Liverpool 2-0 Fulham: Ngumoha shines to bring Reds back to winning ways

Mohamed Salah marked his first Anfield appearance since announcing he will leave Liverpool with a goal as Arne Slot's team snapped their losing streak by beating Fulham 2-0.

Match Report

Salah confirmed during the international break that his glittering nine-year spell on Merseyside will end at the conclusion of the season, while fellow modern-day great Andy Robertson announced he will also be departing.

And on an emotional day, Liverpool put their recent losses in the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League behind them, with Rio Ngumoha also on target.

Ngumoha's first Anfield strike was a delightful curling effort that gave Bernd Leno no chance in the 36th minute, after the 17-year-old turned Timothy Castagne inside-out near the left corner of the area.

Salah then joined him on the scoresheet four minutes later, planting a trademark finish past Leno after taking in Cody Gakpo's offload at the end of a flowing move.

Fulham improved dramatically after half-time and had several chances to force a nervy finale, with Sasa Lukic having a goal chalked off for offside before Rodrigo Muniz and Emile Smith Rowe were guilty of glaring misses.

But following their defeats to Brighton, Manchester City and Paris Saint-German, Liverpool held firm for a victory that takes them four points clear of Chelsea in the table, ahead of the Blues facing Manchester City on Sunday. 

Data Debrief: Wingers old and young on target

Salah's goal will be a memorable one for those present at Anfield, where the Egyptian had not scored in the Premier League since a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on November 1 (seven games without a goal since then). The outgoing Liverpool icon now has 108 Premier League goals at Anfield, with only Thierry Henry (114 at Highbury) scoring more at a single venue in the competition's history.

Replacing Salah will be a daunting task for the Reds ahead of 2026-27, but perhaps Ngumoha can help them fill the void. Only Michael Owen (five) has scored more Premier League goals for Liverpool before turning 18 than he has (two).

And, at the age of 17 years and 225 days, Ngumoha became Liverpool's youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield, surpassing Raheem Sterling (17 years, 317 days versus Reading in October 2012).

Only Wayne Rooney (17 years, 51 days, versus Blackburn Rovers) and Cesc Fabregas (17 years, 113 days, also versus Blackburn) have started a Premier League game and scored at a younger age than Ngumoha.

Liverpool finished with 1.81 expected goals (xG) from 18 shots, with Fulham posting 1.07 xG from 19 attempts, boosting their figures significantly in the second half. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

9' Jones and Ngumoha combine but the cross from the youngster is poor

11' Great play from Wirtz, the ball falls to Robertson who's shot is blocked

22' Gakpo drills wide

29' Iwobi's shot straight at Mamardashvili

33' Wilson curls one onto the roof of the net

36' Ngumoha takes the lead with a brilliant curling effort!! Liverpool 1-0 Fulham

39' Match Event for Liverpool vs Fulham

40' Brilliant finish into the bottom corner! Liverpool 2-0 Fulham (Salah)

50' Match Event for Liverpool vs Fulham

69' Changes for Liverpool: Joe Gomez, Alexander Isak and Alexis Mac Allister on

73' Gakpo's effort turned behind

76' Smith Rowe can't turn the ball home. Liverpool let off the hook

79' Mac Allister fires wide

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha

Subs: Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Isak, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez, Trey Nyoni

Fulham XI: Leno, Andersen, Iwobi, Castagne, Harry Wilson, Berge, Antonee Robinson, Calvin Bassey, Bobb, Rodrigo Muniz, Josh King

Subs: Tom Cairney, Benjamin Lecomte, Jimenez, Lukic, Diop, Chukwueze, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca