Liverpool 4-3 Fulham: Trent Alexander-Arnold scores dramatic 88th-minute winner to keep Reds in touch with Arsenal following Endo’s equaliser a minute earlier – after visitors stunned Anfield

Teams can't win a title over the Christmas period, but they can certainly lose one. For seven minutes they seemingly managed to suffer a shock defeat to Fulham, who almost became the first team to win at Anfield in the league since Leeds in October 2022.

Had Marco Silva's side kept that up, Liverpool would have been four points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of a difficult injury-hit festive period that will see Jurgen Klopp's side play eight games from this weekend until Boxing Day.

Twice Liverpool led and twice threw away the lead after careless errors brought Fulham back into the match, before the Cottagers smoked blood and almost pulled off one of the greatest smash-and-grab displays in Premier League history.

But two goals in less than two minutes, from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, threw Anfield into total chaos and maintained a home record this season of 11 played and 11 won. They haven't lost in any competition here since Real. Madrid defeated them in February.

Liverpool had 65 percent of the ball in a first half that lasted more than 56 minutes, but their dominance and fluid attacking play were let down by sloppy and sometimes chaotic defending and goalkeeping at the other end.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a late winner for Liverpool as they beat Fulham 4-3 at Anfield

He fired home deep into stoppage time as the Reds scored twice late on to save the match

Alexis Mac Allister scored a fine goal from distance to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead in the first half

The extended stoppage time was due to a lengthy break following a nasty head injury to Fulham keeper Bernd Leno, who continued after taking an accidental kick from Luis Diaz, leading to Mohamed Salah having a goal disallowed for offside.

But the German goalkeeper had warmed up after five minutes of treatment on the floor when he was stunned by a Trent Alexander-Arnold rocket. The full-back left Leno without a chance when he placed a 26-yard free-kick off the crossbar, a second goal in as many league games.

After one Liverpool academy graduate put the Reds ahead, another put them back. Harry Wilson, who played for Liverpool from the Under 9s through to the first team, burst into the penalty area and equalized for Fulham with a first-time shot that went through the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher.

A wave of fear seemed to spread across Anfield as Fulham grew into the match and targeted Liverpool's right. Alexander-Arnold dominated the game when he moved into midfield, but Andreas Pereira, Antonee Robinson and Alex Iwobi exploited the gaps left behind.

But just as Liverpool looked to be growing frustrated with themselves, Alexis Mac Allister produced a thunderbolt of his own with a piledriver that swung into the top corner from distance. It was his first goal for the club since his move from Brighton and he will do well to score another better goal.

However, Marco Silva's team refused to lie down and equalized for the second time in injury time of the first half. Liverpool's defenders were static, allowing Raul Jimenez's glancing header to be headed in by Kenny Tete through a fumble to stop Kelleher's ball.

It was at this moment that the old saying 'you don't know what you've got until it's gone' seemed relevant. Alisson is of course not out and is only bothered by a hamstring injury, but either goal from Fulham would have been a bread-and-butter save for Brazil's number 1.

Jurgen Klopp expressed his joy at full-time as he punched the air in front of a delighted Kop

Mac Allister hit a looping effort from distance and scored perhaps the goal of the weekend

Tete's goal was given after a lengthy VAR check, but he was ruled onside. However, there was no such luck for the Cottagers a few minutes later as captain Tim Ream thought he had given Fulham the lead on the stroke of half-time, only to be flagged for offside.

Liverpool came out with more energy and intent in the second half and Darwin Nunez – who had earlier been given an earful by his manager for losing the ball cheaply – pushed a good chance onto the crossbar and wasted another shot, both after fine passes from Salah.

A game of 3D chess followed, with both managers making a whole series of changes. Silva threw on Willian after his brace last week and Klopp responded by bringing on Joe Gomez, a more defensive wing-back. Joel Matip was also forced out with a muscle injury.

Wataru Endo came off the bench to score the goal that seemed to have saved a point for the hosts

Alexander-Arnold secured his second goal in as many games after scoring against City last week

Fulham's confidence continued to grow, with the introduction of Tom Cairney giving them further impetus. There were some half-chances, but it seemed like there was no focal point at the top. But Silva clearly felt blood and gestured to his players to go for the winner.

The Cottagers thought they had succeeded in the 80th minute, after a fantastic counter-attack led by two substitutes, Willian and Cairney, and capped off by another, Bobby Decordova-Reid, with a header from the back post. Suddenly, Anfield was silenced.

Klopp pulled his woolly snood over his eyes at that moment, while Liverpool managed to seemingly throw away points. But he soon looked in awe at the Kop, which was thrown into chaos after two goals in as many minutes turned the match upside down again.

Firstly, with almost his first kick-off in football, Japan captain Wataru Endo drew Liverpool level with a deft, side-footed finish from the edge of the penalty area. Less than two minutes later, Alexander-Arnold drove in Kostas Tsimikas' header and won the match.