Liverpool 2-0 Fulham: Report, result and goals as Reds further grip on fifth
It was a day to remember for Rio Ngumoha.
Liverpool ended a difficult week on a high as they solidified their grip on a top-five place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Fulham.
Reds boss Arne Slot entered Saturday’s contest under increasing scrutiny after Liverpool followed up their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City with a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Though their hopes of winning silverware this season are hanging by a thread, Liverpool are in a strong position to playing Champions League football again in the next campaign, with Fulham seeing their own European aspirations suffer a setback.
Rio Ngumoha, operating on the left wing as part of five changes from the loss to PSG, opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a fine individual effort that brought his first goal at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah then marked his first game at Anfield since announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season by doubling the lead after more fine work from teenager Ngumoha.
Liverpool were fortunate Fulham failed to make it a nervy finish, with the visitors’ level of pressure in the closing stages offering another example of why there is scrutiny on Slot.
With fifth confirmed as a Champions League qualification place in the Premier League for the second season running, Liverpool now hold a four-point advantage over sixth-placed Chelsea, who face Manchester City on Sunday.
Liverpool take another step towards Champions League
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was forced into action early to prevent Salah from from finding the bottom-right corner, but Liverpool struggled to make their initial dominance count and the visitors were growing into the game when Harry Wilson fired narrowly over the crossbar.
Yet Fulham’s momentum was checked in stunning fashion by the impressive Ngumoha, whose first goal since an injury-time winner at Newcastle United in August saw him cut in from from the left and find the far corner with a sublime strike after a show of dazzling footwork.
Four minutes later it was 2-0, with Ngumoha to the fore again as his ball into the box was collected by Cody Gakpo, who showed superb composure to control and lay off for Salah, whose finish left Leno with no chance.
To Fulham’s credit, the floodgates did not open thereafter and they continued to offer a threat in the second half, the danger they posed best illustrated by substitute Emile Smith Rowe sending a gilt-edged opportunity narrowly wide from point-blank range after Ryan Sessegnon’s superb left-wing cross.
Raul Jimenez lashed wide late on as Fulham pushed to at least get on the scoresheet, but their profligacy ensured they fell eight points behind Liverpool. They could drop to 13th on Sunday, with the race for European places that may yet stretch to extend to ninth spot remaining very crowded.