Liverpool return to Premier League action bidding to widen their margin at the top of the table, with Fulham the visitors to Anfield.
Arne Slot’s league leaders were granted a weekend off as Storm Darragh blew away the Merseyside derby last Saturday, but the side returned to action well, taking care of business in the Champions League to continue a perfect start in the competition. Confidence is high at the club, particularly after the return from injury of Alisson in goal. Victory here would take Liverpool at least six points clear overnight with a game in hand on their rivals.
Bidding to stop the hosts securing the three points are a Fulham team enjoying a relatively productive spell of their own. Just one defeat in their last six games has allowed Marco Silva’s men to climb into the top half, with a strong point and a battling performance against Arsenal last weekend showcasing their defensive strength. Can they similarly frustrate the title favourites on the road?
Follow all of the latest from Anfield in our live blog below:
Liverpool host Fulham in the Premier League
Arne Slot’s side are bidding to extend their lead at the top of the table
The visitors secured a draw against Arsenal last weekend and will hope for a similar performance
76’ – GOAL! Muniz flicks home Robinson’s cutback (LIV 1-2 FUL)
48’ – GOAL! Gakpo scores diving header from Salah cross (LIV 1-1 FUL)
17’ – RED CARD! Robertson sent off for clattering Wilson (LIV 0-1 FUL)
11’ – GOAL! Pereira hooks home Robinson’s cross to give Fulham shock lead (LIV 0-1 FUL)
Liverpool FC 1 – 2 Fulham FC
16:46 , Luke Baker
Sander Berge yellow carded for a foul and the free-kick is whipped into the box where Nunex gets his head to it but it goes harmlessly wide. That was a better chance than it seemed.
16:45 , Luke Baker
Juuuust wide from Harvey Elliott. The ball pinballs around in the box, Salah takes a swipe but his shot it blocked and it falls to Elliott. He cuts inside on his left foot and curls a shot towards the far corner but it’s agonisingly wide.
16:42 , Luke Baker
Double Liverpool sub as they try to get back in this game once more. Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold, who has been run ragged by Iwobi and Robinson all day, depart as Harvey Elliott and the returning Diogo Jota come on.
You wouldn’t bet against Liverpool scoring again in this clash. A big ask for Fulham coming up.
16:39 , Luke Baker
WOW! Liverpool have it all to do again as Fulham lead once more!
Robinson has been a diesel engine running up and down the left flank all day, he gets behind Alexander-Arnold again, Iwobit’s perfectly-weighted pass finds him on the byline and he cuts the ball back to the six-yard box where Rodrigo Muniz gets a flick into the far corner of the net as Alisson and Gomez both go for the ball.
It might have taken a nick off Gomez but it was great play by Fulham. Alisson has also taken a knock during the goal but appears to be ok to carry on
16:36 , Luke Baker
Latest from Rich Jolly at Anfield
Twenty minutes for Liverpool to find a winner. It has been a chaotic occasion so perhaps there is something appropriate in Arne Slot sending for Darwin Nunez. Slot himself has got a booking that means a touchline ban. He also altered shape again at half-time, to more of a back four. Gravenberch was in it, until Curtis Jones came off for Jarell Quansah and he is finally back in midfield again.
16:34 , Luke Baker
Diaz gets to the byline and his low ball across finds Salah, who dances to the left looking for space but his shot curls well over the bar. Could he have laid it off to Szoboszlai instead?
Gravenberch is back in midfield after those subs by the way
16:33 , Luke Baker
Liverpool’s turn for a double sub. Jones hobbles off and Cody Gakpo also exits as Jarell Quansah and Darwin Nunez come on
16:31 , Luke Baker
Wilson hammers a shot into the ankle of Jones from point-blank range. That hurt the England international but he hobbles away.
Double Fulham sub as Jimenez and Pereira come off with Rodrigo Muniz and Emile Smith Rowe entering the fray
16:29 , Luke Baker
One end to the other! From the Fulham corner, Liverpool flood forward in a four on two situation. Szoboszlai keeps bringing the ball forward and then slips in Salah to his left but the Egyptain’s shot is miles wide at the near post.
16:28 , Luke Baker
Fulham counter at pace as Jimenez feeds Pereira on the right but his cross almost runs out of play for a throw-in. Iwobi keeps it in and finds Lukic on the edge of the box, who sees his shot deflected well wide for a corner.
16:24 , Luke Baker
Robinson gets space down the left again as Alexander-Arnold is caught out once more and he fires a low ball across goal. Wilson is racing in but doesn’t seem to have time to react and the ball balloons off his leg, flying well wide. That was a chance, you know.
Fulham ahve calmed things down quite effectively over the past five minutes. Surely a Liverpool sub won’t be too far away.
16:21 , Luke Baker
A yellow card for Curtis Jones as he lunges at Iwobi, trying to win the ball back, but he catches his man. Arne Slot also booked for his portestations on the touchline and the Liverpool boss will now serve a one-game touchline ban.
There’s was no doubt it was a yellow card-worthy foul by the way…
Iwobi then bounces Alexander-Arnold off him and gets to the byline but his cutback is scrambled clear
16:19 , Luke Baker
Here’s the latest from Rich Jolly at Anfield.
A stirring start to the second half by Liverpool. They didn’t look like scoring before the break, but they tend to be more prolific after Arne Slot’s half-time words and Cody Gakpo has levelled. Now Liverpool have the momentum and a previously quiet Anfield is roused. Fulham may regret not doubling their lead when they were the superior side in the first half.
16:19 , Luke Baker
This game is still being played at 100mph and the crowd are really into this. Fulham will still want to slow things down you’d think, even though they’ve lost their lead.
Gomez charges on and goes for goal from outside the box! But a comfortable diving save for Leno. Gomez would ahve been an unlikely scorer given he’s neter precisely zero goals in his 275-match professional career for club and country.
16:17 , Luke Baker
Kenny Tete was injured in that collision with Gomez and there’s a huge lump on his upper shin. He tries to carry on but it’s no good – he’s subbed off with Timothy Castagne coming on as a direct replacement at right-back.
Ice pack incoming for Tete you would think.
16:14 , Luke Baker
Liverpool flowing now. They flood left and Gakpo cuts in before shooting goalwards but Leno down well to save.
Liverpool now appealing for a penalty as Gomez went down after colliding with a lunging Tete, who was trying to block Gakpo’s shot, but there’s nothing in that I don’t think. Tete was genuinely trying to block the shot and Gomez collided with him
16:10 , Luke Baker
That didn’t take long! Liverpool are level.
Salah curls a delightful ball into the back post from the left and Cody Gakpo arrives late to find the net with a diving header. Sublime.
VAR checks to see if Tete was fouled as the cross came in but the Fulham defender simply slipped and the goal stands. A 100th assist of his Liverpool career for Salah.
16:09 , Luke Baker
Early free-kick for Liverpool although Diop protests his innocence. A chance for the big boys to come up from the back and Alexander-Arnold curls in an inviting cross but Jimenez is back at full stretch to hook clear. Good defending by the Mexican striker.
16:07 , Luke Baker
Back underway at Anfield as 10-man Liverpool look to get back in this contest. A thrilling first half, this second 45 minutes could be a cracker.
Will Diogo Jota and/or Darwin Nunez be introduced soon?
15:53 , Luke Baker
What a first half of football – breathless, brilliant stuff. It’s Fulham who stunningly lead at Anfield after Andreas Pereira hooked in Antonee Robinson’s cross and Liverpool are down to 10 men after Andy Robertson was shown red for bringing down Harry Wilson. It could easily be 3-3 though given the chances flying about.
Are the Premier League leaders about to massively slip up?
15:51 , Luke Baker
Fulham counter with pace and Robinson again gets beyond Iwobi on the overlap before whipping ina cross but Wilson squirts it well over the bar on the half-volley.
15:50 , Luke Baker
Liverpool probing to end this first half and Gakpo whips an inviting ball into the box but Leno claims it confidently. Fulham eager to just get to the break.
15:47 , Luke Baker
Liverpool earn a corner but Alexander-Arnold’s cross went out of play before coming back in – a real waste. Fulham looked to have dealt with it anyway
15:45 , Luke Baker
This is still end-to-end stuff and you definitely feel there are more goals in this one. We’ll have six minutes of injury time to round out the first half.
15:42 , Luke Baker
This is better from Liverpool. Salah gets room down the left and lays the ball back for Szoboszlai to dink in towards Diaz. He’s got a lot of space around eight yards out but makes a mess of the header which flies well over. A warning sign for Fulham as we approach half-time.
15:40 , Luke Baker
Alexander-Arnold whips in a free-kick from the right and Van Dijk gets his head to it but it’s straight at Leno. The Dutchman couldn’t get a proper connection on that as he stretched his neck back
15:39 , Luke Baker
Iwobi gallops down the left and cuts inside but his shot is blocked by Alexander-Arnold. There’s been plenty of space in behind for Iwobi so far.
Cuenca then does well at the other end to stay wih Salah and nick the ball away
15:36 , Luke Baker
Liverpool win the corner and there’s a buzz of expectation around Anfield. But Alexander-Arnold’s cross runs harmlessly through to Robinson at the back post.
15:34 , Luke Baker
Bit of a scrap between Tete and Gomez that ends with both men getting a talking to from the referee. No yellow cards for once in this game..
15:32 , Luke Baker
Mo Salah has been almost non-existent in this game so far but it only takes one moment for the Egyptian to change a game.
But Fulham are still on top and a lovely, flowing attack sees Robinson cross low, the ball flicked to Wilson and only a brave Gomez block stops the shot on target.
15:29 , Luke Baker
Thoughts from Richard Jolly at Anfield
A rather ill-fated cameo for Andy Robertson, from the pain of Issa Diop’s first-minute challenge to getting the final touch on the Fulham goal and then a first-half red card. Liverpool are now playing 3-4-2, with Ryan Gravenberch operating as the middle of three centre-backs and Cody Gakpo and Trent Alexander-Arnold as wing-backs. Fulham are getting quite a bit of space on the break but, with three yellow cards already, this one might become 10 against 10.
15:27 , Luke Baker
Gakpo has dropped deeper as almost a left wing-back in the absence of Robertson. Nice run by Jimenez who gets to the byline down the right but Van Dijk scrambles back to block the cross.
Liverpool look vulnerable here… But Alisson claims the corner well and quickly releases Diaz on the left. Robinson cynically bundles the Colombian over and it’s a yellow card for Fulham’s left-back.
15:24 , Luke Baker
It’s all Fulham here. They win another corner and Liverpool can’t afford to go 2-0 down but they scramble it away. The Reds need to settle things down here.
Liverpool appear to have switched to a back three after Robertson’s sending off, although I imagine things will be quite fluid from here
15:22 , Luke Baker
1-0 down and down to 10 men. How will Liverpool turn this around?
First things first, they have a free-kick to deal with and Wilson curls it goalwards from 25 yards with Alisson at full stretch but it’s a fraction over the bar.
15:17 , Luke Baker
OH MY WORD! Thsi is carnage at Anfield – Andy Robertson has been sent off for Liverpool.
Robertson takes a heavy touch at the back, Wilson nips in on the edge of the area and Robertson then clatters him with an ugly lunge desperately trying to get the ball back. It’s a clear foul and the referee deems that there wasn’t sufficient defensive cover, so it’s a red card as well.
Although VAR will review… Was Harry Wilson offside when the ball was initially knocked towards him? A typically long wait and it’s onside, so Robertson’s red card is confirmed! This is huge
15:16 , Luke Baker
The latest thoughts from our man at Anfield, Richard Jolly:
Liverpool had kept clean sheets at Anfield against the champions of England, Spain and Germany. But Fulham have a certain potency and ended that sequence to extend their own scoring run. They have now found the net in 15 straight Premier League games. Andreas Pereira’s goal was an early reward for Marco Silva, who recalled him in place of Emile Smith Rowe. Pereira has also been booked in a busy start to the game for him.
15:13 , Luke Baker
Cat meet pigeons! Fulham lead at Anfield!
They spread the ball wide left ona speedy coutner-attack, Iwobi feeds Robinson on the overlap and he whips a cross to the back post where Andreas Pereira is at full stretch and hooks the ball goalwards on the volley. It’s on target anyway but a little deflection off Robertson’s knee helps it past Alisson.
Brilliant start for Fulham and that was a brilliant stretch by Pereira
15:10 , Luke Baker
Ex-Liverpool man Harry Wilson almost causes disaster as his backpass is short and Diaz nips in. But it’s brilliantly covering back by Diop who slides in and nicks the ball away at the last moment when Diaz was about to shoot.
Then at the other end, Alisson is quick off his line to smother a Wilson through-ball looking for Jimenez. Now Andreas Pereira becomes the third man yellow carded in the opening nine minutes as he catches Gravenberch. A frantic start!
Pereira is suspended for the next match with that yellow card.
15:08 , Luke Baker
Stunning ball from Alexander-Arnold, a 40-yard cross-field pinpoint pass to Gakpo ont the left wing. Nicely whipped in and Diaz tries an overhead kick but Cuenca gets his head there first to nod the ball behind for the corner.
Actually, Diaz has now been booked for a dangerous high foot instead
15:06 , Luke Baker
Fulham try a ball over the top for Wilson to chase to put pressure on Robertson. The Liverpool left-back has enough int he tank to shepherd it back to Alisson although didn’t look 100 per cent cofmortable.
The Reds settle in for a spell of possession, stroking the ball around at the back before Gakpo fires a ball into the feet of Diaz who is ruled offside, although replays suggest he was on.
15:04 , Luke Baker
Well, I said it was accidental but Diop has now been yellow carded for that tackle. Robertson’s injury didn’t help the optics. Robertson is back on his feet but moving gingerly. He’ll try to play on for now at least.
15:02 , Luke Baker
Liverpool immediately press Fulham hard and put pressure on their backline. Klopp-esque gegenpressing!
An early worry for the Reds, Issa Diop accidentally catches Andy Robertson on the kneecap and the Scot stays down. He’s being treated but looks in a lot of pain – this would be a big loss for Liverpool
15:01 , Luke Baker
And we’re off! Can Liverpool move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League?
14:58 , Luke Baker
The teams are out on the Anfield pitch and we’re nearly ready to rock and roll. You’ll Never Walk Alone echoing round the stadium currently.
14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, kick off at Anfield is not far away at all. Can Fulham frustrate Liverpool in the manner they did Arsenal last weekend? Marco Silva’s side had very little of the ball at Craven Cottage but managed to deny their visitors too many clear chances, conceding only from a corner. You suspect they may have it tougher on the road against an attacking side in slightly more fluent form in open play, but it’s clear that the visitors are capable of a result this afternoon.
14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Those two Sunday evening kick offs are an oddity that the Football Supporters Association aren’t at all happy about. Jamie Braidwood explains the scheduling pressures that are forcing alternative slots upon Premier League clubs and why we might just be seeing more and more:
Why are Chelsea v Brentford and Southampton v Tottenham kicking off at 7pm?
14:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Our focus will be on events at Anfield but there are some other intriguing tussles around the Premier League grounds this afternoon, headlined by Arsenal’s encounter with Everton. Here’s the full weekend schedule:
Saturday 14 December (3pm GMT unless noted)
Arsenal vs Everton
Liverpool vs Fulham
Newcastle vs Leicester
5.30pm Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Sunday 15 December
2pm Brighton vs Crystal Palace
4.30pm Manchester City vs Manchester United
7pm Chelsea vs Brentford
7pm Southampton vs Spurs
Monday 16 December
8pm Bournemouth vs West Ham
14:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Another west London manager disagrees with Marco Silva’s assessment of the Premier League leaders, with Thomas Frank naming a different club as the current class of the English top flight:
Brentford boss Thomas Frank names Chelsea the ‘best team in the Premier League’
14:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Marco Silva was rather complimentary of Liverpool and opposite number Arne Slot when asked about his opponents this week ahead of the Premier League clash.
“Firstly, they are the most consistent team in the league so far,” Silva said. “Really, really strong in any moment of the game, making life really difficult for any team that they play against.
“Great, in terms of the collective quality of the team, the impact of the manager, and, of course, the individual quality they have. I think everything together is the reason why they are on the top of the league.
“They’re achieving the best results, and the impact from Arne Slot has been top. the expectations were there, all the eyes were there on him and on the team, how they were going to react after a big personality, a big character left the club, and was so important for the club the last nine years.
“He showed his quality so far, the impact that he’s had in that football club, on the players as well. You can feel that they are all on the same page as a football club.”
14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A bench role for Darwin Nunez today, then. Liverpool are blessed with plenty of forward options but Arne Slot defended the Uruguyan striker’s contributions this season ahead of this game.
Arne Slot defends Darwin Nunez’s contribution but accepts his standards dipped
13:56 , Luke Baker
Alisson is back for Liverpool after injury, having made his return in the Champions League in midweek, while Joe Gomez is the man partnering Virgil van Dijk at centre-back in the continued absence of Ibrahima Konate.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz are the men alongside Mohamed Salah in the front three, although Darwin Nunez and fit-again Diogo Jota are brilliant bench options for Arne Slot if needed. Federico Chiesa is also on the bench as he tries to build up match fitness.
For Fulham, Jorge Cuenca starts alongside Issa Diop in the heart of defence with Calvin Bassey adding to Fulham’s absences. In-form Alex Iwobi continues on the wing with Raul Jimenez up top.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Diop, Cuenca, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez
13:50 , Luke Baker
The teams have been announced – here’s how they’ll line up at Anfield today.
13:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The team news will be with us shortly ahead of this 3pm Premier League kick off, with Arne Slot confirming yesterday that both Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa could be fit to feature.
Slot gives Liverpool fitness update on Jota and Chiesa
13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Marco Silva praised the work ethic in his Fulham side during their Premier League campaign so far this season.
Fulham are 10th in the table after 15 games, something head coach Silva attributes to the high standards at the club.
The Cottagers boss has been pleased with his side’s start to the season and they now face a tough test today at league leaders Liverpool.
“I don’t see football or success in football without hard work, that is the first thing,” Silva said.
“It’s been one of the reasons why everything has been going well the last three or four seasons. Everybody works really hard, it’s the demands from ourselves in the football club – they are high.
“If you work hard every single day, the standards and demands they are high, of course you are able to respond in this league, that is so tough and is so difficult with the best players and the best managers in the world and some of the best clubs too.
“The quality of the players, we work with them. Being able to keep a good platform inside, even if you have been losing some key players, but at the same time adding good players for our squad too.
“Everything together is giving us the chance to perform the way we’ve been performing and to be able until now – I know it’s the beginning of December with a lot of fights and big games ahead of us – but it has been really good to see the way the team is responding.”
13:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One of those to impress in Catalonia was Joe Gomez, who very nearly left Liverpool in the summer. Will he start again alongside Virgil van Dijk today?
Joe Gomez reveals how close he came to Liverpool exit after shining in new role
13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The midweek win over Girona marked a return to action for Alisson in the Liverpool goal, welcome news for Arne Slot. It leaves the Dutch manager with two excellent options between the sticks – but there’s a fair bit of uncertainty over both his goalkeepers’ futures. Richard Jolly explains:
Liverpool’s goalkeepers are the best in Europe. Strangely, there are doubts over both
10:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A very good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Fulham in the Premier League. Arne Slot’s league leaders enjoyed a Saturday off last weekend as the Merseyside derby was postponed, but will be back on the hunt as they look to widen their margin at the top of the table. But Fulham showed against Arsenal just how solid they can be defensively, and will hope to provide another twist in the title race.
Kick off is at 3pm GMT at Anfield.
