The hosts’ bid for European football next term looked in tatters just a few weeks ago, but a run of four consecutive PL victories has even given them hope of securing a Champions League spot, although they will also need to rely on other results going their way.
However, their failure to defend a 3-0 lead against an out-of-form Tottenham last time out, albeit as they clinched a last-gasp 4-3 victory, suggested the Cottagers’ visit would not be a walk in the park.
Early on, Liverpool dominated possession, but Fulham’s attempts to play on the counterattack and exploit their opponents’ high line threatened to pay dividends, with ex-Red Harry Wilson, in particular, causing trouble.
In the end though, Carlos Vinicius’ shot, which was well parried by Alisson, was the visitors’ only real chance of the first half, and it was instead Liverpool who took a lead into the break.
The Merseyside outfit looked increasingly dangerous as the period progressed, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz having efforts deflected beyond the post, but their lead eventually came out of nothing.
Darwin Nunez appeared to be going nowhere around the edge of the area when Issa Diop’s wild swing missed all of the ball and caught plenty of the Uruguay international’s legs, leaving referee Stuart Attwell with no choice but to point to the spot.
From 12 yards, Mohamed Salah buried with aplomb to score his 18th top-flight goal of the season and hand his side a slender half-time advantage.
After the interval, the game was played at a relatively high pace, but both teams lacked precision. For all of their attacking talent, Liverpool have often struggled to find the final ball this term, and this was another example of their troubles in putting games to bed.
Fortunately for them, Fulham were sloppy themselves, although Alisson needed to be alert to deny Vinicius from close range after a rare slick move from the away team.
As full time approached, the tension amongst the home crowd was increasingly palpable.
Ultimately, though, Jurgen Klopp’s charges held on to secure the three points, tightening their grip on a European place while all but ending Fulham's chances of appearing on the continental stage next term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
