Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged his team to refocus on the basics after a 3-2 loss at Fulham on Sunday ended their 26-match unbeaten Premier League run.
Despite the defeat, Liverpool remains in a commanding position for a record-equalling 20th top-flight title, holding an 11-point lead over second-place Arsenal with just seven games left. However, the loss at Craven Cottage marks their third defeat in four matches, following their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain and a loss to Newcastle in the League Cup final.
Fulham struck three times in just 14 minutes during the first half, with Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi, and Rodrigo Muniz capitalizing on a series of defensive mistakes after Alexis Mac Allister’s stunning strike had given Liverpool the lead. Luis Diaz pulled one back for the Reds in the second half, but their comeback attempt fell short.
“It wasn’t 45 minutes of disaster, but the errors we made weren’t something we’re used to,” Slot commented. “It disappointed us all—players and fans alike. If you make mistakes, quality sides like Fulham will punish you.”
Slot acknowledged his side’s second-half efforts, saying, “We made chances and could have made up for it, but we simply ran out of time. The last 25 minutes showed we could have scored a third.”
Liverpool’s early exit from Europe means they now have a full week to prepare for their next Premier League match against West Ham on April 13. Slot hopes the lighter schedule will allow his players to recover and regain the form they showed earlier in the season.
“We have a whole week until West Ham,” Slot said. “Everyone needs to understand that our only way to win is through constant effort and 90 minutes of hard work.”
Even the normally reliable Virgil van Dijk was at fault in the defensive lapse that led to Fulham’s third goal, as he was outmuscled by Muniz. “It was a very poor first half in terms of the goals we conceded,” said the Liverpool captain. “It was so unnecessary, and once you’re down 3-1, it’s a very tough battle.”
Despite Liverpool’s struggles, Fulham’s victory is a major boost to their own ambitions for European football next season. The win lifts the Cottagers to eighth place, just outside the top five, which will almost certainly secure a Champions League spot for the 2025/26 season.
“It was a great three points for us, and I believe we deserved it,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva. “After Mac Allister’s goal, we had to stay strong, be smart, and make some tactical fouls. The team’s reaction was fantastic.”
