5 talking points as Liverpool stage dramatic comeback to edge Fulham in classic
Late goals from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold completed a famous comeback for Liverpool against Fulham on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp's side took the lead at Anfield through Alexander-Arnold before Harry Wilson equalised minutes later. Alexis Mac Allister then re-established Liverpool's advantage, but Kenny Tete made it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time to leave the game evenly poised.
Fulham thought they had secured a memorable win when Bobby De Cordova-Reid found the net in the 80th minute. Yet Endo and Alexander-Arnold both found the net to turn the game on its head. The result leaves Liverpool just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while Fulham sit eight points above the relegation zone.
Here are the main talking points from a thrilling afternoon at Anfield...
Salah's quest
Heading into Sunday's game, one of the big talking points was Mohamed Salah's bid to score his 200th Liverpool goal. Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285), Gordon Hodgson (241) and Billy Liddell (228) are the only men to have found the net more times for the club.
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Salah thought he had reached the landmark early on when Bernd Leno spilled Dominik Szoboszlai's long-range strike, allowing Luis Diaz to snatch the ball. It then squirmed to Salah for a tap in, but replays confirmed Diaz was standing in an offside position.
Time for change?
Bernd Leno was allowed to continue playing with a head injury (Getty Images)What did you think of Liverpool's performance against Fulham? Let us know in the comments below!
There was a controversial moment in build up to Salah's disallowed goal... and it had nothing to do with VAR. As Diaz challenged Leno for the ball, his knee clattered into the goalkeeper's head. Leno required lengthy treatment, with his head bandaged up.
Despite picking up a worrying injury, Leno was allowed to play on. He wasn't substituted at half-time either. The incident is likely to reignite the debate over whether Premier League players should be allowed to continue after suffering a blow to the head.
Wilson haunts Reds
Harry Wilson refused to celebrate his goal (Getty Images)The game burst into life in the 20th minute, when Alexander-Arnold's unstoppable free kick crashed into the underside of Leno's bar and dropped into the net. "My word what a strike," said former Liverpool star Stephen Warnock on commentary for BBC Radio 5 Live.
Warnock described Alexander-Arnold as "outstanding" and believes his free kick will be remembered as "one of the best" of this Premier League campaign. Although it's hard to disagree with the pundit, Liverpool's celebrations were muted just minutes later.
That's because Wilson, the Wales international who graduated from Liverpool's academy, got on the end of Antonee Robinson's cross to poke home the equaliser. The winger refused to celebrate in front of the Kop, but that didn't matter. The game was level.
Mac Allister's screamer
Alexis Mac Allister scored a stunning goal for the Reds (Getty Images)Mac Allister's first ever goal for Liverpool could well be remembered as his best, as he hit a bouncing ball into the top corner from around 25 yards out. Talk about accurate; talk about outrageous. Goal of the season? It's right up there with Alejandro Garnacho's bicycle kick for Manchester United against Everton.
Liverpool fans were looking forward to discussing those awesome strikes from Alexander-Arnold and Mac Allister at half-time, but Fulham had other ideas. The ball was flicked on from a corner into the path of Tete, who diverted it towards Caoimhin Kelleher.
The stand-in goalkeeper, who has replaced the injured Alisson, managed to get something on the ball... but not enough. He quickly turned around in desperation to try to stop the ball as it trickled across the line. Despite Liverpool's stunners, Fulham were level at the break.
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Dramatic conclusion
Trent Alexander-Arnold's late winner snatched the points for Liverpool (Getty Images)The action continued after the interval. Nunez, who was sporting a new braided hairstyle, almost made it 3-2 when he smashed the crossbar from around nine yards out. The Uruguayan had another golden opportunity moments later, but he fluffed his lines.
Fulham took advantage of Nunez's wastefulness by scoring 10 minutes from time. Willian played the ball to Tom Cairney, who chipped a cross into the six-yard box for De Cordova-Reid to attack. It seemed as if that header would be the final act of a superb game.
But then came the staggering finale. Endo made it 3-3 by curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. Alexander-Arnold's winner was just as good, smashing the ball home from just inside the 18-yard area. It's hard to remember four better goals scored by a team in a Premier League match. A stupendous occasion.
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