Liverpool are two points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after James Milner atoned for a dreadful error at Fulham.
2018/2019 Premier League
1-2
Match Report
James Milner went from zero to hero, holding his nerve from the penalty spot to send Liverpool top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Fulham.
Experienced midfielder Milner was brought on by Jurgen Klopp to help see out a 1-0 victory, only for him to send a mindless clearance skywards, which Virgil van Dijk and Alisson left for one another and allowed Ryan Babel to cancel out Sadio Mane's 26th-minute opener.
That was Mane's 11th goal in his past 11 outings and the Senegal forward was brought down by Sergio Rico after the Fulham goalkeeper spilt Mohamed Salah's shot to hand Milner his shot at redemption.
Liverpool moved two points in front of Manchester City, who were in FA Cup action this weekend, while second-bottom Fulham are marooned 13 points from safety after a seventh consecutive loss.
Player Ratings
Match Events
26' GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Liverpool (Mane)
WHO ELSE?! MANE OPENS THE SCORING! It's 1-0 Liverpool and it's that man again! An absolutely delicious one-two sees Mane burst into the area, slide through Firmino, and then cut inside to latch onto a clever back-heel return from the striker, which he finishes first-time. Simply sublime.
63' OFFSIDE! Ayite's goal disallowed
OFFSIDE! A warning to Liverpool as Fulham have an equaliser disallowed! There were no small margins in it, though as Ayite was a good five yards offside when he headed in Zambo Anguissa's deflected strike.
74' GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (Babel)
WHAT A MOMENT! BABEL RESTORES PARITY! 1-1! Milner's miskick puts Liverpool under a bit of pressure, and it's compounded as Alisson doesn't come out to clear. Van Dijk is forced to retreat and head back towards his keeper, but again Alisson fails to clear on the end of the back pass, striking his effort off Babel, who finds himself through on goal via a fortunate bounce, and he rolls a finish into the empty net against his former side!
81' Penalty Goal! Fulham 1-2 Liverpool (Milner)
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! A rush of blood to the head from Sergio Rico, who manhandles Mane in the area, dragging him to ground under no real threat, with the ball running away from goal! Liverpool back in front, 2-1, as Milner dispatches his penalty, atoning for his role in Fulham's equaliser.
Line-ups
Fulham XI: Ryan Babel, F. Ayité, T. Cairney, T. Ream, Sergio Rico, Seri, J. Bryan, A. Mitrović, Chambers, Anguissa, Mensah
Subs: K. McDonald, D. Odoi, Fabri, C. Christie, N. Kebano, Vietto, R. Sessegnon
Liverpool XI: Wijnaldum, Lallana, Matip, Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Salah, Van Dijk, S. Mané, Fabinho, A.Robertson, T. Alexander-Arnold
Subs: Milner, Sturridge, S. Mignolet, D. Lovren, X. Shaqiri, Moreno, Origi