A grin crept across Jurgen Klopp’s face.
“I don’t think anybody would have thought before that Liverpool versus Fulham would be a game you will never forget in your life,” he said. “But you’re welcome!”
From the brink of a damaging setback to the ecstasy of a dramatic 4-3 victory, Liverpool’s pursuit of the big prize remains on track and Anfield has another thrilling comeback for its bulging collection.
There was relief as well as joy in the flurry of fist pumps Klopp unleashed in front of the jubilant stands.
When Bobby De Cordova-Reid headed home with 10 minutes to go, Liverpool were facing a first home league defeat since losing to Leeds United in October 2022.
However, two goals in the space of 79 seconds late on sparked wild celebrations and ensured that Fortress Anfield remains firmly intact.
It was the latest Liverpool had ever fallen behind in a Premier League match that they went on to win. This triumph had all the ingredients required for a memorable Anfield comeback.
A hero emerges
A touch to steady himself and then the arrowed finish past Bernd Leno. Cue absolute bedlam. What a moment for Trent Alexander-Arnold in front of the Kop.
“You could see from the celebration how much it meant to me,” he beamed. “I kind of anticipated where the ball would drop and just tried to hit the target. It was an unbelievable game, full of emotion.”
A big cut on his knee meant he opted to celebrate by sliding across the turf on his chest before being mobbed by his team-mates.
Alexander-Arnold, who conducted the Kop as they serenaded him after the final whistle, was immense throughout. The vice-captain was the one who kept taking responsibility and driving Liverpool forward, just as he did at the Etihad a week earlier.
“His development is crazy,” said Klopp. “Today he was a real leader on the pitch — that’s probably the biggest improvement if you want.”
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The England international was “gutted” to learn post-game that his stunning 25-yard free kick which had broken the deadlock had gone down as a Leno own goal after hitting the bar and cannoning in off the goalkeeper. There was no taking away from him the glory after he provided the defining contribution to a remarkable contest.
Digging themselves a hole from which to climb
Klopp did not mince his words about the failings that had put Fulham in the ascendancy.
“I told the boys it turned out as the game we saw because we were a bit dumb,” he said.
Liverpool left themselves exposed in the build-up to Harry Wilson’s equaliser. The marking before Kenny Tete restored parity for the second time was abject. Stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher did not cover himself in glory, either.
It was too easy for Fulham on the counter, Liverpool were too open and De Cordova-Reid took full advantage when he climbed above Kostas Tsimikas to score their third goal.
Klopp bemoaned that “the protection was not that good”, as he added: “I didn’t like how we defended with the front line. Our defensive press was not outstanding in the first half.”
Liverpool also squandered a host of promising attacking moments, with their decision-making in the final third letting them down. A clinical edge continues to elude Darwin Nunez.
“We need to be putting games away,” admitted Alexander-Arnold. “All three of their goals were not great and we got punished for our sloppiness. We weren’t at our best.”
Inspirational changes and tactical tweaks
Klopp changed the system midway through the second half when he replaced the tiring Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai with Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo.
With Gomez at right-back, Alexander-Arnold found himself stationed permanently in midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch, who dropped into a deeper role, with Gakpo operating in front of them as the No 10.
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Gomez was brought on to provide width and give the hosts another outlet, while Klopp felt Liverpool would be more compact in the centre with two holding midfielders.
“It becomes a bit like chess,” said Klopp. “You try to change something to improve yourself and to make it a bit more tricky for the opponent as well.”
One change the manager did not want to make saw Ibrahima Konate replace Joel Matip, who worryingly limped off with a knee injury and is facing a spell on the sidelines.
Bringing on Wataru Endo for Gravenberch after Fulham went 3-2 up did not look like the most obvious move to trigger a fightback, but it worked a treat.
What a way for the Japan international to score his first Premier League goal — such a classy, composed finish from the edge of the box after being teed up by Mohamed Salah. Endo is growing in stature.
All four Liverpool goals were of supreme quality. Mac Allister bagged the best of the lot when he opened his Anfield account with a sweetly struck 25-yarder that gave Leno no chance.
“I never saw a game with this amount of worldies to be honest,” added Klopp. “All of them were pretty special.”
It was the first time Liverpool have netted four or more goals in a top-flight game without a forward scoring since their 4-1 win over Chelsea in May 2012.
Anfield becomes a bearpit
You could sense the anxiety levels rising in the stands as Liverpool huffed and puffed with the contest deadlocked at 2-2 for most of the second half. You can ill afford to drop points at home to Fulham if you are serious about being title contenders.
There were howls of frustration when Gravenberch misplaced a pass when he could have released Luis Diaz.
On a freezing cold afternoon, it took the sight of De Cordova-Reid heading Fulham in front to truly awaken the beast. Suddenly, a first home league defeat for 14 months was staring Liverpool in the face.
As the Fulham players tried to run down the clock, the noise levels were cranked up. Anfield was at its spiky, belligerent best in the closing stages and the players fed off that energy from the stands.
Once Endo scored, there was a certain inevitability that a winner would arrive as Fulham crumbled amid the din. This ground’s ability to inspire and intimidate in equal measure is unmatched.
Mentality monsters
During Liverpool’s struggles last season, too often they had no response when their backs were against the wall. They meekly accepted their fate.
Now the resilience and spirit Klopp prides himself on has been restored. No top-flight team has won more points from losing positions (15) than Liverpool in the Premier League so far this season.
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You don’t want to be playing catch-up so often — it is not sustainable if you want to compete at the top. However, you have to admire Liverpool’s rediscovered powers of recovery. They came to the fore again on Sunday in that crazy finale.
Heads no longer drop when the chips are down. It helps when you’ve got so many leaders on the field.
“You’ve got to dig deep and find a way to get results,” Alexander-Arnold said. “As much as you want to play well and win by three or four and cruise through a game, sometimes you’ve got to win in different ways. It’s a results business.”
It’s not good for the blood pressure, but victories are all the sweeter when they are grasped from the jaws of defeat.
(Top photo: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)