Trent Alexander-Arnold capped a crazy comeback win at Anfield, while 10-man Chelsea held on to win
Things do not always have to go perfectly to create perfection as Liverpool found out, maintaining their 100% home record in a seven-goal thriller against Fulham. Trent Alexander-Arnold, albeit via Bernd Leno’s back, and Alexis Mac Allister scored two incredible goals from a combined distance of 55 yards to twice put Liverpool into the lead.
But Fulham repeatedly fought back, netting through Harry Wilson, Kenny Tete and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, all from close range, before Wataru Endo and Alexander-Arnold lifted Anfield into delirium.
Mac Allister is, in theory, Liverpool’s deepest lying midfielder but he offers far more in that role than others in the league. He is more-suited to an attacking position and Jürgen Klopp is happy to see him go forward. The Argentinian was lurking when a throw-in was headed into his path by Raúl Jiménez; a less confident player might have taken a touch with the ball bouncing before passing it on but Mac Allister unleashed a vicious shot that kept rising until it hit the top corner. There was a split second of silence before the roar as everyone inside Anfield was amazed by what they had witnessed.
Leno’s earlier injury meant a total of nine minutes were added on in the first half. In the third of those Jiménez found a more productive use for a flick-on and nodded a corner into Tete’s path. The Dutch right-back, playing his first game since mid-September, controlled the ball but it seemed to get away from, making Kelleher think he could claim it, only to see Tete’s outstretched right leg divert the ball in. Liverpool thought they had been saved by the assistant referee’s flag but VAR confirmed there was no illegality, allowing a belated second celebration from the away end.
Like west London buses! Enzo Fernández scores his first and second league goals in Chelsea colours, this second a coolly-taken spot-kick to give his side the cushion they require with 10 men.
Brighton thought they’ve got a late penalty at Chelsea but VAR intervened and it wasn’t given.
Just when it seemed to be going so smoothly for Chelsea. Brighton pulled one back in it thanks to Facundo Buonanotte! But they failed to take advantage from the red card, and lost all opportunities to level the game up.
Chelsea fired the 2nd goal from Colwill who made it two for Pochettino’s posse. Are Brighton once again suffering from a European hangover this season? Few expected this scoreline after 20 minutes.
Full time: Liverpool 4-3 Fulham.
If anyone can explain that football match for me, that’d be great. Liverpool come through a colossal challenge and somehow emerge as conquerors of a spirited Fulham side. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the hero.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game by numbers vs. Fulham:
102 touches
81% pass accuracy
66/81 passes completed
8 long balls completed
3 ground duels won
2/3 dribbles completed
2 key passes
1 goal
What is it with Chelsea and captains getting sent off? After Reece James last week, this time it’s Conor Gallagher who gets his marching orders while donning the armband. Two silly bookings and he’s offski, the second a needless slide on former Chelsea lad Billy Gilmour.
Full time scores
We can finally summarise! Here’s how the four 2pm games finished:
- Bournemouth 2-2 Aston Villa
- Chelsea 3-2 Brighton
- Liverpool 4-3 Fulham
- West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace
Enzo Fernández! His first Premier League goal for Chelsea is a precious one for Mauricio Pochettino, after Benoît Badiashile kept it alive and hooked it back into play.
Odsonne Édouard cancels out West Ham’s early lead against Crystal Palace
There are some games in which, you suspect, the two managers could have shaken hands on a draw before kick-off and nobody would much have minded.
From the moment Odsonne Édouard levelled eight minutes after half time, this felt sure to finish level, and all that was left was to go through the motions so as to fulfil the contract to provide 90 minutes for the Sky cameras.
The growing number of empty seats on a dank, raw afternoon in east London suggested few who had paid for tickets felt a similar obligation.
