(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Liverpool - Fulham

The first game of December means the beginning of the busiest period of a season for Liverpool, which will culminate in either an FA Cup trip in the third round away to Arsenal, or a League Cup semi-final, if they are to reach that. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge before then, maybe a bit of snow on top as well, given the weather we've had over the last 24 hours on Merseyside. But it all starts today against Fulham, and Liverpool, with this wonderful home record, will want to maintain it and to really get going into this busy period in a good run of form. Let's take a check on the Liverpool side, we knew once again there would be heavy rotation after the win in the Europa League in midweek. Kevin Keller, of course, significantly continues in goal in place of the injured Alisson, but the likes of Van Dijk, Gravenberg, Soboslai and McAllister all return, as too does Darwin Nunez sporting a new haircut today. Three changes for Fulham today, Joao Paulinha returns in the middle of midfield from suspension, Kenny Tete at full-back, and former Liverpool man Harry Wilson comes in on the left side for the veteran William McAllister. Lovely touch by Darwin Nunez. Soboslai, free-kick Liverpool. Interesting one here, the likes of Soboslai, possibly fancies it, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Dominic Soboslai is organising the wall, Alexander-Arnold is coming from a very, very wide angle to get that on target if he's gonna go for goal, which he is! Oh, absolutely sensational! Inch perfect from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Who scores for the second Premier League game running, and that's even better than the one last week. Well, as deadball situations go, there's none better at Trent Alexander-Arnold to deliver it. And you can have as many goalkeepers in there as you can possibly have with sound mind, I don't think this has got anything to do with the fact that that is just excellent. It's sensational. There's a train of thought that this might go down as an own goal. It's a bit short for Salah. Well, won by Anthony Robinson, Pereira, Iwobi. He's coming inside, he's got Robinson down the line, he can deliver a smart ball, and does, and scores! It's Harry Wilson against his former team. A beautiful little stab finish. And Fulham with their first attacker level. Joel Matip gets dragged out of the middle, and they don't do enough to stop the cross, and certainly when the ball comes in, Wilson gets ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold. And from that distance, a little topo on target, asks questions of the goalkeeper and Keller, unfortunately for him it goes through his legs. That's Alexander-Arnold, a slip by Robinson allows Salah some space. And Salah's ball, and Gravenberg, and he heads it down at Tete. Just a little disjointed at times from Liverpool, having been so fluent earlier on. Fulham's goal has just knocked them out of the stride somewhat. Here's McAllister. It's incredible, what a strike by Alexi McAllister! Took aim, and back top corner. Well, again, we've seen two phenomenal strikes from two world-class players, and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexi McAllister. Again, you've got to feel a little bit for Berndt Leno, he's hit that bang on the head, but there's no way he's stopping this. But it's such a well-hit shot, and the accuracy is such that Berndt Leno absolutely no chance, the swerve and the dip has always taken it away from the goalkeeper. It's an invitation to go and smash it, and smash it he does into the top corner does McAllister. Now Liverpool have to be careful, because this is Pereira, Raul Jimenez, and across comes Kostas Simicas, it's another corner. Well, Liverpool were in a good position defensively there, they had plenty of bodies back, it never looked as if Fulham were gonna catch them on that small counter-attack. Pereira with the corner, and it's Raul Jimenez, and stabbed in by Tete. Liverpool caught Cole from the corner, but it's not gonna count, the flag's up. Tete was very, very advanced, Harry Wilson thinks this is gonna count. Tete looks at Richard West. We might be having an overturn here, it's very, very tight, but you can see Darwin Nunes there. There you go. Tete can celebrate, and Fulham are back in it again. Soboslai, Salah, Darwin Nunes, Salah! Saved by the goalkeeper, miscued from Wilson. Simicas, Luis Diaz, Liverpool go again, and go with Darwin Nunes. He tries to turn but slips. Well, right now it feels like a game without much structure. Tete, Alexander-Arnold's header, and Soboslai with a great little touch. Two Fulham players closed in, and now Salah, and it's three against three. Nunes to the right, Salah through the middle, this is Nunes! Well, the crossbar is still rattling. He was almost sliding as he hit the ball, he was trying desperately to turn it home. Soboslai for Salah, and Nunes. Soboslai will continue his run, Rheem is coming, Soboslai will get there. And the cross is for Salah, and Nunes! Well, they worked it quite brilliantly, Liverpool, and Darwin Nunes will look to the heavens. And again, a pass that was aimed forward to break the lines, doesn't get through the first block. Kearney. De Cordova goes on the outside, Jimenez waits in the middle, the cross is very, very deep. Willian will pick up the pieces. And lovely touch, and Kearney! And it's De Cordova, Reid! And Fulham have scored. And that's always been the threat, they've caught Liverpool again. It was a very clever, incisive mood. And Kearney's ball is turned home by the other substitute, and Liverpool haven't got much time to rescue this one. Well, Matt, absolutely body blow there, but from Liverpool's point of view it's a well-worked goal by Fulham, all credit to Willian down this left-hand side. Lovely little looped ball, it's an inviting ball to go and head it. They have to find quality, they've got seven minutes plus stoppage time, so you could say ten, eleven minutes, maybe twelve. Now Joe Gomez, it's Simicas, it's Alexander-Arnold, it's Endo! Oh-ho, it could have gone anywhere, but it goes wide. That would have been some first touch. Free-header! Oh, Salah with the follow-up. Just had to meet it instinctively first time, and couldn't find the target. Maybe that will tell you the story of Liverpool's day, when he can't take that chance. The clock starting to move very fast now for Liverpool. A minute, so he'll be flashing by. Now Salah, he's going the other way, and Endo! Well, it's another outstanding finish, and Wataru Endo has rescued Liverpool from the bench. It's another master strike of a substitution from Jurgen Klopp, and it's the Japanese international captain who steps forward for Liverpool when they need a saviour. Endo, anticipating exactly where it's going to be, strides forward onto the edge of the box, Leno has absolutely no chances. Full stretch there, wonderful strike from the little Japanese player. Here he goes again, Wataru Endo, leaves it for Gakpo. Gakpo goes on! It's Nunez, and arriving is Simicas, now Alexander-Arnold... Oh, he's scored! Would you believe it? It's Liverpool again, who can just find saviour from any single position, from any single scoreline. 3-2, down with minutes to go, first Endo, now Alexander-Arnold, two goals in two minutes, and Liverpool lead. Well, this game is absolutely everything. It starts with the move from Cody Gakpo, and you think, well, he's not got too many options, have the shot, and he has the shot, and then fill him up, not quite set after that, and they're never really ready to make the block. But still got a heck of a lot to do as trainer Alexander-Arnold. How do they do it? Time and time again. The new Mr Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is the hero of Anfield today, finding salvation in a moment where it looked all was lost. Liverpool 4-3.