Liverpool Return to Form with Convincing 3-1 Win Over Fulham
Well that was a change for the better wasn’t it. Not only did Liverpool get back to winning ways in the premier league they scored goals from open play with an emphasis on the plural! It had that feeling early doors of the standard, slow and stale build up that’s become the staple before a bit of magic and madness saw it level of at half-time. The second half brought the three points and the Martian could even have been more as the reds kept their faint title hopes alive. We look at the lessons learned from the Super Sunday victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage with only five to go for Jurgen Klopp and a derby on the horizon.
⚽ GOAL: Trent Alexander-Arnold scores a beauty from a free kick!
⚪ Fulham 0-1 Liverpool 🔴
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) April 21, 2024
Trent Just Majestic
He was the best player for us by far in Atalanta on Thursday and the hopes pretty much extinguished with his energy in that one. Against Fulham, the Scouser in the team was man of the match by some distance and it didn’t surprise when the magic came. For some reason, Harvey Elliott was allowed to take the first direct one, who then served up a pea roller but sense prevailed. A bit further out and perfectly struck and as he said post match with his technique the power takes care of itself. Everything good pretty much went through him and you feel for the rest of the season that’s how it needs to stay. Just hand him a blank contract on the coach home.
🇳🇱 Cody Gakpo was brilliant for #LFC today while he was on the pitch:
• Won the most duels (7)
• Created the most chances (3)
• Completed the most dribbles (3)
• Made the most recoveries (10)Got himself an assist as well. Been in good form… pic.twitter.com/iPYRwH1HXU
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) April 21, 2024
Gamble Pays Off
There was more than a few raised eyebrows when that team was announced (having been leaked by all and sundry a few hours earlier) and some had written the script already. When it went 1-1 at the end of the first half, one scroll of social media told you that the knives had been sharpened somewhat. With no Salah, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai or Nunez and a surprise midfield, anything other than a win would have seen criticism. The second half saw a wake-up from everyone including the back-up cast and there was praise to go round for many. Let’s not forget the manager and his decision making either.
🇯🇵 Wataru Endo played a lot better today.
• Made the most recoveries in midfield (7)
• Won the most duels in midfield (6)
• Completed 91% of his passes (70/77)
• Completed 2/2 dribbles
• Made 2 clearancesMade some really good line breaking… pic.twitter.com/De79aPp8L3
— AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) April 21, 2024
One Springboard, One Standard Hopefully
Two goals from open play. Christ that felt good. They were very different and the players that scored them have had very different seasons, but hopefully they can use them in similar ways. Ryan Gravenberch has been the forgotten man at Anfield and there were links with Turkey this weekend. Up until the goal, he could easily have been taken off but his strike from Elliott’s pass was top class. Let’s hope it’s some sort of springboard. On the other side, it was a standard Jota performance of not playing brilliantly and making it 3-1 to the reds. Both needed it for different reasons, but it’s Jota who’ll keep his place on Wednesday.