Fulham 3-2 Liverpool: Why Reds’ second Premier League loss offers warning signs for next season

It will not matter much in the big schedule of this season, but the second defeat of Liverpool from their Premier League campaign came up with warning signals for what will certainly be the title defense of next season. Fulham was the victors of Craven Cottage, who destroyed an early backlog with three goals in the first half before they held up while the League leaders of Arne Slot besieged early on Bernd Leno’s goal.

During their eight years in advance for the biggest prizes, the fullbacks of Liverpool are the engine that fired the rest of the team on the danger zone. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson seemed impossible to make the field broad for defenses, ball progress byps who could then make an almighty contribution in the last third part. In a very different way than Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, the right and left side were one of the great defensive combinations in the Premier League history.

With Alexander-Arnold expects to leave for Real Madrid in the summer and currently set aside with an ankle problem, this is a link that has little time together. About the proof of their defeat in West London, this may not only be the right rear lock where improvements are needed. For everything that Robertson stays a Tyro that goes onto the field, they are defensive contributions that have been concerned for a while. That was clarified in a clumsy way with the aim that Fulham led, a lax pass over his own box that Alex Iwobi found in the room to make a shot. The first effort may have been blocked, but Liverpool never managed to climb the ball and the former Arsenal -man had fired Fulham Vooruit.

The defense of Liverpool had not covered itself in Glorie for the equalizer of Fulham. Robertson was certainly slowing down for Andreas Pereira when he delivered the cross, but the real problems were opposite him. Ibrahima Konate spent more time looking at Curtis Jones than the ball, his fear somewhat justified when he missed the delivery and saw the Balkanon of his auxiliary Fullback. Ryan Sessegnon was present to go home.

There was still enough time for the last man in the rear four to be defeated. Virgil van Dijk really should not have had a problem with a high ball, but instead he allowed Rodrigo Muniz to win the duel at the landing point, Fulham’s no. 9 flicken the ball brilliantly with his first touch and drilling by Coimhin Kelleher’s legs with his third.

The second half Liverpool Rally, the introduction of Conor Bradley on the right through the second half, which brought an immediate impact, his loading run by central areas that Luis Diaz stood up for the goal that the shortage had halved. Harvey Elliott came closest to the same of a shot against the bar on the ground where he is taunted before his departure as a teenager. Fulham, however, held quite impressively, Calvin Bassey Imperious when the Cottagers took a considerable step to the European places.

Reports only postpone the inevitable for Slot. It is still only 11 points from seven games, many favorable luminaires to acquire them. Without a healthy advantage, however, it is difficult not to wonder if the defense of Liverpool is ready to the table at the top. If Bradley has to be the replacement for Alexander-Arnold, then a more robust left left than Robertson is required. Van Dijk, from contract at the end of the season, is still one of the best centerbacks in the world, but this season has seen a little moments such as those of Muniz. Is Konate ready (and, in view of his deal in 2026, willing to perform) to act when the club captain starts refusing?

These are good problems to have, the more if you have the rest of this season to transfer them. However, these are problems that should be tackled if Liverpool must have the leeway in 12 months than now.