Castagne’s finish is helped into the bottom corner by Alisson’s trailing leg.
Fulham regain parity after upping the ante ahead of the break.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
17:24 , George Flood
Half-time
A sickener for Liverpool on the stroke of half-time.
They have plenty of work to do after the interval.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 45 mins
17:18 , George Flood
Four minutes of added time have been signalled at the end of this first half.
A foul by Gravenberch on Palhinha gives Pereira a chance to deliver a free-kick into the box, but he instead he cleverly goes for goal and Alisson tips over!
Or did he? Fulham denied the corner. Pereira is furious.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
17:16 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
Alisson gets down well to block from his fellow countryman Muniz.
Fulham have needed to convert their turnovers in play into meaningful chances. There was one.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 43 mins
17:14 , George Flood
Gakpo leads a Liverpool counter and is frustrated with the runs ahead of him as he pushes the ball out wide to Alexander-Arnold, whose low cross is seen away by Robinson.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 40 mins
17:13 , George Flood
Endo is caught in possession in a dangerous area by Palhinha to set Fulham on the attack.
The Portuguese then overlaps for Iwobi, delivering a low cross that is met by a heavy first touch from Muniz, who rather inadvertently narrows the angle as he tries a low effort that is stopped by Alisson.
Endo stays down and questions why he wasn’t given a free-kick, but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with the challenge.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 37 mins
17:11 , George Flood
Tosin kicks away the legs of Gakpo with a petulant challenge and joins Palhinha in the book.
Frustration from Fulham.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 37 mins
17:10 , George Flood
Van Dijk stands his ground inside the Liverpool box against De Cordova-Reid, whose penalty appeals are quickly waved away.
Quansah receives some treatment off the pitch before the otherwise Rodrigo Muniz chests down and lashes over for Fulham.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
17:09 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
A sarcastic sigh of celebration from Alexander-Arnold, presumably wondering why it was Elliott rather than he who took the last free-kick.
That one went miserably wrong, but Alexander-Arnold shows his team-mate how it’s done, bending it over the wall and into the top corner.
Some goal. Just what turgid Liverpool needed — a moment of real inspiration.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | Trent Alexander-Arnold 32′
17:08 , George Flood
Yellow card number 13 for the season for the combative Palhinha as he scythes down Jota to give Liverpool another free-kick in a super shooting position.
Fulham wanted a free-kick of their own for a challenge on Iwobi that wasn’t given.
The right-footed Alexander-Arnold may have a go this time left of centre as we tick past the half-hour mark, with Leno wanting the ball put down so he can organise his much smaller wall.
After a delay, Alexander-Arnold… SCORES!
WHAT AN EFFORT! Over the wall and into the back of the net, no chance for Leno.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool | 34 mins
17:07 , George Flood
Liverpool really have the bit between their teeth now as Leno makes a terrific diving save to tip Gakpo’s fierce strike over the crossbar.
On Sky Sports, Gary Neville is absolutely puzzled as to why Fulham had a much smaller wall for that Alexander-Arnold free-kick to the one that blocked Elliott’s a few moments before.
Marco Silva will be furious with Palhinha for a couple of silly challenges to give Liverpool the chance to go ahead.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 27 mins
17:01 , George Flood
Palhinha is stunned to have been penalised for a challenge on Gakpo to give Liverpool a free-kick in a great position outside the box.
Fulham’s players are very animated in the wall with referee Craig Pawson as goalkeeper Leno bellows out his adjustments.
Elliott and Alexander-Arnold stand over it, with a poor low effort from the former easily blocked.
Fulham fans enjoyed that, with Elliott getting plenty of stick from supporters of his former club so far today.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 24 mins
16:56 , George Flood
Nice football from Fulham, with De Cordova-Reid’s ball to Iwobi from the left touched back outside the box for Palhinha, whose low drive lacks sufficient power and is held by Alisson.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 21 mins
16:54 , George Flood
Ex-Fulham starlet Elliott blasts a shot into his own team-mate for Liverpool.
The Reds sustain their latest bout of pressure and the ever-classy Alexander-Arnold slides a lovely low pass inside the full-back for Diaz, whose cross nutmegs Bassey but bounces off Jota and wide of the near post.
That was a chance.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 19 mins
16:50 , George Flood
Fulham have really grown in confidence here, Iwobi again finding space in the right channel as a driven low cross is hacked away by Quansah.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 18 mins
16:50 , George Flood
A Liverpool cross is delivered too high for Gakpo and Fulham break smartly, but the Reds get numbers back fast and Lukic is furious to have been denied an attacking throw-in.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 16 mins
16:48 , George Flood
Castagne’s block on Gakpo brings a roaring response from the home fans.
After Liverpool’s totally dominant start, this is turning into a decent tussle now.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool
16:47 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
This is the fourth meeting between the sides this season. Liverpool won 4-3 in a thriller at Anfield back in December, before prevailing 3-2 on aggregate to reach the Carabao Cup final with a 2-1 home win and 1-1 draw here in the semi-final.
Marco Silva’s side have gone toe-to-toe with Liverpool in all three games and have started in much the same front-foot fashion here.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 13 mins
16:46 , George Flood
Chance for Fulham!
There are three players queuing up to connect with Pereira’s dangerous free-kick delivery to the front post after some really sloppy play by Liverpool down their right-hand side.
It’s centre-back Tosin who eventually stretches out a leg to try and finish, but he ends up inadvertently hooking it away from goal.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 12 mins
16:44 , George Flood
Fulham suddenly click into gear as they punish an error from Robertson and Iwobi’s front-post cross is steered behind for a corner by Van Dijk.
Liverpool clear their lines before Robinson’s ball floats harmlessly behind for an Alisson goal kick.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 10 mins
16:42 , George Flood
The home fans try to spark their side into life.
Fulham have just watched Liverpool knock the ball around at will so far, they can’t get near it.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 8 mins
16:41 , George Flood
That’s a crucial last-ditch recovery challenge from Bassey to thwart Diaz inside the box before a dangerous low Jota cross is then repelled by Tosin.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 6 mins
16:38 , George Flood
It’s all Liverpool in the early stages at Craven Cottage.
They look confident and energetic as they knock the ball around well at pace, perhaps thanks to those controversial Klopp changes.
Fulham yet to really get a foot on the ball. Chasing shadows at the moment.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool
16:36 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
A first chance of the game within three minutes, and Liverpool ought to be in front.
Alexander-Arnold’s first-time delivery was sumptuous but didn’t get quite the glancing header it deserved from Luis Diaz, whose downward nod bounces inches wide.
Early let-off for Fulham.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 4 mins
16:35 , George Flood
Fulham are incredibly fortunate not to be behind here as Alexander-Arnold swings in a gorgeous cross that an unmarked Diaz can only head wide of the back post.
A huge let-off for the hosts. It should be 1-0.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool | 3 mins
16:34 , George Flood
A bright start for Liverpool, who are straight on the front foot and putting Fulham under immediate pressure.
Looks like Diaz on the right, Gakpo on the left and Jota through the middle.
Jota has an effort blocked inside the box after a glorious ball from Alexander-Arnold.
Fulham vs Liverpool
16:33 , George Flood
KICK-OFF
Underway at a sunny Craven Cottage!
Will much-changed Liverpool bounce back from a torrid week with a vital win in the title race?
Klopp’s final season depends on it…
Fulham vs Liverpool
16:25 , George Flood
Here come the teams at Craven Cottage!
No excuses for Liverpool this afternoon.
It’s surely win or bust in the title race.
16:07 , George Flood
A penny for this man’s thoughts this afternoon.
He’s been struggling for form lately and Liverpool fans have even questioned his commitment at times, but it’s still stunning to see Salah not start a must-win game for Liverpool.
16:03 , George Flood
Here is more from Standard Sport football reporter Dom Smith, who is in position at Craven Cottage….
Klopp explains Salah benching and shock Liverpool changes
15:59 , George Flood
Here’s Jurgen Klopp explaining Salah’s benching and those shock Liverpool changes in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports…
15:57 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
Blow for Fulham today with Willian not featuring in the squad due to a groin injury he suffered in training this week.
But we understand it’s not a serious one, and so he should be back for the run-in.
Willian sidelined with groin injury for Fulham
15:54 , George Flood
Marco Silva has confirmed that Willian misses out for Fulham this afternoon with a slight groin problem…
One Fulham change as De Cordova-Reid replaces Willian
15:46 , George Flood
Fulham make one change to the side that beat West Ham 2-0 last weekend, with Willian missing out.
His place in attack is taken by Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Otherwise it’s as you were for the hosts, with Tim Ream coming onto the bench.
Salah, Nunez, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai all on Liverpool bench
15:40 , George Flood
So those rumours that Mo Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez were all on the Liverpool bench proved to be true.
Some massive, massive calls from Jurgen Klopp for what is a must-win game in the title race at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota make their respective first league starts for two months after injury, with Jarell Quansah also replacing Ibrahima Konate at centre-back.
Wataru Endo is back in midfield and Harvey Elliott gets the nod against his former club along with Ryan Gravenberch as Curtis Jones drops to the bench along with Mac Allister and also Dominik Szoboszlai.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz retain their places up top, joined by Jota instead of Salah.
Fulham lineup
15:32 , George Flood
Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Lukic, De Cordova-Reid, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi,Rodrigo Muniz
Subs: Tete, Reed, Jimenez, Wilson, Broja,Cairney, Traore, Ream
Liverpool lineup
15:31 , George Flood
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch, Diaz, Jota, Gakpo
Subs: Gomez, Konate, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Tsimikas, Kelleher
Lineups on the way
15:27 , George Flood
Less than five minutes to go until we get the official team news from Craven Cottage.
Stay tuned…
Marco Silva: Fulham ‘don’t care’ about title race in push for top half
15:20 , George Flood
While all the focus is understandably on Liverpool and the Premier League title race at Craven Cottage this afternoon, Fulham are focused fully on themselves as they push for a top-half finish this season.
Marco Silva’s men start the day in 13th place but only two points behind Brighton in 10th.
“We don’t care about the title race – we care about ourselves,” Silva said. “Our fight is about getting three points.
“Our preparation for (the next game against) Crystal Palace will be the same as this weekend – and our preparation for Luton on the last day will be the same as for Manchester City.”
Marco Silva braced for Liverpool backlash
15:10 , George Flood
As for Fulham, Marco Silva is braced for something of a backlash from Liverpool this afternoon as they desperately look to respond following their torrid week.
“What I know, and what I’m sure of, is that they are going to react,” he said.
“We all know Liverpool, we all know that they come from a really tough result in the Premier League, of course to be out of the Europa League was really tough for them as well.
“In 10 days, they lost the chance to be in the semi-finals (in Europe) and probably to fight to be in the final and they lost three points (in the league) that are really important for them, at Anfield which is not something that happens often.
“It is a game that is going to demand more from ourselves than if they had won the last two games.
“Of course, we don’t prepare ourselves depending on what is going to be the reaction, we prepare what we want to do in the game and what we expect from them, to explore some things where they are not so strong, and to be aware of the threat that they have always.
“If you ask me if I expect a more difficult game than if the game was three weeks ago – yes. If they are going to be with the same confidence, we don’t know.”
Klopp: Liverpool still have ‘good chance’ at title if they win out
15:05 , George Flood
Jurgen Klopp is not striking a defeatist tone despite Liverpool’s recent slump, insisting his side will still have a good chance to claim only their second title of the Premier League era – and first out of Covid times – if they win all their remaining six games this season.
“It’s not obviously in our hands, it is not about that,” said Klopp.
“I think if we would win all our games there is a good chance we will be champion. If not there is a good chance someone else will be champion.
“Maybe we only have to win five, but nobody knows. Who would have thought that Arsenal lose against Aston Villa?
“We all sit here and think ‘OK, yeah. City will win all their games’ and that’s happened quite frequently, but they have a lot of games to play and difficult opponents as well.
“We don’t think about that. We don’t think about them. It is just how can we make sure we start wining games again.”
Mo Salah on Liverpool bench?
14:49 , George Flood
Some very interesting Liverpool-related team news rumours are floating around on social media at the moment, with official lineups due to drop in less than 45 minutes’ time.
It is being suggested that Mo Salah and Alexis Mac Allister both miss out on the Reds’ starting XI at Craven Cottage.
It is also being claimed that Darwin Nunez is also on the bench this afternoon.
Let’s see if those whispers prove to be accurate…
Premier League title race as it stands
14:46 , George Flood
Last Sunday’s costly back-to-back defeats for Liverpool and Arsenal at the hands of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa respectively coupled with Manchester City’s thumping 5-1 win over Luton 24 hours earlier put the defending champions firmly back in the driving seat for a fourth Premier League title in a row and sixth in seven seasons.
Arsenal simply had to win at injury-ravaged Wolves last night and did thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard, with City’s involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley meaning the Gunners leapfrogged them back to the summit for now.
Arsenal now have a one-point lead at the top that could well stretch to four by the time City play again at Brighton on Thursday night, with Mikel Arteta’s side hosting Chelsea first in a London derby on Tuesday evening.
Liverpool start today third then, two points behind City and three off top spot.
A win at Craven Cottage would take them above City and into second place, level on points with Arsenal but behind them by virtue of an inferior goal difference (it’s also marginally worse than City’s).
If Liverpool do not win today, it becomes very hard indeed to make a case for them to win the title again in Klopp’s final campaign at the helm.
Out of Europe and the FA Cup too, just the Carabao Cup would seem like a very disappointing end to such an illustrious nine-year spell for one of the club’s most iconic managers.
Liverpool boast strong recent record at Craven Cottage
14:25 , George Flood
A lovely afternoon for football on the sunny banks of the River Thames.
Craven Cottage has been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool in recent times.
They are unbeaten on their last five league trips to this famous old corner of west London, winning three of those games.
They also drew 1-1 here in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie back in February, having won 2-1 at Anfield.
Fulham have won just one of their last 13 matches against Liverpool in all competitions, leading 3-2 late on at Anfield in December before a late double whammy from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold condemned them to an agonising defeat.
Klopp: Alexander-Arnold and Jota returns give Liverpool ‘a chance’
14:13 , George Flood
As well as Alexander-Arnold being primed for his first league start in two months, Klopp is also very pleased to have Diogo Jota back in the fold.
The influential Portuguese forward had not played for two months after being stretchered off with a knee ligament injury at Brentford in February, but has now made three successive substitute appearances against Atalanta and Crystal Palace as he also pushes for his first start.
“We need Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, but we need him in a really good shape and form and that’s what he has to get up to,” said Klopp.
“It’s not about him and it’s not his fault if he wouldn’t be, it’s just the situation. So how quick can we get him rolling if you want – the same for Diogo.
“We have to find a way to help the boys in the best way, to bring them as quick as possible into their best form or shape and from there we have to go.
“Without them we wouldn’t have a chance. With them we have a chance, with them in a really good football moment the chance gets bigger and bigger.”
Fulham vs Liverpool prediction
14:04 , George Flood
Liverpool can’t afford to slip up again or the title will be entirely out of their reach.
They should have too much quality for an inconsistent Fulham side.
Liverpool to win, 3-1
Liverpool team news
14:00 , George Flood
As for Liverpool, young Conor Bradley is out with an ankle injury suffered in last weekend’s shock home defeat by Crystal Palace, so that should mean that Trent Alexander-Arnold makes his first Premier League start since February after recovering from a knee injury.
The England international replaced Bradley early in the second half against Palace and then started Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second-leg tie against Atalanta in Italy, getting 72 minutes under his belt.
Elsewhere for the Reds, their lengthy absentee list has really cleared up over recent weeks, with only Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Ben Doak still sidelined along with Bradley, while Stefan Bajcetic is unlikely to return to senior action just yet.
The likes of Wataru Endo and Darwin Nunez will be pushing to return to Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI after being named on the bench against Atalanta.
Fulham team news
13:52 , George Flood
Fulham are doing very well on the injury front at present and have no known absentees for today’s game.
Having bounced back from a three-match winless run that followed their superb demolition of Tottenham with a morale-boosting 2-0 win at West Ham last time out, it would not be a surprise at all to see Marco Silva name the same starting XI this afternoon.
If he decides to change it up, then the likes of club captain Tom Cairney or ex-Liverpool midfielder Harry Wilson could possibly come in.
How to watch Fulham vs Liverpool
13:48 , George Flood
TV channel: Sunday’s game is being broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning at 4pm BST after the conclusion of the relegation six-pointer between Everton and Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the action live online through the Sky Go app.
Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE
13:47 , George Flood
Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Fulham vs Liverpool in the Premier League.
It’s a crucial afternoon in store in west London for the Reds, who surely have to win in order to keep their title hopes alive.
Kick-off today is at 4:30pm BST, so stay tuned for all the latest team news and live updates, plus expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Craven Cottage.
