Izuchukwu OkosiLiverpool came from behind to snatch a 4-3 win over Fulham at Anfield on Sunday evening to go two points behind league leaders Arsenal.
The win was the 11 straight in all competitions at Anfield this season for the Reds
Jurgen Klopp’s men went ahead after Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno conceded an own in the 20th minute and then took the lead through a sensational strike from Alexis Mac Allister.
Fulham equalised twice before taking the lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, only for two long range strikes in 79 seconds from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold to complete the turnaround.
Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai drew a foul from Joao Palhinha and from the resultant free kick, Alexander-Arnold struck a superb effort that hit the crossbar and went in as it came off the back of Leno.
However, Fulham drew level four minutes later through former Liverpool player Harry Wilson.
The Welshman received a pass from Antonee Robinson who was teed up by Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi on the left wing.
Wilson prodded the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher, who started in place of the injured Alisson for the Reds.
With the contest finely balanced in the 38th minute, Mac Allister produced an incredible strike to restore Liverpool’s lead and net his first goal for the club.
The ball broke to the Argentinian and from nearly 30 yards out, he smashed a half-volley into the top-right corner, giving Leno no chance.
Liverpool were unable to clear a corner and after Raul Jimenez flicked the ball on, Tete scrambled the ball in from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but was overturned following a VAR review.
Fulham’s equaliser also meant that it was the first time in 57 years that they had scored twice in a league match at Anfield.
The visitors were unfortunate not to have taken the lead when Tim Ream scored from another set-piece. Palhinha’s initial header was saved by Kelleher and Ream converted the rebound, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Liverpool then went inches away from taking the lead for a third time in the match. On the counter-attack, Mohamed Salah fed the ball into Darwin Nunez, whose shot crashed against the crossbar and clear.
That is now the fifth occasion that Nunez has hit the woodwork this season, three more times than any other player.
Nunez then had another chance to score, but the Uruguayan scuffed his shot wide of the right post.
Fulham took the lead for the first time in the 80th minute through substitute De Cordova-Reid, who rose above Konstantinos Tsimikas to bury his header past Kelleher.
Alexander-Arnold then silenced the Cottagers with the backbreaking goal towards the end as the Reds embark on a busy December schedule.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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