Arne Slot decision massively backfires as Liverpool star punished in Fulham draw
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Arne Slot Decision Massively Backfires as Liverpool Star Punished in Fulham Draw
Liverpool dropped points in a frustrating 2-2 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, exposing a tactical misstep by manager Arne Slot that led to Dominik Szoboszlai being harshly punished.[1][2][3]
The match kicked off with Fulham striking first in the 16th minute, as Harry Wilson fired home, assisted by Raul Jimenez, capitalizing on early Liverpool defensive lapses. Liverpool dominated possession thereafter, peppering Fulham's goal with corners and shots. Szoboszlai was pivotal, delivering corners at the 32nd, 42nd, 52nd, 53rd, and 54th minutes, alongside a shot in the 52nd. Alexis Mac Allister tested keeper Bernd Leno with a 54th-minute shot, while Cody Gakpo threatened with a corner in the 38th and a shot in the 63rd
Liverpool leveled in the 56th minute when Florian Wirtz scored, assisted by Conor Bradley. Gakpo later equalized again for a 2-2 scoreline, but Fulham's resilience held firm.[1][3] Slot's decision to persist with Szoboszlai in a advanced role backfired spectacularly. The Hungarian midfielder, despite his set-piece prowess, was caught out positionally, leading to a yellow card—his punishment for overcommitting forward amid Fulham's counters. Critics slammed the choice, arguing it disrupted midfield balance, with Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister overburdened. Liverpool's lineup featured Alisson in goal, defenders Konate, Van Dijk, Bradley, midfielders Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, and forwards including Wirtz and Gakpo; subs like Chiesa and Robertson waited.[1][2] Fulham, with Leno, Cuenca, Andersen, Diop, Robinson, midfield Cairney, Lukic, and attackers Wilson, Jimenez, Smith Rowe, earned a vital point, climbing to 8-3-8 (27 pts), while Liverpool sat at 10-3-6 (33 pts).[2] Slot's gamble cost dearly, fueling debates on his rotation policy as Liverpool's title push stutters.[3] (Word count: 298)