Liverpool cruise past flawed Fulham

Liverpool maintained their title challenge with a 2-0 win over struggling Fulham thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri.

It was not a particularly convincing opening from Jurgen Klopp’s side, who took 41 minutes to break down the west London side, and while Fulham were sent spinning to their seventh consecutive defeat, they had their chances.

The Reds had the bulk of possession, yet a combination of wayward finishing and some decent stops from Fulham keeper Sergio Rico held back the Red tide until a lapse in concentration led to the hosts breaking the deadlock.

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AS IT HAPPENED: Liverpool v Fulham

After huffing and puffing through the first 41 minutes at an unusually quiet Anfield, they eventually went in front thanks to a quick piece of thinking from Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose quick free-kick produced a stunning counter-attack. The full-back clipped a pass down the right wing and into the path of Salah, who sprinted into the box and punished the Cottagers, who had too many bodies forward.

It was a little harsh on the visitors, who created a couple of decent efforts midway through the first period, with Aleksander Mitrovic firing a tame shot at Alisson and Ryan Sessegnon drilling an effort wide when Mitrovic sent him clear. Andre Schurrle also got himself into a good position, and was allowed too much time to shoot before forcing Alisson into an unconvincing save.

Immediately after the opener, Fulham had the ball in the net, only for Mitrovic’s header to be deemed offside, a decision the officials got spot-on.

In fairness, Liverpool squandered several chances themselves, with Mane dragging an early effort wide, Alexander-Arnold miss-hitting a cross-shot over the bar and Shaqiri thumping an effort just wide. When they did manage to hit the target, Rico was in exemplary form and he was forced into one of several fine saves when denying Salah with a magnificent stop at his near post.

But in the second half, Liverpool turned the screw. Just moments after Mane unleashed a superb shot from 25 yards which Rico did well to keep out, the hosts increased their lead on 53 minutes.

Virgil Van Dyke, who had another impressive game, did well to keep the ball in and rolled a neat pass to Andrew Robertson. The left-back sent a deep cross to the far past and an unmarked Shaqiri ghosted in unmarked and sent a cushioned left-foot volley past a stranded Rico.

For all Fulham’s dogged defending, it was another soft goal to concede, if well-created.

Shaqiri was impressive throughout and his goal meant he has now either scored or assisted in five of his last six games in all competitions, with two goals and three assists. He was hauled off with nine minutes remaining, knowing the job was done.

The frustration of the Fulham fans, who took up all their allocation of tickets and travelled up for this noon kick-off, was palpable.

And the Cottagers should have been down to 10 men when Calum Chambers slid in on Salah, catching him on the bottom of his shin, with studs clearly up. Instead, he was lucky to receive a yellow card.

Liverpool were guilty of cruising through the last half-hour and created few worthwhile efforts on goal. Klopp decided to stiffen the midfield and the home side held on to what they had. It was a sensible move, although Salah was increasingly isolated up front.

However, they still managed to get through on the odd occasion and Firmino ended a surging run by teeing up Robertson, whose shot forced Rico into making another decent diving save.

In truth, Fulham rarely looked like getting into it in the last 30 minutes, and as the game meandered on, the crowd were given little to wake them from their torpor.

Liverpool had no need to go through the gears. It was an easy three points in the end and keeps them hot on the heels of Manchester City and, indeed, putting them top, albeit for a few hours at least.

What does it mean? Reds ride their luck back to the top

This was not a hugely improved performance from Liverpool after their poor display against Red Star Belgrade, but it was enough to see off a Fulham side bereft of confidence.

Salah and Shaqiri showed a clinical touch after a couple of first-half scares, and Klopp will doubtless be pleased to go back to the top of the table at least before Manchester City and Chelsea each play later.

The visitors should have taken the lead through Sessegnon early on and will point to Mitrovic’s disallowed goal as a turning point, but the way they failed to respond to going behind will be a major concern for Jokanovic. They remain bottom, two points behind Huddersfield Town.

Shaqiri a menace in free role

Given the freedom to roam across the front, Shaqiri was a consistent threat to a Fulham defence that has conceded 31 times in 12 league matches. He could have scored from distance in the first half and fully deserved his goal when it finally came.

Sessegnon falling short

He is still only 18 and looks set for a fine career at the highest level, but Sessegnon has found the Premier League a challenge. His visit to Anfield was no exception: he missed two chances in the first half, one of which was a sitter, and offered next to nothing after Fulham fell behind.

Key Opta Facts

– Liverpool have picked up 30 points from their opening 12 Premier League games (W9 D3 L0) – their joint-best total at this stage in the competition (level with 2002-03).

– Fulham have conceded 31 goals from their first 12 Premier League games this season; only Barnsley in 1997-98 conceded more goals at this stage of a Premier League campaign (35).

– Liverpool have kept 10 clean sheets in 14 Premier League games at Anfield in 2018; as many as they’d kept in the last calendar year (10 clean sheets in 21 home league games).

– Mohamed Salah has scored against 19 of the 21 Premier League opponents he’s faced with Liverpool, failing only against Man Utd and Swansea.

What’s next?

Liverpool resume domestic action on November 24, with a trip to Watford. Fulham will look for their first league win since August on the same day, when they host fellow strugglers Southampton.