Liverpool 4-3 Fulham: Player ratings as Alexander-Arnold settles 7-goal spectacle

Liverpool edged Fulham in a bonkers 4-3 Premier League thriller at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp's hosts twice took the lead in the first half only for Fulham to equalise each time. Fulham went ahead for the first time in the contest with ten minutes remaining only, for Liverpool to claw their way back in front.

Propelled by four stunning goals, the Reds moved into second place and maintained their perfect home record.

How the game unfolded

After an opening 20 minutes that was punctuated by a lengthy medical break to treat a facial injury for Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring with a sumptuous free kick.

Even if Leno had not been peering through heavy bandaging dropping down from his forehead, there was little chance of any goalkeeper getting a glove to Alexander-Arnold's powerful curler before it crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. The ball also bounced off Leno on its way into the net, ensuring that the keeper was credited with an own goal.

Fulham had offered precious little before equalising with their first shot of the afternoon. The visitors clustered around the void in Alexander-Arnold's right-back zone, with Antonee Robinson galloping forward to square for the former Liverpool player Harry Wilson lurking in the middle.

Unfazed by the setback, Liverpool continued to press forward, penning Fulham into their defensive third. Raul Jimenez miscued a header with Virgil van Dijk breathing down the back of his neck inside Fulham's half. Alexis Mac Allister was first to the loose ball, spanking it into the top corner from 25 yards. Again, Leno had little hope against the swerving swipe.

But Fulham forced another equaliser before the break. Kenny Tete's celebration was cut short by the assistant's flag after stabbing in from a corner deep into second-half stoppage time. Paul Tierney on VAR correctly spotted that Darwin Nunez was playing Tete onside, prompting another burst of joy from the scorer.

While Nunez squandered a glut of chances at one end, Fulham proved to be far more clinical. Three of Marco Silva's substitutes combined to catch Liverpool out down their right flank once again, with Willian and Tom Cairney dovetailing to pick out Bobby De Cordova-Reid at the back post in the 80th minute.

A hush of astonishment briefly swept around Anfield before the roars of 'Liverpool' reemerged. One of Jurgen Klopp's replacements fired the hosts level, with Wataru Endo picking out the top corner to complete a hat-trick of unstoppable strikes.

Coasting on the deafening din of the crowd, Alexander-Arnold had Liverpool back in front within a matter of seconds. The volley drilled into the bottom corner from the top of the box will definitely go down as his match winner.

Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3)

GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - 4/10 - In the absence of an injured Alisson, Kelleher didn't convey any real sense of solidity.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7/10 - For all that Alexander-Arnold brings in possession - and it is plenty - he does lack some solidity off the ball. Klopp countered this by moving his right-back into midfield in the second half.

CB: Joel Matip - 6/10 - Forced to defend a yawning chasm when Liverpool were caught in transition - which wasn't too often.

CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - Snuffed out almost all threat down his flank in open play.

LB: Kostas Tsimikas - 3/10 - Came off second best when one-on-one with Tete in Fulham's half and outjumped by De Cordova-Reid.

CM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 5/10 - Showed plenty of dash and drive but let Jimenez get away from him at the corner for Fulham's second equaliser.

CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 6/10 - Who cares about his struggles mopping up at the base of midfield when he can score goals like that?

CM: Ryan Gravenberch - 3/10 - Failed to exert a significant influence over proceedings.

RW: Mohamed Salah - 6/10 - Not the most electric display of his career but still sparked some chances.

ST: Darwin Nunez - 4/10 - Typically erratic in front of goal.

LW: Luis Diaz - 4/10 - The single lasting impact that Diaz had on the contest was the gash he accidentally gave Leno.

Substitutes

SUB: Cody Gakpo (65' for Szoboszlai) - 5/10

SUB: Joe Gomez (65' for Mac Allister) - 5/10

SUB: Ibrahima Konate (68' for Matip) - 5/10

SUB: Wataru Endo (83' for Gravenberch) - 7/10

Subs not used: Adrian (GK), Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Ben Doak

Manager

Jurgen Klopp - 4/10 - Liverpool's internal goal of the month competition will take the headlines but they struggled to create clear openings on Sunday and gave away three goals which were all scored in the six-yard box.

Fulham player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Bernd Leno - 5/10 - Playing with a bandage pressing down on his right eyebrow after an early collision, Leno couldn't get anywhere near Liverpool's screamers.

RB: Kenny Tete - 7/10 - In the right place at the right time to score and disrupt plenty of Liverpool forward thrusts.

CB: Calvin Bassey - 5/10 - Didn't shirk the physical challenge of marking Nunez - if anything, he sought a little too much contact.

CB: Tim Ream - 5/10 - Struggled when forced to cover large distances.

LB: Antonee Robinson - 7/10 - Fired the ball across for Wilson's first goal and fared well with a front-foot approach against Salah.

CM: Harrison Reed - 6/10 - Dutifully harangued any red shirt that entered his zone of influence.

CM: Joao Palhinha - 7/10 - A constant spoke in Liverpool's wheel.

AM: Andreas Pereira - 2/10 - Wasteful on the few occasions that he saw the ball.

RW: Harry Wilson - 5/10 - Resisted the urge to celebrate against his former employers after poking in a well-taken goal.

ST: Raul Jimenez - 6/10 - Evaded his marker in a choreographed pick-and-roll corner routine to tee up Tete.

LW: Alex Iwobi - 4/10 - Tried and largely failed to block off the passing lanes to Alexander-Arnold.

Substitutes

SUB: Tom Cairney (62' for Wilson) - 6/10

SUB: Willian (62' for Pereira) - 6/10

SUB: Bobby De Cordova-Reid (75' for Iwobi) - 7/10

SUB: Timothy Castagne (75' for Tete) - 5/10

Subs not used: Marek Rodak (GK), Tosin Adarabioyo, Fode Ballo-Toure, Sasa Lukic, Vinicius

Manager

Marco Silva - 5/10 - Organised his side well and saw three subs combine for a goal but still ended up on the losing side. Go figure.

Player of the match - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

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