Liverpool returned to winning ways with a composed 2-0 victory against Fulham at Anfield, easing the mounting pressure on manager Arne Slot after a difficult run of results.
The home side came into this contest having secured only two wins from their previous eight outings across all competitions. Recent defeats against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain had intensified scrutiny, making this performance all the more crucial.
The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute, and it was a historic moment. Youngster Rio Ngumoha etched his name into the record books by becoming the youngest Liverpool player to score a Premier League goal at Anfield, aged just 17 years and 225 days. His finish was calm and precise, cutting inside before curling the ball into the far corner after a strong forward run initiated by Florian Wirtz.
Liverpool quickly capitalised on the momentum. Just four minutes later, Ngumoha was again involved in the build-up, linking play effectively before Cody Gakpo set up Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward delivered a composed finish across goal, marking only his second league strike since November and his sixth of the current campaign. This comes after his remarkable 29-goal contribution in last season’s title-winning run.
Fulham, returning after a three-week break, struggled to find rhythm in the opening half but showed more intent after the interval. They controlled large spells of possession and created opportunities, yet lacked the cutting edge required to shift the outcome. Sasa Lukic had a goal ruled out for offside, while Rodrigo Muniz and Emile Smith Rowe failed to convert promising chances.
Despite the late pressure, Liverpool remained organised and disciplined, securing a much-needed clean sheet along with three valuable points. The result provides a timely boost in confidence and offers some breathing room for Slot as his side looks to regain consistency in the weeks ahead.
