Liverpool came to this game after going through a complicated streak. According to the information we have, the team of Arne Slot was eliminated from the Champions League by the PSG in a criminal round on March 11, 2025, after a 1-1 draw on the global scoreboard. In addition, the team suffered a defeat at the end of the Carabao Cup (1-2 against the Newcastle) and was eliminated from the FA Cup by the Plymouth Argyle (1-0). In the Premier League, although they are leading 12 points of advantage over the Arsenal in the absence of 7 days, they have shown signs of fatigue and lack of rotation, as mentioned in previous analyses. The month of March was especially hard, with defeats in copier competitions and a European elimination that has affected the team’s morals. This match against the Fulham was an opportunity to regain confidence, but the result has been a new stumbling block.
Alignments and formations
Liverpool (4-3-3):
- Porter: Alisson Becker
- Defenses: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson
- Campers: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai
- Delanteros: Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Díaz
- Substitutes used: Darwin Nuñez (by Gakpo, min. 60), Diogo Jota (by Díaz, min. 60), Curtis Jones (by Szoboszlai, min. 75), Harvey Elliott (by Gravenberch, min. 75).
Fulham (4-2-3-1):
- Porter: Bernd Leno
- Defenses: Timothy Castagne, Issa Diop, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson
- Campers: João Palhinha, Saša Lukić, Alex Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, Willian
- Delantero: Raúl Jiménez
- Substitutes used: Bobby De Cordova-Reid (by Willian, min. 70), Tom Cairney (by Pereira, min. 80), Adama Traoré (by Jimenez, min. 85).
Summary of the party
The Fulham imposed 2-1 on Liverpool in a party where the locals took advantage of the Networks’ defensive mistakes and showed great tactical solidity. Liverpool dominated possession (62%) and generated more shots (15, with 5 to door), but its lack of effectiveness in attack and defensive disconnections were decisive.
- Minute 12: Fulham Gol (1-0). Andreas Pereira took advantage of an error in the Konaté balloon exit, stole the ball near the area and defined with a crossfire that Alisson could not stop.
- Minute 58: Gol del Liverpool (1-1). Mohamed Salah, after a great combination with Alexander-Arnold, shot from the edge of the area and scored a squad.
- Minute 72: Gol del Fulham (2-1). Raul Jimenez set up an accurate Antonee Robinson center after a córner, overcoming Van Dijk in the jump. Alisson played the ball, but he couldn’t help the goal.
- Liverpool pressed in the final minutes, but Leno made several key stops, and the Fulham defended with nails and teeth to ensure victory.
Players scores
Liverpool:
- Alisson Becker (7/10): He made several important stops, but could not stop the Fulham goals.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (6.5/10): He attended Salah’s goal with a great pass, but suffered defensively against Willian.
- Ibrahima Konaté (5/10): He made a serious mistake in the first goal and was imprecise at several times.
- Virgil van Dijk (5.5/10): He lost the mark on Jimenez’s second goal and did not show his usual leadership.
- Andy Robertson (6/10): Active in attack, but left spaces in defense that the Fulham exploited.
- Ryan Gravenberch (5.5/10): Slow in recovery and overcome in midfield by Palhinha.
- Alexis Mac Allister (6/10): He tried to connect the game, but he lacked precision in the key passes.
- Dominik Szoboszlai (5/10): Very shut down, no match incidence.
- Mohamed Salah (8/10): He scored a bargain and was the most dangerous one in Liverpool. Team MVP.
- Cody Gakpo (5/10): Unbiased and risk-free. Replaced at minute 60.
- Luis Díaz (5.5/10): He tried to overflow, but did not succeed in front of Castagne.
- Substitutes:
- Darwin Núñez (6/10): He brought some danger, but failed a clear occasion.
- Diogo Jota (6/10): He tried to generate, but had no clear opportunities.
- Curtis Jones (5.5/10): He entered to give freshness, but he made no difference.
- Harvey Elliott (6/10): He had a shot that Leno stopped.
Fulham:
- Bernd Leno (8.5/10): MVP of the party. He made several key stops, especially in the final minutes, to ensure victory.
- Timothy Castagne (7.5/10): Solid in defense against Díaz and Salah.
- Issa Diop (7/10): Sign in the air game.
- Calvin Bassey (7/10): He well complemented Diop on the rope.
- Antonee Robinson (8/10): Great assistance in the second goal and very active by the band.
- João Palhinha (8/10): He dominated the midfield, recovering balls and cutting the Liverpool game.
- Saša Lukić (7/10): Balanced the midfield.
- Alex Iwobi (7/10): Very participatory, creating danger.
- Andreas Pereira (8/10): He marked the first goal and was a constant headache for the defense of Liverpool.
- Willian (7/10): He made Alexander-Arnold suffer with his mobility.
- Raúl Jiménez (7.5/10): He scored the goal of victory with a big head.
- Substitutes:
- Bobby De Cordova-Reid (6.5/10): Provided defensive work.
- Tom Cairney (6/10): He entered to control the ball.
- Adama Traoré (6/10): It ran a lot, but without clear incidence.
Technical and tactical analysis
Liverpool:
Liverpool went out to the camp with its classic 4-3-3, trying to dominate possession and attack by the bands with Salah and Díaz. However, the team avoided clear signs of fatigue, a problem that had already been mentioned in previous analyses: key players (such as Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch) have accumulated more than 3,000 minutes this season, partly due to the lack of Slot rotation. This was noted in the intensity of the pressure and slowness to replenish after losing the ball.
- Attack: Liverpool generated opportunities, but its lack of effectiveness was evident. Salah was the only one who showed constant danger, while Gakpo and Díaz were not fine. The changes in Núñez and Jota sought freshness, but they were not enough to break the Fulham defense.
- Defense: The defensive line was uncoordinated. Konaté made a serious mistake in the first goal, and Van Dijk did not show his usual solidity, losing the air duel with Jimenez on the second goal. The sides, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, went up a lot, but left spaces that the Fulham took advantage of with rapid transitions.
- Midfield: The Gravenberch-Mac Allister-Szoboszlai trio was overcome by Palhinha and Lukić. The lack of energy in the midfield allowed the Fulham to control the center of the field and leave quickly in transitions.
Fulham:
Marco Silva’s team opted for a solid 4-2-3-1, with Palhinha and Lukić as the pillars in the midfield, ready to interrupt Liverpool’s moves. His strategy was quite clear: defending in a middle block, closing the spaces and throwing fast contragolpes, taking advantage of the speed of Willian, Iwobi and Robinson.
- Attack: The Fulham was lethal on its opportunities. Pereira took advantage of Konaté’s error to open the scoreboard, and Jimenez’s goal came from a well-runned ball game. In addition, they generated constant danger with rapid transitions led by Iwobi and Willian.
- Defense: Diop-Bassey was solid, and Leno had a star performance. The Fulham defended with order and took advantage of Liverpool’s mistakes to recover the ball in dangerous areas.
- Middlefield: Palhinha was a wall, winning duels and cutting the Liverpool game. Pereira, as a midpoint, was key to connecting with attackers and generating danger.
Party Poles
- Corner not asked Liverpool: In the 89th minute, an Alexander-Arnold center was diverted by Bassey, but the referee decided to point out door looting instead of córner. The repetitions made it clear that the ball did touch the Fulham defender, which provoked strong protests by the Liverpool players. This decision could have altered the result of the party, as Liverpool was completely blown to the attack.
- Miss not pointed to Salah: In the 65th minute, Salah was shot down on the edge of the area by Castagne in a move that could have been dangerous. The referee did not point out any fault, and the VAR did not intervene, which unleashed the frustration of the Liverpool players.
- Gestos of the referee: According to some witnesses, the main referee made a gesture to Salah asking him to shut up after the córner protests he did not ask. This reminds us of what happened to Raphinha and the linier in the game against the Betis. This situation further exacerbated the Liverpool players.
Statements by players and trainers
Arne Slot ( Liverpool trainer):
“I am not going to make excuses, but it is evident that the team is tired. We’ve played many games with the same players, and that’s noticed. Today we make mistakes that we cannot afford. The referee didn’t help us with some decisions, like the end córner, but we can’t blame that. We have to be more effective and stronger back. Now it’s time to raise your head and keep fighting for the Premier League. ”
Mohamed Salah ( Liverpool Player):
“It’s a frustrating day. We create opportunities, but we don’t take advantage of them. They marked in their key moments, and we didn’t. Arbitral decisions were not in our favour, but we can’t stay on that. We have to keep working, because we’re still in a good position in the league. ”
Marco Silva (Fulham trainer):
“I am very proud of my players. We knew that Liverpool is a very strong team, but we posed the game intelligently. We defended well, we took advantage of our moments and Leno was fantastic. This result gives us great confidence for what comes. ”
Bernd Leno (Fulham MVP):
“It’s a great day for us. We knew Liverpool was going to squeeze a lot, but we stayed calm and defended as a team. I’m happy for the stops I made, but the merit is everyone’s. ”
Reactions in sports journals and social networks
Sports journals:
- The Guardian: “The Liverpool stumbles again and shows worrying signs of fatigue. Despite its advantage in the Premier League, this defeat against the Fulham, added to its elimination of the Champions League, doubts its ability to keep pace. Salah remains his lifeline, but the team needs more of its other key players. ”
- Marca (Spain): “The Liverpool de Slot deflates at the worst moment. European elimination and this defeat in Craven Cottage open questions about Dutch coach management. The Fulham, with a star Leno, took advantage of the mistakes of a team that seems exhausted. ”
- L’Equipe (France): “The Liverpool, which seemed unstoppable a few weeks ago, is in crisis. Slot’s lack of rotation has passed in turn, and players like Van Dijk and Szoboszlai are far below their level. The Fulham, with an impeccable tactical approach, gave the surprise. ”
Social networks:
- @LFCFanatic: “I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This team is exhausted, Slot has to rotate more. Konaté and Van Dijk, a disaster today. Only Salah is saved. #LFC #PremierLeague”
- @FulhamForever: “What victory! Leno is a wall, and Pereira and Jimenez were brilliant. We’ve hit the table against the leader. Big Fulham! #FFC”
- @FootyInsider: “The Liverpool loses 2-1 against the Fulham and shows its worst face. Is this the beginning of the end of your streak at the Premier? Fatigue and lack of rotation are killing the Slot team. #LFC”
- @BarçaLover: “The Liverpool is crumbling like us in the Classic. This shows that minutes management is key. Slot is burning his players. #PremierLeague”
- The social networks also filled with memes about the performance of Konaté and Van Dijk, with many fans comparing their error in the first goal with Liverpool’s historical flaws. In addition, the hashtag #SlotOut started to win traction, although many fans came out in defense of the coach, arguing that the lead in the league remains solid.
Extended Analysis of Liverpool’s Bad streak
Context of negative streak
Liverpool has lived a month of March and early April complicated. According to information available:
- Elimination in Champions League: On March 11, the PSG eliminated Liverpool in prison (4-1) after a 1-1 tie in the global. Despite a 1-0 win on the way thanks to a goal by Harvey Elliott, the team could not maintain the level in Anfield, and Ousmane Dembélé scored the goal that forced the extension. In the criminals, Donnarumma stopped the shots of Nuñez and Jones, leaving Liverpool out of Europe.
- Carabao Cup: Liverpool lost the final against the Newcastle (1-2) on March 16, in a match where the team showed lack of ideas in attack.
- FA Cup: The elimination before the Plymouth Argyle (1-0) in the fourth round was another blow, especially because Slot chose to align alternate players, which prevented the lack of confidence in their bench.
- Premier League: Although Liverpool has been a solid leader, its recent streak is not so dominant. Since February, they have packed several matches (Everton 2-2, Aston Villa 2-2, Nottingham Forest 1-1) and have now lost against the Fulham. This, added to the 6 points lost in its last 6 league games before this meeting, indicates a worrying draw.
Key factors of bad streak
- Fatigue and lack of rotation: As mentioned in previous analysis, Slot has trusted a small core of players (Salah, Van Dijk, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch), who have exceeded 3,000 minutes this season. This has led to a fall in physical and mental performance, especially in high-intensity matches like that of today against the Fulham.
- Lack of effectiveness in attack: Despite the 32 goals of Salah this season, other frontiers like Nuñez (7 goals), Díaz (13 goals) and Gakpo (16 goals) have not been consistent. Nowadays, Gakpo and Diaz barely generated danger, and Nuñez failed a clear occasion after entering.
- Defensive errors: Van Dijk and Konaté, which had been pillars in the first half of the season, have made unusual mistakes in recent weeks. Pereira’s goal was a gift from Konaté, and Van Dijk lost the air duel with Jiménez, something unusual in it.
- Psychological impact of European elimination: The defeat before the PSG seems to have affected the morals of the team. Liverpool had been a solid team mentally under Slot, but the elimination in Champions, combined with the defeats in the domestic cups, has generated doubts.
- Cure Calendar: Liverpool has faced a tight schedule, with 5 matches in 15 days in February, which has contributed to physical wear. Although the March international paraon may have given a break, the team has not recovered its best version.
Perspectives for the Premier League
The recent defeat of Liverpool to the Fulham (2-1) reveals the problems that the team has been facing in the last month: fatigue is noticed, there are errors in defense and lack of effectiveness in attack is evident. Bernd Leno stood out as the MVP of the party thanks to its crucial stops, while Salah was the only one that jumped in Liverpool. In addition, the arbitral decisions, such as the córner that was not requested, only added more frustration to a team that appears to be exhausted both physically and mentally. Although the advantage in the Premier League remains considerable, this bad streak (elimination in Champions, defeats in cups and stumbles in league) has generated concerns among fans and analysts. Slot has a great challenge ahead to recover the best version of your team and ensure the title that, despite all, remains within reach.
Recommendations for Slot
- Urgent Rotation: Slot should give rest to key players like Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch, using Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and other young people to relieve the load.
- Reinforce the defense: The Van Dijk-Konaté couple needs to recover their solidity. Slot could try other power stations like Joe Gomez to give them a break.
- Improve efficiency: The team needs Núñez, Díaz and Gakpo to take a step forward in attack. Salah can’t carry all the offensive weight.
- Psychological management: Slot must work on the team’s mentality to overcome the European elimination coup and recent defeats.
Conclusion
The recent defeat of Liverpool to the Fulham (2-1) reveals the problems that the team has been facing in the last month: fatigue is noticed, there are errors in defense and lack of effectiveness in attack is evident. Bernd Leno stood out as the MVP of the party thanks to its crucial stops, while Salah was the only one that jumped in Liverpool. In addition, the arbitral decisions, such as the córner that was not requested, only added more frustration to a team that appears to be exhausted both physically and mentally. Although the advantage in the Premier League remains considerable, this bad streak (elimination in Champions, defeats in cups and stumbles in league) has generated concerns among fans and analysts. Slot has a great challenge ahead to recover the best version of your team and ensure the title that, despite all, remains within reach.
