Trent Alexander-Arnold was perhaps the standout performer in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Fulham, which kept the Reds’ Premier League title ambitions alive.

Fulham defeated Liverpool 1-3 in the Premier League (33), played at Craven Cottage.

April 21, 2024.

Goals: Castagne 45’+2, Alexander-Arnold 32′, Gravenberch 53′, Jota 72′

Alisson – 7

It’s nice to see Alisson back on the team.

It was a quiet afternoon for the Brazilian, who had no influence on the equaliser, but his handling and distribution were consistently reliable.

Made a few straightforward stops, including a nice one in stoppage time.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 (Man of the Match)

Remember when many were wondering how Alexander-Arnold would make it back into the team? Foolish.

Liverpool’s vice-captain was really excellent at Craven Cottage, showcasing fantastic skill, and it was his free kick that put the Reds ahead.

He has really driven the squad forward and is constantly developing as a leader. The best player on the pitch.

Jarell Quansah – 7

Quansah replaced Ibrahima Konate and performed admirably for the majority of the game.

Granted, he was part of a defence that appeared very easy to score against at times, but he used the ball well and doesn’t look out of place these days.

Virgil van Dijk – 8

Van Dijk hasn’t been at his best of late, but he performed well here.

The Liverpool captain was physically powerful and saw a lot of the ball as Fulham played deep, but he appeared to be a bit lazy in the moments leading up to the hosts’ equaliser.

However, sometimes we want perfection, and he was quite excellent after the break.

Andy Robertson – 7

Robertson was the most consistent player in west London, doing little wrong but not always providing a strong offensive threat.

One lapse led Alex Iwobi into a perilous situation, but the Scot was largely dependable defensively and an experienced leader.

Wataru Endo – 6

This season seems to have caught up with Endo, who occasionally cuts a lanky figure.

The Japanese had been caught in possession several times and were tired, although being normally neat and tidy.

Got better as the game progressed.

Harvey Elliott – 6

Overall, Elliott failed to impress from the start as he has from the bench this season.

There was a bad free kick in the first half and a poor finish in the second half, but he was one of the few who fought for the ball and tried to make things advance in midfield.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7

Gravenberch has become a polarizing character in his inaugural season, and it appeared that he had done little to quell his critics.

You were left wanting more in and out of possession in the first half, with too many hopeful passes and crosses on display, but he made it 2-1 for Liverpool with a fantastic finish.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of an influential finale to the season. He seems to be a confidence player.

Luis Diaz – 6

Starting in an uncommon right-sided role, Diaz was easily Liverpool’s most threatening attacker in the first few minutes, wasting a terrific early chance with his head.

The 27-year-old’s influence decreased as the game progressed, and as has been pointed out all season, he lacked a killer cutting edge.

Positives outweighed drawbacks, however.

Cody Gakpo – 7

Gakpo, like Gravenberch, has received a lot of criticism, but he put in a promising performance.

Bernd Leno saved a stinging shot, and he worked hard off the ball, helping Diogo Jota’s goal.

Diogo Jota – 7

Jota began his first game since the middle of February, and he was unsurprisingly rusty.

However, the Portuguese won the free-kick that Alexander-Arnold beautifully curled home, making it 3-1 with a solid finish – the type that the Reds have regularly missed in recent weeks.

What we would have done to keep him available all season.

Substitutes: Alexis MacAllister (75′ for Gravenberch) – 6

The ball was lost once, but otherwise it was solid.

Mohamed Salah (on for Diaz, 75′) – 6

I wasn’t going all out, but I got the job done.

Darwin Nunez (on for Jota, 75′) – 6

Same as Salah.

Dominik Szoboszlai (on for Gakpo, 86′) – 6

There is no time to make an impression.

Joe Gomez (on for Alexander-Arnold, 80’) – 6

Again, fairly quiet, as with all of the subs.

Subs not used: Kelleher, Konate, Tsimikas, and Jones.

Jurgen Klopp – 8

It’s fair to say that Klopp has appeared exhausted of late, with his finale seeming to falter.

This was an urgent must-win for the manager, and his five substitutions raised eyebrows given the quality of players left out.

It proved to be the correct move, and while not a flawless performance, it was a step in the right way.