Liverpool's Premier League title charge was slowed down by Fulham on Sunday as the hosts beat the leaders 3-2 at Craven Cottage. The Reds slipped to just their second defeat of the campaign in west London as they were punished for a desperately poor first half in the capital.
After Alexis Mac Allister had opened the scoring with a superb strike from around 20 yards, Fulham replied through Ryan Sessegnon before they punished more defensive mistakes through Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz. It means the Reds still need 11 points from their final seven games to mathematically confirm themselves as champions of England for a 20th time.
But you knew all of that, right? What you might have missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplots on the day. Here, as ever, are the best of the ECHO's 'moments missed'.
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Silva lining
The game was just a few minutes old when Fulham had a shout for a penalty turned down after Rodrigo Muniz and Virgil van Dijk collided following Ibrahima Konate's dawdling on the ball inside the area.
Fulham boss Marco Silva felt his side deserved a penalty for either Caoimhin Kelleher's attempts to stop Andreas Pereira or Muniz's collision with Van Dijk, only to see both claims waved away being before confirmed as correct by a VAR check.
Referee Chris Kavanagh saw no reason to penalise either challenge, a decision that was upheld by VAR Matthew Donoghue and a statement from the Premier League Match Centre shortly after said: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Fulham following a challenge by Kelleher on Pereira was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed a coming together and not a reckless action. The VAR also checked and cleared the incident between van Dijk and Muniz.”
Before that statement was released, though, Silva was absolutely furious at the decision and made his anger known pitchside as he raged about the call from Kavanagh. The Cottagers coach was involved in a heated discussion around the incident with Arne Slot and the fourth official on the sidelines, but the no-penalty call was upheld.
Peculiar Fulham feud goes on
Harvey Elliott might have left Fulham to join boyhood club Liverpool at the tender age of 16 having barely ever featured for the first team but that hasn't stopped the fans of his former club bearing a grudge.
While preparing to come on in the second half, Elliott was unflatteringly serenaded by his former supporters, who made it clear he remained, oddly, public enemy No.1 around that particular part of London.
Despite leaving as a teenager nearly six years ago, there is little love lost for Elliott and his every touch was jeered on the day by the hosts as one of the game's most peculiar feuds continued.
It was no surprise to see the Liverpool man attempting to fire up the visiting end later on in the game in an effort to drown out the noise and inspire the Reds players themselves. Elliott could be seen visibly waving his arms for the away fans to turn up the decibel levels and the strike that clipped the woodwork late would have felt like poetic justice for the 22-year-old. In the end, though, it wasn't to be.
Bassey in no mood
Despite securing a huge victory against a side who will likely be crowned Premier League champions, Fulham's Calvin Bassey was in no real mood to speak to the media about such an impressive victory.
Having been asked by the Fulham media team to speak to reporters after the game, the centre-back made it clear he would rather be somewhere, anywhere else, insisting the inquisitor in question had just two questions.
In reality, the journalist was barely able to squeeze in the one question while Bassey scrolled on his phone through the entire exchange, which actually lasted around 45 seconds and centred around how Fulham were able to keep Mohamed Salah quiet.
Thanks for your time, Calvin...
