'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was a routine win for Liverpool as they comfortably dispatched Premier League strugglers Fulham at their home ground by two goals to nil.
They are one of the three teams yet to face defeat this league season, and the win today saw them temporarily return to the summit of the table.
Fulham defended well and looked a threat on the counter-attack, letting the Scousers have majority of the possession for the entirety of the match (73% to be precise).
But the Cottagers had the best chance in the opening stages through teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon, whose shot narrowly missed the far post of Alisson's net at the 24th minute.
They almost broke the deadlock in the 40th minute through Alexander Mitrovic, but it was controversially ruled offside.
Fulham remained in the game through some resilient defending and excellent goalkeeping, but Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock at the 41st minute, firing a low shot past the Argentinian from a lovely Alexander-Arnold cross, who caught the Fulham defense out with some searing speed and great vision.
Fulham created some great chances in the first half and were unlucky to go in at halftime trailing, mostly being let down by their finishing, or lack thereof.
They were pinned back by Liverpool from the start of the second half and eventually broke through at the 53rd minute through summer signing Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Swiss international put a beautiful first touch shot past Sergio Rico from a stunning Andy Robertson cross from the left wing.
Here are the 3 reasons why Liverpool came out victorious over their traveling opponents.
#1 The magnificence of their full backs
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have had a meteoric rise in their stature at the club and in World Football over the past year or so.
They have gone on from being the second choice to Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno to be one of the most potent fullback pairings in the World.
Their co-ordination amongst themselves and their teammates immaculate, as they both know exactly when to press on and when to drop deep and help out at the back, giving opposition wingers almost no joy, and their defense several headaches, as was the case today.
They both chipped in with an assist each, and put in a brilliant shift, not letting too much get past them, and keeping the Fulham wingers' contribution to the game to a bare minimum.
#2 Fulham's lack of form, luck, and poor finishing.
Fulham was promoted this season and was shaping up to be a very exciting team under an exciting coach, and they had a net spend of 100 million+ this summer, which made them one of the teams to look out early on in the season.
So far, it hasn't worked out for them though, as they have now lost their last six league games, and seven in all competitions, whilst sitting at the bottom of the league table with just five points from 12 games.
They've conceded a league-high 31 league goals so far, whilst scoring just 11 times, and they could've ended up with more had it not been for Sergio Rico saving them on several occasions.
Tonight though, they came out of the Anfield tunnel looking to get something out of this fixture and had a solid game plan that worked like a charm against a Liverpool frontline struggling to regain their form from last season.
Mitrovic's wrongly ruled out goal could've changed the complexion of the game and would have put the London side ahead, which could've seriously affected the result on the night.
It's decisions like these that really make the fans clamor for VAR more and more in the Premier League as each game week goes by.
#3 Liverpool's squad depth
In the previous few seasons, this is the kind of game that a lot of Liverpool fans would have dreaded, as they looked shaky whilst facing teams who sat deep and attacked on the counter.
They dropped points in matches against smaller clubs that gave them the notorious reputation of being the Robin Hood of the Premier League, by taking points off the top clubs and giving them away to strugglers.
That has not proven to be the case so far this season, as the Anfield club made recruitments in areas of need, as the club signed Fabinho, Alisson Becker, Naby Keita (who arrived this summer but was bought last year) and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Liverpool needed cover for their front line and improvements in the midfield and goalkeeping areas, as their weaknesses in these positions were the reason for their failure to pick up any silverware last year.
The signings have made Liverpool significantly stronger, who look to be mounting a serious title challenge against Pep Guardiola's rampant Manchester City side, who look like they're in a league of their own at times even against top oppositions.
