Liverpool face Fulham at Craven Cottage in the 31st Premier League game of the season.
With Man City involved in FA Cup action this weekend it presents the reds with an opportunity to go into the international break as Premier League leaders.
The reds will go top with a win, moving on to 76 points.
Fulham look set for a return back to the Championship in what has been a disappointing campaign for them - although they showed plenty of spirit in the opening stages of the reverse fixture at Anfield late last autumn.
The reds do have injury concerns relating to Jordan Henderson and a doubt over Naby Keita. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is nearing a return but this game comes too early for him to be considered.
Liverpool will be looking for a third consecutive win in all competitions, a feat surprisingly not achieved since a few days after Christmas 2018. The reds have 3 wins and 4 draws in the past 7 Premier League games.
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As it happened...
Here's how the top six stand before todays games. Chelsea play away at Everton and a point for them will return Man Utd back to where they were when Mourinho was sacked - 6th.
Fabinho/Lallana in - Henderson/Milner out.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Lovren, Milner, Sturridge, Moreno, Shaqiri, Origi.
Liverpool will face former winger Ryan Babel who starts today for the home team.
Fulham line up like this:
Rico, Chambers, Ream, Fosu-Mensah, Bryan, Cairney, Ayité, Babel, Seri, Anguissa, Mitrovic
Subs: Fabri, Odoi, Christie, Sessegnon, McDonald, Kebano, Vietto
Bobby Firmino making his 40th competitive LFC appearance of the campaign. He’s been involved in the most games of any Liverpool player this season.
— Anfield Online (@anfieldonline) March 17, 2019
He has 11 Premier League goals so far this season. He scored 15 last season (his highest PL goalscoring season). pic.twitter.com/joqzIbTdQB
"It is just a very important game for us. We don't think about the situation in the table or whatever, we are only focused on our situation. But we know how difficult it is - we only have to take our game against Fulham at home: we need a genius moment from Ali, Trent and Mo to win that game.
"Fulham has a difficult season obviously, but since Scott [Parker] is in you can see the change, it is really kind of a breath of fresh air. They lost the two games against Chelsea, which is a difficult one for all teams in the league obviously, and Leicester with a new manager there. But they were pretty impressive.
"Now we have to make sure that we are really spot on from the first second and hopefully we can win that game."
We are underway!
4' Salah with the game's first shot but he fires wide.
12' Robertson makes some space and drills in a cross that is collected by the Fulham keeper.
Slow start.
20' Joe Bryan does well to take the ball off Mo Salah just yards away from the Fulham goal.
24' Just over halfway through the first half, and similar to the start of the Anfield game - Liverpool haven't caused Fulham a huge problem yet.
Babel a clear threat for the home team.
26' Well well - eat our shorts. Sadio Mane opens the scoring for the reds. That man is on absolute FIRE! ????
He powered into the area with pace, collects ball back from Firmino and boom 1-0.
That goal was Sadio Mane's 20th of the season (17 in the PL league, 3 in the Champions League).
Exactly the same as Mo Salah.
Liverpool boosted by that goal. The reds aren't exactly busting a gut but stroking it around calmly now and look to have a degree of control over this game.
1-0's a dangerous scoreline though...
35' Opportunity there for Andy Robertson who was inside the 6 yard box but from a tight angle the keeper gets some part of his body to steer it away from goal.
39' Fabinho collects a yellow for a late tackle. Mistimed that one. Straight after he's gone in for another tackle.
Needs to be sensible.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
The reds lead thanks to the goalscoring machine that is Sadio Mane. Could have been more, but 1-0 will do for now!
James Milner warming up at half time. Wonder if he might replace the yellow carded Fabinho?
We're back at it.
Just to confirm - no half time changes.
47' Drilled shot from Lallana - little backheel flick from Firmino. Keeper collects.
54' Trent Alexander-Arnold with a lot of freedom to ping in the crosses and then LFC almost do some damage from the corner - the wind is sucking that towards goal and it takes it away from the heads of the big LFC centre-backs.
57' Sunshine of the first half has been replaced by very heavy rain and very grey skies.
64' There's the warning. Fulham ball in the back of the net. Just the four players offside including Ayite who put the ball in the net. Disallowed correctly.
65' And here's more danger. Ryan Sessegnon on for Jean Michael Seri. Sessegnon goes on to the left wing which means that Ryan Babel moves more centrally.
Fulham's André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is booked for a foul.
67' Wijnaldum with a strong appeal for a pen there - Fosu-Mensah holding him down as Gini went to rise for a header.
Not given by referee Craig Pawson.
68' Fulham on the break and it requires a good save from Alisson.
Liverpool not kicking on here and the lead is a nervous 1-0. Fulham growing into this game in this second half - spurred on by the home crowd.
72' Roberto Firmino off for Divock Origi. Adam Lallana heads off - replaced by James Milner.
74' Ryan Babel scores. He doesn't celebrate.
Long ball by Fulham. Van Dijk heads it to the keeper but Alisson doesn't collect and it bounces off Babel who taps it over the line.
80' Liverpool win a penalty.
Keeper dragged Mane down. Definite penalty.
81' Milner drills in the penalty.
Liverpool back in the lead.
82' Cairney off, Kebano on.
Ridiculous foul there by the Fulham keeper Sergio Rico. But another expert penalty by James Milner to put the reds back in the lead.
85' Wijnaldum at the end of a good Liverpool move and it goes narrowly wide.
87' Great run by Mane, he feeds Salah on his left but the Egyptian drills it straight at the keeper.
Should have been 3-1.
Into injury time. 3 minutes.
90+2 Salah replaced with Sturridge.
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
The reds go back to the top of the Premier League.
We did a pre-match table before the game, lets take a look at it now.
"We started really well, and did a lot of good things but lost the rhythm a bit. I am not the most experienced manager and I have similar problems after Champions League games.
"First half a bit rusty. Second half we could have finished it off and then it is clear at 1-0 if you don't kill it off that can happen. Babel was there that is how football is. They deserved a goal but we deserved three points. A brilliant afternoon I have to say.
"I am not in any doubt about my players nerves. It is about intensity. We go for perfection but it is rare that you get it. Burnley, Munich, Fulham - you have to adapt. People will say we need to be more convincing, but we are at the start of a development, not the end.
Thanks for joining us. More reaction coming up.
