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Following Arsenal’s dropped points in a 1-1 draw away to Everton on Saturday, Liverpool went into Sunday’s league fixture with Fulham with less pressure on themselves, knowing the Premier League title was edging ever closer with just eight games to go.

Subsequently, the Reds rocked up at Craven Cottage out of sorts and fell to just a second Premier League defeat of the campaign as Fulham were victorious by three goals to two, with individual errors the talking point.

When Alexis Mac Allister’s sublime strike struck the back of the Fulham net for the opener, there seemed to be an obvious buzz from the away end, leading to chants of ‘we’re gonna win the league’, but the players on the pitch were quickly sent crashing down to earth.

Quickfire goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz during a fourteen-minute period in the first-half meant Liverpool were given an uphill battle for the second half.

Luis Diaz sparked a potential comeback but several opportunities missed from Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa meant their 26-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end.

We will be diving deeper into what went wrong and how this defeat can work in the Reds’ favour for the final seven fixtures.

FULHAM RESULT OVERDUEGetty Images.

Liverpool were lethargic in their defeat to Fulham, which will definitely have come as a shock to the rest of the Premier League, but for the Reds, it was somewhat overdue.

Arne Slot’s side have been outstanding for probably ninety-eight per-cent of the campaign and are fully deserving of the position they find themselves in, but Sunday’s loss and against Nottingham Forest back in September is where they have just fallen short.

Despite their healthy position in the Premier League, Liverpool are currently enduring a difficult spell of form throughout all competitions.

They have taken just one win and suffered three defeats from their last four games which includes a UEFA Champions League exit and the Carabao Cup Final.

A slip in performance and standards have definitely occurred, due to being so comfortable for the vast majority of the season, which has amounted in an eleven-point lead at the top and only eleven more points required for the league title.

The Reds have often began matches without the right intensity, subsequently shooting themselves in the foot with individual errors that have resulted in numerous chances for the opposition or even goals, as Ibrahima Konaté, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk were quick to find out against Fulham.

Eighty-three shots have been allowed on the Reds’ goal over the last four matches, with Paris Saint-Germain totaling an overall amount of forty-nine in the two legs of their Champions League tie.

Certainly a cause for concern, with teams having identified a potential flaw in Arne Slot’s side this season.

When asked on his side’s performance in defeat to Fulham on Sunday, Slot replied:

“I think there is no reason for us to be complacent.

We are not number one at the moment because we win every game by a margin of three or four goals.”

“Everyone that has seen our games knows that it takes so much effort, so much hard work to win, combined with quality of course.”

“The second half was so much better than the first, but it’s hard to win a game of football at this level if you concede three goals like this.”

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE?

Liverpool have not been at their scintillating best for some time now, having managed to get over the line in games due to their never-say-die attitude and winning mentality, but this past month may have been one, too many.

Sunday’s league defeat was their first away from Anfield this season and whilst it brought an end to a 26-match unbeaten run – it could come as a blessing in disguise.

The performances of late have shown that this side remains an unfinished article, with some rebuilding needing to happen in the summer.

This can be used also as extra motivation and a reminder that there is still something to play for, with the Premier League not mathematically secure just yet for Liverpool.

West Ham, Leicester City, Tottenham and Chelsea stand between the required eleven points to become champions.

LIVERPOOL WILL BE DESERVING CHAMPIONSPhil Noble/AFP/Getty Images.

Talk of a ‘lack of competition’ for Liverpool during the title-race has been floating around all season long, but the fact is that they will become Premier League champions on merit.

There have been swipes towards the Premier League as a whole, but Sunday’s defeat and victory for Fulham has quickly put to bed any of those laughable claims.

This season’s top-flight has probably been the most competitive in years, where anyone can beat anyone.

Manchester City have been successive winners in each of the last four seasons, but a slight drop-off from their usual standards have saw them fall to a battle for a Champions League spot, in fifth.

Aston Villa’s Champions League achievements, Nottingham Forest’s quick rise to third as well as teams such as Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham setting their sights on European football are all further examples of the gulf in quality of the Premier League.

As for Liverpool, they have become the ones who have been able to capitalise on Manchester City’s slip, despite Arsenal being their main challengers in the past two seasons.

Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot have acted quick to rubbish Michael Owen’s claims of Liverpool ‘just winning the Premier League’ this season, following the one-nil victory over Everton, last Wednesday.

Van Dijk said, “I think we have to change that narrative a little bit.

We’re fighting for the biggest prize of the season, we worked so hard at it, twenty teams are fighting to be on top of the Premier League.”

“We have to enjoy the ride and let’s see.

It’s still looking very special in my eyes.”

Slot was then taken aback by the questioning of his side from the former Liverpool forward.

Arne Slot is on the verge of the Premier League title in his first season at Liverpool.

Carl Recine/Getty Images.

“Virgil was a bit frustrated [in relation to the interview] because it came across as it’s not enough to ‘only’ win the Premier League?

Michael played for us, didn’t he?

So he is aware of the fact that in thirty-five years we’ve won the league [Premier League] once.”

“If you win the league with this club then nothing else matters.”

Liverpool have been by far and away the best team in the Premier League this season and will cruise to the title, but must maintain their high standards to prevent any chance of rival supporters or pundits attempting to diminish their achievements.

The Reds are still on track to record 94 points in Arne Slot’s first season – the sixth-highest in Premier League history.

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