James Milner’s late penalty and Sadio Mane’s strike send Liverpool back top
JAMES MILNER is top man again.
Liverpool’s captain, making up for the error that led to Fulham’s equaliser, scored the winner from the penalty spot.
They are top again, at least for a fortnight.
Wherever they are in the world on international duty, these Liverpool players have that cache again.
Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino will walk through the doors of Brazil’s training camp this week as Premier League leaders.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, joining up with the England squad for fixtures against the Czech Republic and Montenegro, will do the same.
It was a streaky win, secured after Ryan Babel scored Fulham’s 72nd minute equaliser after a defensive mix-up.
Liverpool responded, with Fulham conceding a penalty when keeper Sergio Rico grabbed Sadio Mane around the waist.
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Milner, on as a substitute, stepped up to score the stomach-settling winner.
They had already been in front when Mane scored Liverpool’s 26th minute opener.
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Mane has taken control of Liverpool’s season, influencing the outcome of critical games towards the end of the season.
He was the difference in the first half, scoring the opener when he exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino.
It was a delicious one-two, brilliantly executed in Liverpool’s first serious attack of the game.
Until then, Fulham had done ok.
Joe Bryan, the left-back, did particularly well to dispossess Mo Salah when Alexander-Arnold sent a peachy ball into his feet.
It was another bitty Salah performance, a player struggling to live up to his status out on the right.
His other first half chance, a minute after Mane’s goal, was a left-footed curler that lacked conviction.
Liverpool have other options.
One of them is Mane, fast-turning into the most influential footballer in this Liverpool side.
It is nine in nine for the forward, adding to his classy double against Bayern Munich, with another quality finish here.
The goal gave Liverpool life, the confidence that they would go on to beat Scott Parker’s strugglers.
Fulham are done with the Premier League again.
They will start again next season, with a 46-game Championship slog in front of them with a brand new set of players.
They need a damn good clear-out.
There are some poor performers at Fulham, a lot of players on big money and not much more besides.
Fulham’s only serious chance of the first half came eight minutes from the break.
Former Liverpool winger found Tom Cairney hovering on the edge of the area, but Fulham’s captain snatched at the chance.
Parker, a decent fella, deserves better than that.
This is a pitiful surrender, not far behind the likes of Sunderland (15 in 2006) and Derby (11 points in 2008).
Fulham, on 17, will not win many more.
They are down, hurting towards more second tier football with a third-rate football team.
Liverpool, predictably, were too strong for them.
To put Wednesday’s momentous 3-1 victory over Bayern to one side, to recalibrate for a routine win over Fulham, is impressive.
It is in games like this that Manchester United, beaten at Arsenal four days after their 3-1 smash and grab against Paris Saint Germain, have faltered.
Liverpool, targeting their first domestic league title in 29 years, will not be distracted.
They got the job done here, moving into first place in the Premier League with a composed performance.
Fabinho looks assured and accomplished, adding defensive security and initiating the odd attack.
The Liverpool midfielder, an early replacement for injured Jordan Henderson in Munich, is a class act.
Then there is Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman entered Liverpool folklore when he steered home their second against Bayern inside the Allianz-Arena.
This was another towering performance.
He is such a threat going forward, denied Liverpool’s second when a header from Alexander-Arnold’s up and under was punted away to safety.
They were after the cushion, the security blanket of a second goal in that final half hour.
Fulham responded, rallying after Floyd Ayite’s header was ruled out for offside. He was miles off.
Then there was the Babel breakaway, with the red-head flying up the wing against his former team.
Eventually the ball popped out to Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa on the edge of the area
He was entitled to have a dig, but Alisson was alert and saved easily to his right.
Minutes later he was caught out by Milner’s clumsy ball.
It had van Dijk racing back to try to clear, but his weak header left Alisson exposed on the edge of his area.
Finally the red-head out on the left showed his colours.
Babel, spluttering into life in a Fulham shirt, scored the 7rth minute equaliser against his former club.
Out of respect, he did not celebrate the goal that could crush Liverpool’s title ambitions.
It did not last.
Liverpool stepped it up, winning a penalty when Salah’s ball into the box led to Rico’s foul on Mane.
Milner took over, putting the ball on the spot before sending his effort straight down the middle.
It gave Liverpool the result, the win that keeps them top over the international break.
After a scare like this, they will take that.