LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -Liverpool scored two late goals a minute apart including Trent Alexander-Arnold’s winner in the 88th minute in their breathless 4-3 victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Wataru Endo scored in the 87th minute, while a debut strike from Alexis Mac Allister and an own goal by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from Alexander-Arnold’s spectacular free kick lifted Juergen Klopp’s team into second in the standings on 31 points.
“It’s mental to be honest,” Trent-Alexander told Sky Sports. “A game of massive ups and downs. Leading, then getting clawed back twice, then obviously losing with about five minutes to go, getting the equaliser and then getting the winner.
“It was an unbelievable game, full of emotion. Just very, very happy to get the win and be able to get over the line.”
Liverpool are two points adrift of leaders Arsenal, while Manchester City are third on 29 points, but play later on Sunday. Fulham are 14th.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game with so many beautiful goals,” a grinning Klopp told Sky Sports.
“We scored incredible goals today, but we gave it nearly away and we have to say that as well. We were actually really good in the game, we played a lot of good stuff, but it was 2-2 and it was deserved at halftime.”
Fulham looked poised to end Liverpool’s undefeated streak at Anfield in the league that goes back to October 2022 before Mohamed Salah laid it off to Endo for a long-range goal.
After sprinting back to the centre circle, Alexander-Arnold connected with Kostas Tsimikas’s header to fire home the winner from the edge of the box.
“Just kind of anticipated it, saw it was coming to the back post,” Alexander-Arnold said. “I thought just try and get on target, found its way to the back of the net. You can see by the celebration how much it meant.”
Klopp celebrated the victory with a few delighted fist pumps to the fans.
Harry Wilson, Kenny Tete and Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored for Fulham who twice clawed back from being a goal behind.
Alexander-Arnold was initially credited with Liverpool’s first goal in the 20th minute, a superb free kick that sailed over the wall before glancing off the underside of the crossbar and then in off keeper Leno.
Mac Allister’s first goal for Liverpool was a memorable one when a Fulham clearance fell at his feet in the 38th minute. He took a couple of touches before launching a rocket from 25 yards out into the top corner.
Alexander-Arnold’s late-game heroics came a week after his 80th-minute goal ended Manchester City’s run of 23 wins at the Etihad Stadium with a 1-1 draw.
Salah had thought he had scored his 200th goal for Liverpool in the game’s early minutes with his stab in from close range but VAR determined Luis Diaz was offside.
There was a long delay in the first half after Leno took a knee to the head, but he remained in the game with his head heavily bandaged.
(Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Christian Radnedge)
