Mario Lemina scored his first Fulham goal as the Whites claimed a massive three points at Anfield.
At the end of a frantic first 45, Lemina pinched the ball off of Mo Salah before slamming into the bottom corner for a deserved half-time lead.
The second half saw a lot of Liverpool pressure, but this was firmed as Scott Parker’s men held on for another win on Merseyside.
The points mean we go level with Brighton above us, and only remain in the bottom three on goal difference.
Parker made a double change from Thursday evening’s match with Spurs, as Kenny Tete and Bobby De Cordova-Reid came into the starting XI replacing Antonee Robinson and Ruben-Loftus Cheek.
The versatile Ola Aina shifted to left-back whilst Ivan Cavaleiro partnered Josh Maja up top in a slightly changed shape.
It was a bright start for Fulham who could’ve been one ahead inside three minutes. Tete delivered a delicious cross towards Maja who found space between the Reds’ centre-backs, but he couldn’t quite produce the finish required.
There was another near-miss just after 10 minutes for Parker’s side. A trademark ping over the top from Joachim Andersen found Ademola Lookman down the left, who cut back onto his stronger right foot before blasting narrowly wide.
Liverpool did carry a threat of course, and after quarter of an hour got beyond the Whites backline for the first time. Mo Salah went one-on-one with Alphonse Areola, but our Frenchman won the duel, diving in at the feat of the Egyptian before Ola Aina cleared the danger.
The Andersen-Lookman link-up was proving to be our most effective way through early on, and moments later unlocked the door yet again. This time, Lookman turned on the stepovers to go beyond Neco Williams and into the box, playing in Maja who went for an audacious lob which didn’t quite come off.
Just shy of the half-hour mark and Maja went close yet again. Tete sent in a whipped cross towards our front man who was lurking at the back post. He took it down nicely before trying to poke home from point-blank, but Alisson did just about enough to block.
It was a back and forth contest now with both sides looking dangerous, and it was Jurgen Klopp’s team that had the next chance, as James Milner fired over from the edge of the box on the half volley after good transitional play forward.
Fulham were carrying a punch on the counter-attack and went close once more after 34 minutes. De Cordova-Reid played in Lookman with a lovely long-range pass from his own half, but just as our winger wound up to shoot, Williams got back to touch his shot over the bar.
Xherdan Shaqiri was next to have an effort inches wide for the hosts. From a debatable free-kick 30 yards out, the Swiss winger went for goal and saw his effort skim off the roof of Areola’s net for another scare.
For all of the chances in the first half, it seemed as if we were going to go in goalless at the break, but Lemina had something to say about that.
Winning the ball back from Salah on the edge of the box ferociously, he then arrowed a shot into the bottom corner past the sprawling Alisson and Fulham had their deserved half-time lead.
Liverpool flew out of the blocks in the second half as could be expected, and almost got level within a few minutes of the restart. Diogo Jota smashed a volley on target from 20 yards from a Williams cross, requiring a magnificent strong hand from Areola to keep us ahead.
The home side were sending bodies forward in search for an equaliser, leaving them open to the counter. This time it was Cavaleiro who broke after intercepting a sloppy ball, and drove forward with menace. He cut back neatly onto his stronger right foot, but couldn’t quite bend his shot enough to get it on target.
There was a scare with 20 minutes to go for Fulham, as substitute Sadio Mane hit the woodwork with a flying header at the back post with Areola left stranded. Harrison Reed and Tosin managed to clear as Salah followed up.
Aleksandar Mitrović tried to kill the contest with minutes on the clock after Ruben Loftus-Cheek broke fast, but Alisson caught his long-range effort.
With seconds left, there was a crucial Andersen flick over the bar after Liverpool pinged in a threatening cross, as our captain led by example in holding firm.
In the end Fulham weathered the storm and put in a professional performance to take all three points from Anfield, putting us level with Brighton and only in the bottom three on goal difference.
Liverpool: Alisson; N. Williams (Alexander-Arnold 76’), Phillips, R. Williams, Robertson; Wijnaldum (Mane 62’), Milner (Fabinho 76’), Keita, Shaqiri, Salah, Jota
Fulham: Areola; Tete, Andersen, Tosin, Aina; De Cordova-Reid, Lemina, Reed, Lookman (Robinson 82’); Cavaleiro (Mitrović 85’), Maja (Loftus-Cheek 67’)
