Liverpool 4-3 Fulham: Trent Alexander-Arnold scores dramatic late winner after Alexis Mac Allister nets STUNNER as Reds leave it late to rescue win

• Mac Allister scored a fine strike from distance as Liverpool blew the lead twice
• Trent Alexander-Arnold had given them the lead with a free kick via Bernd Leno
• IAN LADYMAN: If Spurs go toe-to-toe with City, they’ll have their trousers pulled down – It’s All Kicking Off

Teams cannot win a title over the Christmas period but they can certainly lose one. For seven minutes, they seemingly contrived to fall to a shock defeat at the hands of Fulham, who so nearly became the first team to win at Anfield in the league since Leeds in October 2022.

If Marco Silva’s side had held on to do that, it would have left Liverpool four points adrift of leaders Arsenal ahead of a tricky, injury-hit festive period which sees Jurgen Klopp’s side play eight games from this weekend to Boxing Day.

Twice Liverpool led and twice they threw away the lead after careless errors allowed Fulham back into the match, then the Cottagers smelt blood and nearly pulled off one of the finest smash-and-grabs in Premier League history.

But two goals in less than two minutes, from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, sent Anfield into utter bedlam and kept up a home record this season that stands at played 11, won 11. They have not lost here in any competition since Real Madrid beat them in February.

Liverpool had 65 per cent of possession in a first half that lasted more than 56 minutes, but their dominance and slick attacking play was let down by sloppy and sometimes shambolic defending and goalkeeping at the other end.

Alexis Mac Allister scored a fine goal from distance for Liverpool as they drew with Fulham

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The lengthy period of stoppage time was due to a lengthy break after a nasty head injury to Fulham keeper Bernd Leno, who soldiered on after taking an accidental kick from Luis Diaz, which resulted in Mohamed Salah seeing a goal disallowed for offside.

But the German keeper had warmed up again following five minutes receiving treatment on the floor when he was stunned by a Trent Alexander-Arnold rocket. The full-back left Leno with no chance as he posted a 26-yard free-kick in off the bar, a second goal in as many league games.

After one Liverpool academy graduate put the Reds ahead, another pegged them back. Harry Wilson, who played for Liverpool from the Under 9s to the first team, ghosted into the penalty area and equalised for Fulham with a first-time shot that went through Caoimhin Kelleher’s legs.

A wave of anxiety seemed to spread around Anfield as Fulham grew into the game and targeted Liverpool’s right-hand side. Alexander-Arnold was dominating play when tucking into midfield areas but Andreas Pereira, Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi exploited gaps left behind.

But just as Liverpool seemed to get frustrated at themselves, Alexis Mac Allister produced a thunderbolt of his own with a piledriver from distance that swerved into the top corner. It was his first goal for the club since his move from Brighton – and he will do well to score a better one.

Marco Silva’s side refused to lie down, though, and equalised for a second time in first-half injury time. Liverpool’s defenders were static, allowing Raul Jimenez’s flicked header to be diverted in by Kenny Tete, via a fumbled attempt to stop it from Kelleher.

It was at this juncture that the old adage, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’ felt pertinent. Alisson is not gone, of course, and is just suffering from a hamstring injury, but both of Fulham’s goals would have been bread-and-butter saves for the Brazil No 1.

Tete’s goal was given after a lengthy VAR check but he was adjudged to be onside. No such luck for the Cottagers minutes later, though, when skipper Tim Ream thought he had put Fulham ahead on the stroke of half-time but was flagged for offside.

Liverpool came out with more energy and intent in the second half and Darwin Nunez – who had earlier had an earful from his manager for losing possession cheaply – shanked one good chance on to the crossbar and fluffed another shot, both after fine passes from Salah.

A game of 3D chess followed with both managers making a flurry of changes. Silva threw on Willian after his brace last week and Klopp responded by sending on Joe Gomez, a more defensive-minded full-back. Joel Matip was also forced off with a muscle injury.

Fulham continued to grow in confidence, with Tom Cairney’s introduction giving them more impetus. They had several half-chances but seemed to lack a focal point up top. But Silva clearly sensed blood, and gestured for his players to go for a winner.

The Cottagers thought they had managed to do just that on 80 minutes, after a fantastic counter-attack led by two substitutes, Willian and Cairney, and finished off by another, Bobby Decordova-Reid with a back-post header. Suddenly, Anfield was silenced.

Klopp pulled his woolly snood up over his eyes by this point as Liverpool contrived to seemingly chuck away points. But he was soon left in awe glancing over towards the Kop, which was sent into bedlam after two goals in as many minutes turned the game on its head once more.

First, with almost his first kick off the football, Japan captain Wataru Endo pulled Liverpool level with a deft, side-footed finish from the edge of the box. Less than two minutes later, Alexander-Arnold drove home Kostas Tsimikas’ header to win the match.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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