Coming back after a masterful away win in Europe, all that mattered was the result. Liverpool got it, overcoming a scare to finish off Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
Visiting a side that is all but relegated already can provide a dangerous challenge on the heels of such a big win in midweek. Eventually, the Reds broke through with an intricate sequence of passing that led directly to a Sadio Mane goal.
By half-time, the scrappy affair saw Liverpool in a dangerous position with a 1-0 lead. The longer it stayed a one-goal game, the longer Fulham felt invited to continue playing.
The Reds returned from the break and created a flurry of chances, but failed to put any of them away. The wastefulness allowed Fulham to get a foothold in the game for a few minutes.
Then, a wildly mishit clearance from James Milner put Virgil van Dijk in a bit of bother, and the centre-back sent a soft header back to Alisson, who could not catch it. It meant former Red Ryan Babel got a tap-in to equalise.
It took a little luck and some awful decision-making from Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico, who pulled Mane down in the area, for a chance to present itself.
It took no time for referee Craig Pawson to point to the spot and James Milner slotted the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute for the win and a return to the top of the Premier League table.
Here are four findings from the match.
