LIVERPOOL returned to winning ways against Fulham thanks to goals either side of half-time from Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri. 

The result keeps Jurgen Klopp’s side in the mix at the top of the table, but leaves Fulham stuck to the bottom.

The opening stages of the game, from the home side’s point of view at least, were flat. Anfield waited to be entertained in this early kick-off against opposition Liverpool were expected to beat easily, and it led to a subdued first period.

The home fans saw their side almost concede twice in the first half. The best chance of the first 45 minutes prior to Salah’s goal fell to Ryan Sessegnon, who took advantage of some rare sloppy play from the Liverpool centre backs, but put his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

When the next opportunity arrived the visitors managed to find the back of the net, but the assistant referee raised his flag for offside as Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home. Seconds later, Liverpool were charging down the other end to take the lead. 

Virgil van Dijk urged Alisson to launch a counter-attack which he did with his usual proficiency, sending the ball out to Trent Alexander-Arnold. The right-back played a searching ball into the acres of space in front of Salah and the Egyptian finished well after sprinting away from the covering defenders.

It’s often said that the best time to score is just before or just after half-time. Liverpool managed both. Their second was created by the other full-back, Andy Robertson, who found Shaqiri at the far post. The Swiss finished expertly with a first-time shot past Sergio Rico.

It wasn’t the most convincing Liverpool performance, but it was an important win nevertheless.

“You have to finish your chances and we didn’t do that often enough to have a clear result, but I think we were focused and concentrated in the game,” said Klopp.

“I’m completely happy. Apart from scoring more goals it was a really good performance. We had to work hard and we won it.”