Liverpool remains on course for the Premier League title despite falling to defeat at Fulham.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring at Craven Cottage with a spectacular goal from distance, but Ryan Sessegnon leveled things for the hosts with a well-taken finish. Alex Iwobi put Fulham ahead as Andy Robertson was made to pay for conceding possession in a dangerous area, with Rodrigo Muniz making it 3-1 shortly after outmuscling Virgil van Dijk.
Luis Diaz emerged as a second-half substitute to halve the deficit but Liverpool could not find an equalizer, with Harvey Elliott coming closest to doing so as he crashed an effort off the crossbar.
The Reds have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions, having suffered two huge setbacks prior to the international break, exiting the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain before the loss to Newcastle, leaving their hopes of a potential treble in tatters.
However, the league title has looked inevitable for Liverpool for some time now. Ahead of the weekend, a maximum of 13 points was needed in order to be confirmed as champions following the Merseyside derby win over Everton last week.
That total was reduced to 11 when Arsenal was held to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday, with Mikel Arteta’s team selection perhaps telling all as he rested a number of his bigger names ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
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That total will stay the same after today’s defeat, with the title still firmly within Liverpool’s sight, although the Reds would prefer to get things wrapped up sooner rather than later.
As things stand, if Liverpool and Arsenal win all of their games before they meet at Anfield on May 11, the Reds will be confirmed as champions when they face Chelsea on May 4.
They could of course wrap things up earlier if the Gunners continue to drop points. The earliest they can now confirm the title is April 20 when they travel to Leicester City – that’s if Arsenal lose against Brentford and Ipswich, which you’d have to say looks unlikely.
Liverpool’s remaining seven league fixtures: West Ham (h), Leicester (a), Tottenham (h), Chelsea (a), Arsenal (h), Brighton (a), Crystal Palace (h)
Arsenal’s remaining seven league fixtures: Brentford (h), Ipswich (a), Crystal Palace (h), Bournemouth (h), Liverpool (a), Newcastle (h), Southampton (a)
