Liverpool suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday, falling 3-2 to Fulham at Craven Cottage. While the result does little to derail their title charge, it highlighted defensive vulnerabilities that could pose challenges in their title defense next season.
Liverpool started brightly, taking an early lead through Alexis Mac Allister. However, a disastrous 14-minute defensive collapse in the first half allowed Fulham to score three times. Ryan Sessegnon equalized with a stunning volley, followed by goals from Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz. Despite a spirited second-half response, including Luis Díaz’s goal from Conor Bradley’s assist and Harvey Elliott hitting the crossbar, Liverpool could not find an equalizer. Fulham held firm, with Calvin Bassey delivering a standout defensive performance.
Liverpool’s fullbacks have been central to their success in recent years, but cracks are beginning to show. Andrew Robertson’s defensive lapses were glaring, particularly when his misplaced pass led to Iwobi’s goal. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté struggled with positioning and aerial duels, with Muniz capitalizing on van Dijk’s error for Fulham’s third goal.
The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, sidelined with an ankle injury and expected to leave for Real Madrid in the summer, has left Liverpool experimenting at right back. Conor Bradley impressed in his cameo but raises questions about whether he can fill Alexander-Arnold’s shoes long-term. Similarly, Robertson’s defensive reliability is under scrutiny, suggesting Liverpool may need reinforcements at left back.
While Liverpool remain 11 points clear at the top of the table with seven games left, their defensive frailties could become a significant issue next season. Van Dijk’s occasional lapses and Konaté’s inconsistency raise concerns about leadership at the back as Van Dijk approaches the end of his contract. If Bradley steps into Alexander-Arnold’s role, Liverpool may need a more defensively solid left back to balance the backline.
For Fulham, this victory boosts their hopes of European qualification. They moved up to eighth place, just three points behind fifth-placed Manchester City. With standout performances from players like Bassey and Muniz, Marco Silva’s side has shown they can compete against top teams.
Liverpool still need just 11 points from their remaining matches to secure the title. However, this defeat serves as a reminder that maintaining dominance will require addressing key defensive issues in the summer transfer window. For now, they remain firmly on course for Premier League glory but with plenty to ponder for next season.