Slavisa Jokanovic wore all black and a mood to match after a seventh consecutive defeat but this did not resemble a funeral march for the Fulham manager. Bottom of the Premier League, yes, deservedly beaten, yes; though not without handing Liverpool an unusually difficult assignment at Anfield. Victory was built on ingenuity and no little controversy for Jürgen Klopp’s contenders.

An eighth goal of the season from Mohamed Salah plus a fine finish from Xherdan Shaqiri took Liverpool back to the summit, for a few hours at least. It was the reaction their manager craved following the lame Champions League defeat at Red Star Belgrade in midweek, a fifth home league win of the campaign and the clean sheet ensured Liverpool’s meanest start to a top flight campaign – five goals conceded in 12 matches – since 1979.

Liverpool 2-0 Fulham: Premier League – as it happened Read more

Fulham departed incensed, however, after Aleksandar Mitrovic had a header disallowed for offside 14 seconds before Salah opened the scoring. The visitors defended woefully at the resulting free-kick that produced the striker’s goal. Jokanovic had a point when insisting it was “absurd” they had to defend the counterattack at all, arguing the ball was still rolling when Alisson restarted play. Klopp was sympathetic to the Fulham manager’s overall plight on the final whistle, although not the outcome.

“I absolutely have sympathy for his situation,” he said. “Today was the first time Fulham really changed their approach. It wasn’t the result they wanted but they had a lot of quality and worked really well. I wish him all the best for the rest of the season as I watched them quite a lot in the Championship last year and it was brilliant. I don’t think a lot of teams with a football‑playing idea get promoted from the Championship but they really played football. I think they should stick with it as that’s what they are really good at. But you have to score from your chances.”

Fulham’s grievance stemmed from a lack of reward for an encouraging first-half display as much as the reading of a tight offside call. Jokanovic stuck to his principles with a 4-2-3-1 formation, a brave shout not only given the opposition but his team’s struggles and rumours surrounding change at the top at Craven Cottage during the impending international break.

One change of note was the introduction of Calum Chambers for the club‑record signing Jean Michaël Seri in central midfield. The defender added stability alongside André‑Frank Zambo Anguissa, helping to curb Roberto Firmino’s influence in the pockets of space he always locates. Mitrovic made a nuisance of himself from the start, providing Fulham with an outlet to relieve the pressure.

In Sergio Rico, the on-loan goalkeeper from Sevilla, Liverpool encountered another obstacle in the way of a comfortable Sunday afternoon. The hosts created several early chances with Sadio Mané, Shaqiri, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold missing the target from inviting positions. This was not a repeat of the processions Liverpool have enjoyed against the lesser lights of the Premier League this season.

The first gilt-edged opportunity fell to Fulham when Mitrovic flicked Rico’s clearance into the path of Ryan Sessegnon who, beating Joe Gomez to the ball, found himself clean through on Alisson’s goal. The 18-year-old had the time and freedom to finish but not the composure, dragging a left foot shot horribly wide. Sessegnon’s reaction, beating the ground in frustration, was a fair reflection of what had been squandered.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Aleksander Mitrovic heads the ball past Allison only to see the goal disallowed and Liverpool score 14 seconds later. Photograph: Paul Greenwood/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

The turning point stemmed from a well-worked Fulham corner. Sessegnon and André Schürrle combined to find Tom Cairney and, from his dangerous delivery, the unmarked Mitrovic beat Alisson with a powerful header. As the striker celebrated with two teammates the offside flag was raised and spoilt their mood. It would deteriorate within seconds. Alisson played a quick free‑kick to Alexander-Arnold on the right, the full-back sent the onside Salah sprinting clear of an exposed, sleeping Fulham defence and he finished confidently under Rico. Jokanovic raged at the fourth official but his ire should also have been reserved for his team’s sluggish reaction to the offside decision. It was marginal, with Andy Robertson’s heel in line with Mitrovic, but not the “disrespectful” decision that Jokanovic claimed.

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There was no disputing the merits of Liverpool’s second goal shortly after the restart. Rico saved superbly from Mané’s rising drive. Alexander‑Arnold’s subsequent corner was over-hit but Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho retained possession on the far side and fed the excellent Robertson. The left-back sent a first-time cross deep into the Fulham area where Shaqiri had ghosted away from Cairney and, with an expertly controlled volley, steered the ball beyond Rico.

There was no way back for Fulham. On this performance alone, that opportunity should be afforded their manager.