kLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp referred to this match as one filled with beautiful goals. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game with this many beautiful goals,” Klopp told Sky Sports after his team won a thrilling 4-3 match against Fulham.
The goals began with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who gave Liverpool an early lead with a brilliant free-kick that bounced off the crossbar and Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Alexis Mac Allister then scored a spectacular goal from a long range into the top corner. And, with Liverpool trailing 3-2 in the 87th minute, Wataru Endo scored an outstanding equalizer with an extraordinary shot.
Seconds later, in front of an enthusiastic Anfield crowd, Alexander-Arnold completed the collection of beautiful goals with a clinical finish.
“Today we scored four beautiful goals and were lucky to finally win the game, that says it all,” Klopp added to BBC Match of the Day.
Fulham manager Marco Silva was also puzzled by the events. “It’s extraordinary, great goals every time,” Silva told BBC Match of the Day. “Usually, that doesn’t happen. They scored four great goals from a distance.”
Witness the reactions of players and experts as they watched Liverpool’s goals.
Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring for Liverpool with a brilliant free-kick that curved over the wall, dipped just in time to hit the crossbar, bounce down, and hit Leno before entering the net.
“Technically, I’ve never scored two, but I’ll claim it,” Alexander-Arnold told BBC Match of the Day. “It’s nice when a free-kick hits the woodwork and finds its way in. A lovely strike, if I may say so.”
Even though it was considered a Leno own goal, former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock still declared Liverpool’s opener “one of the best free-kicks you’ll see this season.”
“My word, what a strike from Alexander-Arnold,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “We praised him before kick-off for his technical abilities, and he has just shown them again here. This guy is an outstanding player.”
‘As it pops up, I’m thinking: Don’t hit it – I was wrong’
Liverpool’s four goals were brilliant, but their second was arguably the pick of the bunch.
Midfielder Mac Allister finally scored his first goal since joining Liverpool from Brighton in June in a £35 million deal.
And he did it with a powerful effort, arrowing a loose ball into the top corner from about 35 yards out.
“When I scored the free-kick, I thought that was the goal of the game,” said Alexander-Arnold. “But then 20 minutes later, Mac Allister goes and scores that outstanding strike.”
Warnock added: “As it pops up, I’m thinking: ‘Don’t hit it!’ I was wrong. Two of the best goals you’ll see in the Premier League this season.”
Despite Liverpool’s fine first-half strikes, Fulham stayed in the game and took a 3-2 lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the 80th minute.
With three minutes plus stoppage time remaining, the visitors looked on course to end Liverpool’s 13-month unbeaten run at Anfield in the Premier League.
That was until substitute Endo latched onto Mohamed Salah’s layoff and curled a delightful effort into the top corner.
“What about this finish from Endo?” BBC Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray boomed after the Japan midfielder’s strike hit the net.
“His first goal in the Premier League is a memorable one. And a really, really valuable one for Liverpool.”
No team has won more points in the Premier League from losing positions this season than Liverpool’s 15.
The comeback was complete two minutes from time when Alexander-Arnold controlled a lofted clearance with his knee and smashed an effort into the bottom corner.z z z z z z z z z z z
His strike, one full of composure in the midst of a frantic finish, capped an excellent individual performance and kept up Liverpool’s perfect home record this season.
The Reds also cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.
“An outstanding experience for everyone who was here,” added Klopp. “I don’t think anyone would have thought before the game that Liverpool vs. Fulham would be a game that you will never forget in your life.”
