Liverpool manager Arne Slot was forced to defend his team's perceived lack of attacking flair after they were held to a dramatic and disappointing 1-1 draw away at Fulham. The result extends the Reds' unbeaten run to nine matches but highlights a growing concern about their creativity in front of goal.
Late Drama Denies Liverpool Victory
The match at Craven Cottage seemed destined to end in a goalless stalemate, mirroring the New Year's Day draw against Leeds. However, the game exploded into life deep into stoppage time. Cody Gakpo thought he had snatched a vital winner for the champions, only for Fulham's Harrison Reed to produce a moment of pure inspiration. In the 97th minute, Reed unleashed a spectacular long-range effort to equalise, cruelly denying Liverpool all three points at the death.
Slot's Firm Defence of Liverpool's Approach
In the aftermath, Slot faced questions over whether his side had sacrificed attacking verve for defensive stability. The Dutchman was unequivocal in his response, insisting his philosophy had not changed. "I didn't change as a manager," Slot stated. "I would love to play with eight attackers if that's possible defensively, but if those eight attackers don't defend enough, it's hard to win a game of football."
He elaborated further, challenging the narrative that a more open style previously yielded more chances. "Do you think we created more when we were conceding more goals? I wonder if that is true," he pondered. "I don't think we created that many more chances, but we conceded much more. Unfortunately, we don't concede a lot of chances, but goal-wise, maybe not a lot of chances."
Injury Concerns and Silva's Joy
Liverpool's attacking options were limited at Fulham, with top scorer Hugo Ekitike missing out. The French striker trained on Saturday but reported a hamstring issue. Scan results confirmed DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), though it is believed to be minor. He joins Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah on the unavailable list, with hopes he will return for the crucial trip to Arsenal on Thursday.
In contrast, Fulham boss Marco Silva was in buoyant spirits, heaping praise on match-winner Reed. "If you ask me right now if I put him on to score that goal, I would not say this!" Silva admitted. "The goal is total inspiration from him. He has been at the club for six and a half years, what a professional he is... If someone deserves this moment, he does. Losing that game would have been completely unfair for us."
