Going to Craven Cottage was never going to be a straightforward task, with Fulham fighting for their lives to try and beat the drop, but Liverpool did really not help themselves by any means. The team news brought about the usual Twitter meltdown, as Adam Lallana was picked to start in midfield with Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum; as Jordan Henderson was out with the ankle injury he sustained away at Bayern Munich. The back 5 and the front 3 picks themselves currently until Joe Gomez returns, which Jurgen Klopp has said will be after the international break, to the joy of many fans.
The game started with Liverpool having decent phases of possession, then just like the start against Bayern, they were sloppy in the final third and did not make any real chances. Considering how many goals Fulham have leaked this season, you would have thought there would have been more intent from the outset by the Redmen. No surprise that when Liverpool did finally piece a decent move together, they took the lead. Andy Robertson found Sadio Mane on the left, Mane then passed ahead to Roberto Firmino and continued on into the box; Firmino played it back to Mane who completed the old one-two by passing the ball into the middle of the goal for 1-0. A goal of complex simplicity really. You then thought that the floodgates would open, but due to bad decision making and Fulham refusing to lay down, this was not the case.
In the second half, Virgil van Dijk almost scored a header from a Fabinho cross after a short corner, but Sergio Rico made a save on his near post. Fulham were growing in confidence as the game wore on, and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's shot was well held on to by Alisson, the shot squirmed along the ground. There was now light drizzle and some infamous wind disrupting things, if Liverpool did not win then the press would have had a field day with Klopp. The 'wind' and the 'bottling it' headlines would have been out in full force.
In the 72nd minute; Liverpool made a double substitution, bringing on Divock Origi and James ' Milly Rock' Milner (who took the captains' armband from van Dijk), for Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino. Fans would not have begrudged if Mo Salah had been withdrawn, as he despite working hard for the team, had numerous instances when he could have passed the ball, but he persisted in trying to go alone and ended up running into a cul-de-sac. Just after the double substitution, Mane headed on to the top of the bar, and you just felt that Fulham may just make them pay for their lack of clinical edge. No sooner had you gathered all of your thought, Liverpool made a comedy of errors and former player Ryan Babel, had an easy equaliser, that to be honest, he did not look like he wanted to score if it meant he stopped his old side from winning the league. A long ball over the top was heading towards the Liverpool goal, van Dijk barked at Alisson to come and gather the ball, but Alisson was slow to come off of his line: van Dijk tried to head it back to his keeper, but never got enough purchase on the ball, Ryan Babel then stole in ahead of Alisson, and the ball fell to him to tap into an empty net. I myself, and I am sure many other Liverpool fans were conceding the title. A game where if Liverpool had shown a killer instinct they would have been at least 2 or ahead, they were now drawing 1-1, comical.
The Reds came in search of a winner and Mo Salah's failure to try and pick out a teammate ironically worked in Liverpool's favour. Salah controlled the ball after it had been lifted into the box and tried to place a shot, which Sergio Rico parried, Mane was the most alert to the rebound and he was pulled back by the Spanish keeper..penalty. Mane's fall was a little dramatic, but yes, he had been fouled, so it was the right decision. Up stepped the substitute Milner to calmly convert the spot kick, he waited for Rico to make a move and played it straight down the middle of the goal, 2-1! We were back ahead, we were going back on top, to send a psychological message to the Champions if we could hold on.
Liverpool could have made the 9 minutes after the goal easier on themselves, but could not take the chances they created. They produced a fine team move and Wijnaldum dragged his shot wide. Later on, Fulham were caught in possession and a quick counter saw Mane slip in Salah, who drove straight at the Fulham keeper, so we still wait for that illustrious 50th Premier League goal. Now you see why he did not pass it to him last week against Burnley, he is just not in rhythm. Salah does however, pull defenders all over the place, while being pushed and pulled, at time he can make the game easier for himself if he passes well and then takes up another position. The space he creates is partly why Mane is on this amazing scoring run of 11 in 11 games, such is the attention he draws. The goal will come for Salah, but he can not let a personal milestone stop him from seeing the bigger team picture. One of Lionel Messi best traits is that he can find teammates so well, Salah did that for Mane's 2nd goal against Bayern, but in and around that he can drive you a little mad. We have faith in you though Mo, and we appreciate you, but these things have to be pointed out, cos they are so blatant.
Milner, for the record, now has scored in 50 league games and has never lost, it was a record that stood in all games, until we lost earlier in the season to Paris Saint Germain, away in the Champions League group stage.
'In Craven Cottage I milly rock'...
@DubulDee
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