Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE: Alexis Mac Allister strikes as Reds look to shut in on Premier League title
Fulham take on Liverpool in the Premier League with the league leaders looking to take another step towards a second title in 35 years.
Arne Slot’s side entered the weekend with a 12-point lead with just eight games to play, but Arsenal’s draw with Everton means that the gap could be widened further to 14 points. While neutrals would argue that destination of the title is already clear, Slot insists his side are not thinking about when they can win the league yet as the Dutchman maintains focus on each task at hand as it comes.
Today’s test sees them travel to the capital to face a Fulham side who are still hunting European football. The Cottagers will need to improve drastically from their insipid display against Arsenal last time out. With just nine points separating fourth from 11th in a congested chase for places, a strong home win here over the champions elect could give the London club plenty of momentum heading into the pointy end of the campaign.
Follow all of the latest from Craven Cottage in our live blog below:
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 21 minutes
That Alexis Mac Allister strike remains Liverpool’s only effort on goal – which will frustrate Marco Silva. His side have made a really solid start here but have already been stung.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 18 minutes
Mohamed Salah cuts in on to his left foot and looks for Cody Gakpo, putting just a tiny bit too much on his pass, which curls away from the opposite winger.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool, 15 minutes
That really was a gorgeous goal. How good have those two been at the base of Arne Slot’s midfield this season? What looked a potential problem position for the Dutchman has proved anything but.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 LIVERPOOL (Alexis Mac Allister, 14 minutes)
Spectacular! What an opener from Alexis Mac Allister!
That’s some goal. Ryan Gravenberch wins the ball back for Liverpool and releases his midfield partner, Mac Allister able to hold off the significantly larger Sander Berge and drive onwards. A little jink to the right opens up room for the Argentine to unfurl a rasping drive which rattles past a sprawling Bernd Leno and into the top corner.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 11 minutes
At the other end, Alexis Mac Allister produces a rather more dangerous cross from a corner kick, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno gets just enough on his punch with Konate in close attention.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 9 minutes
An unconvincing start from Ibrahima Konate, this. The centre half hacks an attempted clearance behind, conceding a soft corner.
Andreas Pereira’s delivery is poor and easily cleared.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 8 minutes
Liverpool are certainly attempting to explore that side. A raking pass from Virgil van Dijk briefly appears to have sprung Jones but Antonee Robinson retreats in time.
Andreas Pereira is having a prolonged discussion with the referee, perhaps feeling that he had been fouled by Caoimhin Kelleher after releasing the pass to Rodrigo Muniz earlier. VAR did have a look at that passage but concluded that there had been no obvious error.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 7 minutes
A first glimpse of Liverpool in attack with Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones combining. Calvin Bassey cuts out the latter’s cross.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 5 minutes
This is a good little start from Fulham, keeping Liverpool pinned in.
And that’s a great chance, the hosts winning the ball high up the pitch as Ibrahima Konate dilly-dallies but Rodrigo Muniz unable to get a shot away after Andreas Pereira squares it past Caoimhin Kelleher. Was there a foul from Virgil van Dijk to deny him? Nope, just about a fair challenge and an opportunity passed up.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool, 3 minutes
On the opposite side, Timothy Castagne limps away having been caught accidentally by Cody Gakpo after beating the Liverpool man to a forward hoist. Just a turned ankle, by the looks of things, but a little bit sore for the Belgian. He’ll be fine to continue.
