Liverpool stay in Premier League title race after beating Fulham
Liverpool claimed a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage to secure three crucial points and stay in the race for the Premier League title. Jurgen Klopp's men stayed strong after dropping points in their last two Premier League games. Fulham equalized after Trent Alexander-Arnold scored in the 32nd minute. However, two second-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota helped the Reds.
A three-way title race
After 33 matches, the Reds have moved back to second with 74 points (W22 D8 L3). Liverpool have the same points as current league leaders Arsenal but an inferior goal difference keeps them apart. Liverpool's goal difference is +43 compared to Arsenal's +51. Meanwhile, Manchester City are third with 73 points. They have a game in hand (32 matches). City's goal difference is +44.
Here are the match stats
Visitors Liverpool made 14 attempts and had seven shots on target. Fulham made 12 attempts with five shots on target. The Reds dominated ball possession (61%) and had an 86% pass accuracy from 647 passes.
How did the match pan out?
Alexander-Arnold, who made a first league start in more than two months, curled a fabulous first-half free-kick into the top corner to put Liverpool ahead. Timothy Castagne equalized before half-time. Gravenberch's 20-yard effort flew in off the post to see Liverpool go ahead. Jota's accurate low finish past Bernd Leno from Cody Gakpo's through ball helped the Reds score another.
Jota clocks these scoring feats
Playing his 164th Premier League match, former Wolves forward Jota scored his 57th goal. He also owns 17 assists. Jota now owns 10 league goals this season. Overall, he has 15 goals across competitions. In 145 matches for the Reds, Jota owns 56 goals. As per Squawka, Jota has now scored 100 goals in English football across all competitions, including 44 for Wolves.
15th Premier League goal for Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold scored his sixth direct freekick for Liverpool in the Premier League. Only Steven Gerrard (7) and Jamie Redknapp (8) own more. In 221 Premier League games, Alexander-Arnold has 15 goals and 58 assists. Overall, the England defender has scored 19 goals in 305 appearances for the club (A79).
Unique record for the Reds
As per Opta, Gravenberch's goal, assisted by Harvey Elliott, was the first time Liverpool had a Premier League goal both scored and assisted by players aged 21 or younger since November 2014 versus Chelsea (Emre Can assisted by Raheem Sterling).
Seven wins in their last nine away league games
Liverpool have won seven of their last nine away league games (D1 L1). Fulham suffered their 16th defeat of the season. They have already equalled the number of defeats suffered in the previous Premier League campaign. Fulham have won one of their last 12 league meetings against Liverpool (D2 L9). Liverpool haven't kept a clean sheet in nine successive league games at Craven Cottage.
