Home truths laid bare as Reds sunk by super Mario
LIVERPOOL
1
FULHAM
LIVERPOOL’S inexplicable downward spiral continued unabated as Mario Lemina’s first Fulham goal was enough for a 1-0 Premier League win as the struggling Cottagers gave their own survival hopes a massive boost.
Just when Jurgen Klopp thought things could not get any worse, after Chelsea’s win at Anfield last Thursday brought up a club record of five straight home defeats, they suffered a sixth in a row as the Reds boss experienced his first loss against a promoted side.
So too for Mohamed Salah. Plenty had been made of his reaction to being substituted in midweek so what he did not need was to be the reason for Liverpool losing possession on the edge of their own area allowing Lemina to finish brilliantly just before half-time.
Victory meant Fulham, having lost
just once in the last seven, are only in the bottom three by virtue of having a goal difference worse than Brighton.
Liverpool remain four points off the top four and are likely to be further adrift by the time they run out for their Champions League last 16, second leg against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
Klopp made seven changes – including three of his back four – with the inexperienced pairing of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams the 16th different centre-back combination to have started in 28 league matches.
Fulham created the better first-half openings, with Josh Maja denied by Alisson diving at his feet to prevent a certain goal from close range.
And they went ahead when Salah dithered in possession when Ivan Cavaleiro’s free-kick was half-cleared.
Lemina quickly closed down the Egypt international and superbly seized his chance with a low drive across Alisson and inside the far post.
Liverpool responded soon after the restart with Diogo Jota’s stinging volley producing a brilliant save from Alphonse Areola.
Substitute Sadio Mane went close with a header which looped onto the post before the Senegal forward mis-hit another chance – this one from a cross from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold – into the ground.
There was an air of desperation about the final ten minutes with Liverpool effectively 2-2-4-2 when attacking, but it made little difference.