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That’s it for VAVEL UK’s live text commentary of this Premier League match between Liverpool and Fulham — we hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned at the site for more live coverage and further reaction and analysis to all top flight matches this weekend.
FULL-TIME STATS
Possession: 63%-37%
Shots: 16-10
On target: 3-3
Corners: 9-4
Fouls: 10-8
FULL-TIME - LIVERPOOL 0-1 FULHAM
They've done it! A massive victory for Fulham, compiling the misery on their hosts Liverpool who have now lost six league games in a row on home turf.
The Cottagers deserved to lead at the break, and they managed to do so courtesy of Lemina's deft finish on the stroke of half-time.
But the real work was done in the second half, when they survived wave after wave of attacks from the Reds, defending with discipline and courage to lift themselves to level on points with Brighton in 17th.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain 7th but could drop even lower depending on results elsewhere.
95'
Phillips heads over a hopeful effort from outside the box after a cross from Mane.
And with that... have Fulham done it?
93'
Keita goes into the book for a cynical challenge on Lemina as he looks to break away.
92'
Shaqiri lofts a ball over Robertson on the other side of the box. It's a great cut-back across the face of goal, but Andersen yanks it away before the swarm of Reds lurking behind him can latch onto it.
Unbelievably good defending from the Dane.
91'
There will be four, probably long, minutes of stoppage time.
It begins with Lemina suffering a bit of cramp as Liverpool earn a corner.
89'
Mitrovic leads a Fulham counter-attack started by Loftus-Cheek; he works his way to the edge of the box before arrowing an effort at goal, but it's saved easily enough by Alisson.
87'
Both Salah and Mane are caught offside in quick succession, putting a firm stop to some pretty dangerous-looking Liverpool attacks.
85' SUBSTITUTION - FULHAM
Mitrovic comes on for Cavaleiro to lead Fulham's line in the last five minutes.
83' SUBSTITUTION - FULHAM
Robinson comes on for Lookman as Fulham look to defend their lead in the final stages.
80'
Alexander-Arnold whips another delicious ball into the box. Mane meets it at the back post, but heads the ball straight into the ground and Areola is able to claim it.
Into the final 10 minutes now...
77'
Alexander-Arnold's first contribution, a corner, is headed away by Adarabioyo. Keita latches onto it from 25 yards out and attempts the volley first-time, but it lands in Row Z of the Kop End.
76' SUBSTITUTIONS - LIVERPOOL
Two changes for Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho replace Neco Williams and Milner respectively.
72'
Neco Williams gets to the byline, turns back on himself and supplies Shaqiri on the edge of the area. The forward steadies himself and attempts to curl an effort into the top corner; agonisingly wide of the target.
71'
Fulham are just 20 minutes away from securing what would be the biggest win of their season so far, but you get the sense that the battle's only just beginning at Anfield. We're now seeing wave after wave of Liverpool attacks.
70'
Salah drifts into a wide position and floats a cross into the area. Mane rises above Decordova-Reid, but sees his header back across goal brush the woodwork and Fulham are able to clear.
A matter of inches away from evening the scores for Liverpool there.
67' SUBSTITUTION - FULHAM
Maja makes way for Loftus-Cheek in the first change of the day for the visitors.
66'
Fulham have been really organised here. Liverpool have had most of the possession in this half, unsurprisingly, but they haven't been able to break them down apart from with that chance for Jota earlier.
Still a long way to go yet though...
61' SUBSTITUTION - LIVERPOOL
Gini Wijnaldum makes way for Sadio Mane in an attack-minded switch from Klopp.
60'
Cavaleiro robs the ball from Milner and surges into the Liverpool half. The defence can't keep up with him and he gets into the box before cutting onto his right foot to shoot, but in the end his effort at goal is disappointing as Liverpool are let off the hook.
58'
Neco Williams flashes an effort at goal, but it's high and wide of the top corner.
55'
Lemina sets Lookman behind the Liverpool defence once again, but Phillips does well to recover and marshal the threat away.
53'
Robertson delivers a great cross into the area. Areola misreads the flight of the ball and it nearly drops for Shaqiri running in at the back post, but the forward just about misses it.
Liverpool look like they're ramping up the pressure in this second half.
51'
A plane flies over Anfield bearing the message, 'Unity is strength. Come on you Reds'.
Liverpool need to find a bit more unity and strength at the moment.
48'
That's a save right out of the top drawer from Areola to keep his side in the lead.
Neco Williams is freed down the right and he clips a ball into the box. Jota takes the volley on first time and it's looping right into that top corner, but at full stretch the Frenchman bats the ball away with his left hand.
47'
The goalscorer Lemina receives a yellow card for pulling Robertson's shirt.
46'
Liverpool get us back underway for the second half. It's going to be a fascinating one; let's see what both sides have got.
HALF-TIME STATS
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 5-8
On target: 2-2
Corners: 0-3
Fouls: 6-3
HALF-TIME - LIVERPOOL 0-1 FULHAM
Liverpool still seem to be in their peculiar rut. By their own lofty standards, they've been way off the pace so far and should probably have fallen behind earlier in the half.
Fulham got what they deserved in the end with Lemina's deft finish on the stroke of half-time. The 45 minutes after the break is set to be the most crucial of their season so far; victory here would be of immeasurable importance to their chances of survival.
45' GOAL - LIVERPOOL 0-1 FULHAM
Fulham had the lead and you can't say they don't deserve it!
Salah takes his time clearing on the edge of the area and Lemina nicks the ball off him before powering a vicious effort into the far bottom corner.
What an important goal that could be.
44'
Fulham threaten again as Cavaleiro latches onto a ball behind the Liverpool defence and delivers a good driven cross into the area, but nobody is there to provide the crucial final touch.
43'
Reed clips a clever ball over to Adarabioyo dashing in towards the back post, but the defender misses his contact on the ball and it trickles out for a goal-kick.
42'
Now it's Jota who receives a yellow card for leaving a leg on Lemina.
39'
Shaqiri whips the resultant free-kick just over the top right corner. That wasn't far away at all from the Swiss international.
38'
Tete goes into the referee's book for a strong tackle from behind on Jota.
35'
Another super chance for Fulham!
Bobby Decordova-Reid picks out Lookman with a brilliant pass from inside his own half. It's pretty much a carbon copy of a chance he had earlier as he skips past Neco Williams and takes aim at goal, but Rhys Williams puts his body on the line to send the ball over and out for a corner.
30'
Keita attempts a drive at goal from about 25 yards out, but it lands straight in Areola's grasp.
29'
Fulham approach down the left, but the eventual cross from Lookman goes all the way through to the other side where Tete picks it up. The full-back steadies himself and crosses into the box; it does meet the head of Maja, but Alisson gets out well to block the ball at point-blank range.
The visitors are still looking pretty threatening.
27'
Liverpool are enjoying a bit more possession now, finally able to let their wing-backs roam forward, but to no avail just yet.
23'
It's all about Ademola Lookman at the moment. A clever one-two with Harrison Reed sees him freed down the wing once again, and he attempts to whip the ball into Maja but it's just over the striker's head.
Fulham have been the ones piling on the pressure in the last few exchanges.
22'
Lookman is again picked out by Andersen. He skips past Neco Williams and plays a pass into Maja in the area. The striker attempts to prod the ball home with the outside of his right boot, but it really doesn't come off for him.
21'
Lookman drifts into the area and sees his eventual cross deflected high in the sky. Alisson comes to claim the dropping ball but misses it completely and it falls for Maja instead, though the Liverpool defence are on hand to clear before the striker can get his shot away.
19'
Salah controls a long-ball from Rhys Williams and holds off Adarabioyo on the edge of the box as he turns and shoots, but the ball drops wide of the post.
15'
Salah is causing real trouble for Fulham.
This time, he's fed into the area by Shaqiri, beats Aina with his first touch but can't get past the onrushing Areola and the visiting defence are able to clear their lines.
14'
Tete finds space down the right again and attempts to supply Maja in the area, but this time Alisson comes to claim.
11'
Andersen strides into midfield and plays a fantastic ball out to Lookman on the left and behind the Liverpool defence. The winger allows Neco Williams to catch up with him before shifting the ball onto his right and aiming for the near post, but it's just wide of the mark.
8'
Possession's been locked in midfield for a few minutes now. Both teams seem to have each other figured out in these opening stages.
6'
Salah's managed to wriggle behind Fulham's back line a couple of times already. They'll have to watch out for that, because he probably only needs one chance to open the scoring.
3'
Oh, what a chance for Fulham already!
They got straight down the other end where Tete picks up the ball on the right flank and delivers an early cross into the area where Maja was lurking; the striker tried to volley it into the top corner but got his contact all wrong as Liverpool survive an early scare.
2'
Faint appeals for a penalty as Mo Salah is shoulder-barged over by Ola Aina; the challenge seemed far enough.
1' KICK-OFF
Fulham get us underway.
Nearly there
Both teams are out on the Anfield pitch now; kick-off is just moments away.
Fulham line-up
Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina; Cavaleiro, Lemina, Reed, Lookman; Decordova-Reid, Maja.
Subs: Fabri, Hector, Ream, Kongolo, Bryan, Robinson, Anguissa, Loftus-Cheek, Mitrovic.
Liverpool line-up
Alisson; N Williams, R Williams, Phillips, Robertson; Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita; Shaqiri, Salah, Jota.
Subs: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Tsimikas, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Mane, Origi.
Stay tuned
That’s it for now, but the live text commentary will resume around one hour before kick-off as we bring you the team news and confirmed line-ups.
How to watch
This fixture will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event for supporters with a Sky subscription, though you can of course follow all of the action as it happens right here on VAVEL UK with minute-by-minute updates on all the goings on during the match.
Quotes from Fulham manager Scott Parker
“When you’re playing against a wounded animal that has the class and quality that Liverpool possess, then you need to tread very, very carefully, while also understanding that if you approach the game in the right manner, maybe you have a chance.
“When you’re a young manager I’m always looking at every manager I come up against, what makes them so special, and Jurgen is one of those guys. He’s done a fantastic job and is certainly someone I hold in that sort of regard.
“As a football club, for the individuals in this team, for me and my staff, we all fit the bracket that this year it would be massive for all of us to stay in the league — and that’s our dying ambition.”
Quotes from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
“If you now look at Fulham — difficult start, now in the last few weeks they got more points than we got in the last few weeks. That says already everything. This will be a tough one. It’s a football-playing team, they have an incredible possession record for a team in that area of the table.
“We all have to improve, definitely. You only lose games when you have more potential than the results show. It’s all about the performance, yes, and that’s where we have to improve.
“We are very self-critical, we know that and we take and face all the criticism. But it is still our situation and we cannot change the past, the only thing we can try to change is the near future.”
Predicted XIs
Liverpool — Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Fabinho, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wijnaldum, Jones; Salah, Jota, Mane.
Fulham — Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina; Reed, Anguissa; Decordova-Reid, Loftus-Cheek, Lookman; Maja.
Fulham team news
Fulham have no new injury concerns; only the long-term absentees of reserve goalkeeper Marek Rodak and skipper Tom Cairney have been ruled out.
Liverpool team news
The fitness of defender Ozan Kabak is doubtful, which makes the return of Nathaniel Phillips all the more timely; he should fill in at centre-back.
Mohamed Salah is fit despite showing signs of fatigue in the defeat to Chelsea, but Joel Mateo, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Caoimhin Kelleher all remain sidelined.
Match facts
That draw in December ended a six-match losing streak for Fulham against these opponents.
The Cottagers last won at Anfield in May 2012, and have scored just four goals in their last 18 visits to the stadium.
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in eight of their past nine home encounters with Fulham in all competitions.
Last meeting
The most recent encounter between the two sides took place in December of last year, when Fulham held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in front of 2,000 supporters at Craven Cottage.
The hosts opened the scoring with Bobby Decordova-Reid’s deft finish in the first half, but Mo Salah equalised from the spot for the Reds to see the spoils shared at full-time.
Fulham's form
The revival of Scott Parker’s Fulham has been one of the stories of the season so far — but they’ve still been in the relegation zone since matchday 12, and their recent upsurge gives them no opportunity to rest on their laurels just yet.
Last time out, the Cottagers lost to Tottenham Hotspur courtesy of an own-goal Tosin Adarabioyo before having a Josh Maja goal ruled out in the second half. They registered a good performance, probably deserving more from the game, and will be hoping to leave Merseyside with something to show for they efforts here.
Fulham currently sit 18th in the Premier League table.
Liverpool's form
Five defeats in their last six matches spell out perfectly clearly that Liverpool’s season is not going as planned.
Their defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Thursday was their fifth home defeat in a row, and the Reds will desperately be hoping to see their Anfield affliction come to an end here.
Liverpool currently sit 7th in the Premier League table.
An important one for both sides
Suffice to say both teams could do with a win here.
Liverpool’s title defence is not going so well; they are now a staggering 22 points behind current leaders Manchester City and aren’t even in the Champions League spots as things stand — the least they’ll be expecting is to sneak back into the top four by the end of the season, but they’ll need to put an end to their poor form first.
Meanwhile, Fulham’s season is looking up — they recently went on a five-game unbeaten run in the league — but they still find themselves very much entrenched in that relegation battle. A victory here would do their chances of survival the world of good.
Hello and welcome!
Hello and welcome to VAVEL UK’s live text commentary of this Premier League fixture, Liverpool vs Fulham. Stay tuned for a comprehensive preview followed by live updates from when the match kicks off at 14:00 GMT.