For the first time since the start of March, Anfield was the stage again for back-to-back Premier League matches and our beloved Reds were looking to make it five wins in a row. Jurgen Klopp, predictably, made a few changes, due to the close proximity of these games as the season draws near its end. Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Nunez and Jordan Henderson all came in for Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott respectively. Fulham came on the back of two close league losses but also a fantastic campaign they had already ensured their safety with games to spare.
Liverpool started this game exactly the same way they did against Tottenham, with no reward however, and had it not been for another Virgil van Dijk clearance, could have well been behind inside five minutes.
With each passing game, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performances are proving that his change of role has been a stroke of genius. He had three shots within the first 15 minutes. One deflected off Luis Diaz and out for a Fulham goal kick. A second was a well-hit drive, straight at Leno and the third was on the back of a great move just whiskers wide of the post. Fulham also had a few half chances of their own as the game settled in nicely after a frantic start. Liverpool persisted with whipping crosses into Fulham’s box but they were consistently repelled by the towering six-foot-five Tosun Adarabioyo.
Another highlight for the home side was the start to the game for Curtis Jones. This was the scousers’ seventh game in a row in the starting eleven and his confidence seems to add a new level with each passing match. As the game approached the half-hour mark a shot from outside the box by Fulham’s Palhinha, that was closer to going out of the stadium than hitting the target, described the game perfectly at this stage.
The game threatened to entertain with no end product at either end until the 38th minute when Nunez pressed Diop who was dwelling too long on the ball in his own box. A clumsy challenge from the Fulham defender saw a penalty awarded which Salah emphatically dispatched straight down the middle with steadfast confidence.
The remainder of the first half was uneventful as lacked any form of potency from either attack. Liverpool went in at halftime a goal to the good and were good value for that lead.
The second half started in the same manner the first ended. Liverpool with all the possession but some wasteful finishing meant Fulham’s goal remained untroubled. To be fair, Alisson Becker could have stayed in the changing rooms for a little longer as the ball avoided Liverpool’s defensive third like it was allergic to Brazilian shot-stoppers. A Tsimikas clearance in the 56th minute was the first real sign that Fulham still offered a threat going forward.
It was frightening at times how fluently Trent was conducting the orchestra but the game was still lacking any real crescendo. The game was screaming for some adjustments or just a spark and Klopp responded first in the 66th minute by removing Tsimikas and Diaz from the game replacing them with Robertson and Gakpo respectively. Fulham countered with three changes of their own. Harry Wilson got some warm applause as he left the pitch of the club he grew up in. Lukic and Cairney were also removed. Decordova-Reid, Kebano and Reed were their replacements, as the game resumed without any major action.
While ever the deficit remained at 1, Fulham always had a chance of drawing level but poor possession retention from the visitors along with no end product from the hosts meant the game has become a scrappy affair occasionally resembling a football match.
A massive right hand from Alisson prevented his compatriot, Vicinius, from drawing the Cottagers’ level. Soon after that, he was replaced along with Willian as Fulham introduced James and Solomon it what was their last roll of the dice. Henderson dragged a decent effort wide in the 81st minute.
Liverpool’s final changes saw Elliott, Milner and Jota come on for the Reds as Salah, Nunez and Jones took their leave for the final stages of the match. Some half chances at either end were the only highlights of what was left in the game as Liverpool saw off the opposition and secured another three points for the fifth match in a row. One final concern was our skipper going down with a potential injury but he saw out the game and should be ready to go again.
As the season draws to an end, performances tend to take a back seat to results. This occasion was no different. Three points. A five-point gap to sixth place. Job done. This may all be too little too late all we can do is control what is in our hands and leave the rest to fate.
