Liverpool went back to the top of the table on Sunday afternoon after a 1-2 win over Fulham at a rainy Craven Cottage. Sadio Mane and James Milner gave the away side the three points in a game they dominated the majority of, but former Liverpool man, Ryan Babel, gave the club from Merseyside a major fright after capitalising on a defensive calamity.
In a must win game for both sides, it was Liverpool who had the first shot of the match through Salah in the 4th minute, but he scuffed his shot wide. Fulham did have the odd attack early on, but Liverpool dominated the opening period. Andrew Robertson was very sharp for Jurgen Klopp's men and he often caused the Fulham defence problems down Fulham's right hand side.
In the 11th minute, he ran down the flank, overcame the sliding challenge of Fosu-Mensah, but his shot was easy for Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico. He was influential in most of Liverpool's attacks and his creative play helped Liverpool to threaten the Cottagers. Despite many Liverpool moves, Fulham prevented Liverpool from having any major chances early on.
Liverpool's best effort before they scored came in the 19th minute when Joel Matip, who was completely unmarked, got on the end of a corner, but he could not direct his header on target. Just before Liverpool scored, Ryan Babel made an excellent run for Scott Parker's side, then played a one-two with Ayite, but the end product was disappointing.
Liverpool finally opened the scoring after 26 minutes courtesy of Sadio Mane. Fulham were once again caught down their right hand side, Mane found space before playing a straight pass to Roberto Firmino. As the Brazilian was about to cross the by-line, he cut the ball back for Sadio Mane, who made no mistake from inside the area. That was the Senegalese's ninth game in his last nine matches.
The visitors had two further opportunities to double their lead through Salah from 30 yards out, but Rico caught it at the second time of asking and then Robertson's shot was saved by Rico after referee Craig Pawson, played an advantage in the build-up after Mo Salah was fouled. At the break, Liverpool were in complete control and there was an eerie silence around Craven Cottage, the fans perhaps resigned to the fact they will almost certainly be in the Championship next season.
After the 15 minute interval. the title challengers came out determined to kill off the game and they came close on various occasions. Firmino tried to flick on a Wijnaldum strike, but there was not enough pace on it to trouble Rico and eight minutes later, in the 56th minute, Van Dijk headed a Fabinho cross at the far post after a short corner, but Sergio Rico made a sensational save.
Just after the hour mark, Fulham enjoyed their best spell of the game. They forced a corner and then had the ball in the back of the net through Ayite after good build up play, but the linesman's flag was up and rightly so. Babel then started a brilliant move and after two shots were blocked by the Liverpool defence, Zambo hit straight at goalkeeper Alisson. Mane then hit the crossbar with his header at the other end of the pitch and when it looked like the Fulham storm had been weathered, disaster struck for Liverpool.
Sergio Rico sent a long punt forward, Mitrovic flicked on and when Liverpool looked to have the ball under control Milner completely miscued the clearance and the Virgil Van Dijk inexplicably headed back to his goalkeeper. His header back was badly underhit and Ryan Babel got in between the two to tap it into an empty net. Babel did not celebrate the goal out of respect to his former club, but the home crowd were delighted.
Five minutes later, Liverpool regained the lead when Salah tried his luck, Rico spilled what should have been a routine save and then panicked and brought down Mane. Mane was looking to go to ground, but it was a penalty. James Milner stepped up and scored down the middle to make it 1-2. The away side were relaxed after the goal and Wijnaldum and Salah could have made it 1-3 late on, but they claimed the all important three points to go two clear at the top and leave Fulham in 19th place and with very little chance of staying up.