Memorable win sets Fulham up for exciting season finalepublished at 18:52 BST 6 April
18:52 BST 6 April
Sam Drury BBC Sport journalist
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A memorable Fulham win secured on the back of a superb first-half performance.
When Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool in front, many would have expected Arne Slot's side to push on and take another step towards the Premier League title.
Instead, Fulham rallied and three goals in 13 minutes go them a thoroughly-deserved two-goal lead at the break.
Even at 0-0 the were the better side and had a big chance to go in front when Andreas Pereira robbed Ibrahima Konate of possession inside the Liverpool penalty area.
That chance went begging but it was a prime example of the intensity of Fulham's pressing causing the visitors problems.
They won the ball back in Liverpool territory on numerous occasions and used it smartly once they had it.
Slot highlighted Liverpool errors for all three goals but Fulham were there to capitalise before standing firm in the second half.
With seven games remaining, Marco Silva's side are just four points off fifth, which is highly likely to be good enough for Champions League qualification.
It remains an long shot but, on the back of such an impressive win over the likely champions, why not aim high?
'We were clearly the best team on the pitch'published at 16:51 BST 6 April
16:51 BST 6 April
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Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the win: "It was a great, great performance from us - a big one [result]. It's not just because it is Liverpool, but because we needed to bounce back after the last two games.
"Our first half was very, very good. We played at a very high level. We showed great organisation and commitment. We were clearly the best team on the pitch in the first half.
"In the second half, there was a good reaction from Liverpool, which we expected, and our energy went down a little bit which was to be expected because it was so high in the first half. Overall though, we deserved the three points."
On Rodrigo Muniz's goal: "He is a proper quality striker. He is still very young but he is growing so quick. There are still many things to improve, but he is very high quality for a number nine."
On Calvin Bassey: "Calvin has all the skills to be a top central defender. He ticks all the boxes to be a top, top player. Now he has to be more consistent."
On chasing a place in Europe: "The aim was to be in the top half of the table at this stage of the season. We got three points. I want everybody to be really grounded."
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool: Key statspublished at 16:24 BST 6 April
16:24 BST 6 April
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Fulham have won back-to-back Premier League home games for the first time this season, having last done so in March 2024 (v Brighton and Tottenham).
Rodrigo Muniz became only the second Fulham player to score home and away to Liverpool in the same Premier League season, after Collins John in 2005-06.
Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Liverpool published at 11:14 BST 6 April
11:14 BST 6 April
Fulham gave Liverpool a real test when they drew at Anfield earlier in the season.
Yes, Arne Slot's side had Andy Robertson sent off early on, but they were already a goal down by then. It took a huge effort for them to rescue a point with 10 men, but they have shown that kind of character plenty of times this season - to get something from a game when they have not played well.
Fulham made things difficult for Arsenal on Tuesday and I am expecting them to do the same here because they are very capable on the counter-attack.
They might even give Liverpool another big scare here but, with what is at stake, I still think the leaders will be fully focused and get the job done again, like they did against Everton.
Mohamed Salah against Fulham's Antonee Robinson will be a key battle, and maybe Salah will make the difference in the end. He is certainly due a big performance.
Kenny Tete is in contention to feature on Sunday for the first time since December with Silva confirming it is only "a matter of time" until he is in the matchday squad: "It could be Liverpool, it could be other games - it will be my decision. Soon, we are going to see him involved in the squad list."
Forward Harry Wilson will also be back with the team "soon" after doing individual work on the grass: "That's great news in terms of the wide attacking areas of the pitch, where you miss a player of his characteristics, who can help the team."
On bouncing back after defeat at Arsenal on Tuesday: "We share the good moments and the good vibes together. When you don't achieve something important, like a football match we want to win, then you have to share the disappointment. But at the same time, we have to work quicker and prepare quicker for the next one - like we have done since the start of the season."
On how opponents Liverpool have adapted this season without Jurgen Klopp: "It wasn't just any manager that left them - it was a manager who was there 10 years with a massive, massive impact on almost everything that was built in the football club. Jurgen was a very, very important piece and when the club went in a different direction, the impact of the manager is always going to be important. Slot has made that impact."
He added: "They have been really consistent in the Premier League. You don't see them have too many down moments, and when they do, they are always able to react. It's not a coincidence that they have spent most of the time on top of the table. We can all agree, that if nothing very special happens, then they are going to have a celebration at the end of the season."
On what he expects from the match: "It's going to be a game that demands us to be close to perfection. From our side, we need to fight really hard for the three points. We are in our own battle too. They want the three points to be closer to the title - we want our three points for our own battle."
Fulham v Liverpool: Did you know?published at 09:18 BST 4 April
09:18 BST 4 April
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Fulham have won just one of their past 13 Premier League games against Liverpool, beating them 1-0 at Anfield in March 2021.
Liverpool have scored 38 goals in 15 Premier League away matches this season, an average of 2.53 goals per game. That is their joint best in a top-flight season, also scoring at the same rate in 2013-14 (48 goals in 19 games).
Across Liverpool's past four Premier League away matches, they have scored eight goals and all of them have either been scored (five) or assisted (three) by Mohamed Salah. Only one player has ever had a hand in nine away goals in a row in the competition - Thierry Henry between April and August 2003 for Arsenal.
'Premier League doesn't allow you to switch off'published at 23:00 BST 1 April
23:00 BST 1 April
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Fulham boss Marco Silva, speaking toBBC MOTD: "Wasn't a good game from us. Arsenal deserved to win, not a good first half. Difficult when they took control. Even in the first 10 minutes we looked like we were not aggressive enough, not doing the right moves.
"We had the ball but not with the attacking aggression we have to have. The second goal makes a massive impact, it's clear we have to try to stop that. Reaction after that was good, subs had impact on the game but it was a bit too late. Rodrigo [Muniz] had a chance to score around 79 minutes but overall not a good performance.
"They fought until the end but not the best one."
On if it was a hangover from the FA Cup defeat: "No. Something that was done last Saturday and we have to move on. It's not an excuse, what we showed then was that and we have to show different things. Arsenal much fresher than us in some moments, we tried fresh legs and to be more aggressive. Second half better than first, more chances. Our first half - not good.
"The schedule is what it is. Some players have played more minutes. It's been tough for Alex [Iwobi], he's been playing week in week out. He's played lots of minutes. We have to manage the players because of the international break.
"Premier League doesn't allow you to switch off or allow you to be sloppy in moments when you are attacking or defending. It's clear we have to be consistent."
On back-to-back defeats being on the mind: "It cannot. It's something that's not in my mind. We lost the game and now we lost a second but we have to look forward. We'll analyse this one and then move on for another big game on Sunday."
Arsenal 2-1 Fulham: Did you know?published at 22:26 BST 1 April
22:26 BST 1 April
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Fulham have lost successive Premier League away games for the first time since January 2024 (run of five), while they have lost three of their past five games in the competition (W2) - one more than their previous 13 games (W5 D6).
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Fulhampublished at 08:34 BST 1 April
08:34 BST 1 April
Arsenal's title hopes may only be faint but they have still got to try to exert a bit of pressure on Liverpool.
Win this, and they are nine points behind the leaders before Arne Slot's side play again. I want to see Liverpool pushed, and no other result will do.
It won't be easy for Arsenal, though - I was at the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage in December, which finished 1-1, and that was a typical Fulham performance in that they were dangerous on the counter-attack.
They showed that day what a capable side they are, and they have several former Arsenal players in their squad who will want to prove a point again too.
Marco Silva's side had a disappointing defeat at home by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday, but they actually played really well in the first half of that game.
It's hard to know where some teams are at form wise, coming out of the international break, and if Arsenal are not at the races then Fulham are going to cause them more problems this time.
I actually think the Gunners will find a way to win this one, though.
Bukayo Saka's return after more than three months out will lift Emirates Stadium even if he starts the game on the bench and, if they need it, he will supply a spark whenever he gets on the pitch.
Arsenal v Fulham: Did you know?published at 07:25 BST 1 April
07:25 BST 1 April
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Arsenal have never lost in 31 home league games against Fulham, winning 24 and drawing seven. It is the most home games one side has played against another without losing in English Football League history.
However, Fulham are unbeaten in their past three league games against Arsenal (W1 D2) and only once have they had a longer run without defeat against the Gunners (four between May 2011 and November 2012).
Arsenal have won all seven of their Premier League games on 1 April by an aggregate score of 25-3. No team has a better 100% win record on a specific date in the competition's history.
'Moments like Saturday suck the air right out of you'published at 16:06 BST 31 March
16:06 BST 31 March
Drew Heatley Fan writer
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"At least you can concentrate on the league."
That has been the phrase of choice among those consoling me since our capitulation against Crystal Palace in what was by far the biggest game of our season.
Yes, European qualification is still in reach, but this was the FA Cup. This was a chance of Wembley. This was a shot at true glory. This was history.
Moments like Saturday, when we simply failed to rise to the occasion, suck the air right out of you. We were convinced this was our year. We were so invested - then, just like that, we are out of the cup without so much as a whimper.
If the league is our focus now, then we will have to concentrate - hard. We travel to Arsenal on Tuesday before hosting Liverpool on Sunday.
The club cannot win, really. Because even if we somehow take six points from the Premier League's top two, fans will be even more annoyed that we threw away our best chance to win our first major trophy so easily.
But the funny thing is, I can see at least one decent result in those next two fixtures, such is our inconsistency this term. It has turned a campaign that looked at many points to be a history-maker into one that will be remembered with a "what if?"
Tactics play a role, sure. Marco Silva is not infallible, but he is still the second-best manager I have seen in 30 years supporting this club. But the real reason seems to be one of mentality. Chiefly, we struggle with the big occasions, and we take too long to get our heads in the game after a period of inactivity, which in many cases means the international break.
So, maybe we should have seen this result coming. But it does not make it hurt any less.
Yes, it is time to concentrate on the league - hopefully the boys' minds are sharp enough.
Smith Rowe 'needs to find right consistency' - Silvapublished at 13:11 BST 31 March
13:11 BST 31 March
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Fulham's Premier League game against Arsenal on Tuesday could see midfielder Emile Smith Rowe make his first appearance at Emirates Stadium since he left the Gunners at the start of this season.
Fulham boss Marco Silva said there have been "some ups and downs" during the 24-year-old's first season at Craven Cottage, adding: "This doesn't surprise us for a player who was not playing enough football for the past two seasons.
"He had a very good impact in the first few months, but after the second international break he was down - December was a difficult month for him. He needs to find the right consistency in his game to perform at a very good level and this is the main thing for us."
Smith Rowe has five goals and two assists in 32 appearances for the Whites, showing flashes of the ability that won him England recognition three seasons ago.
"I don't doubt his talent and quality, but the Premier League demands so many things from you and you always have to be in very good shape and top level physically," Silva said. "This is something we have been working on with Emile.
"It is not going to be because the game is against Arsenal that he is going to have more hunger or not. The season so far from Emile is not about the hunger - it is many aspects.
"I can take many positives from him so far - he has probably played more than 20- 25 games and we have seen an impact in half of them. For a player like him, we are working with him to have more impact in a consistent way."
Silva on Smith Rowe's consistency, 'tiredness' and Arsenal 'advantage' published at 11:31 BST 31 March
11:31 BST 31 March
Josh Lobley BBC Sport Journalist
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game at Arsenal (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Silva provided a squad news update ahead of Tuesday's match: "Right now there is nothing serious - some knocks and tiredness from the game, which is normal."
On his opponents: "A top side, not just in terms of individual quality but they have a collective quality. They are one of the more physical teams in the league. They like to press really high and are going to create some problems for us, but we have to be brave enough to play our game."
Fulham could make it four unbeaten against their London rivals: "Our record against them has been very good and it shows that we have been doing good things against them. It's not easy to go three games without losing against a team like Arsenal, a team that are fighting to be champions. We have to be brave and match their physicality."
He says that Arsenal have a "small advantage" against his side because they didn't play any football last weekend: "It's important for us to play quick [after a defeat], but probably not so quick. A game on a Wednesday is going to make much more sense for us to recover players. But we are here to respect it and prepare as best as we can."
He was asked about former Gunner Emile Smith-Rowe's impact at Craven Cottage: "He's had some ups and downs which doesn't surprise us for a player that wasn't playing enough football in the past two seasons. He needs to find the right consistency in his game and this is the main thing for us."