Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 2 Fulham 0 in the 2025-2026 Premier League at Anfield…
THIS is a low. But it won’t hurt you.
The weather over Merseyside has been strange this week. Blue skies one minute, gale force rain the next. Hard to know what’s coming next. Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 at home in April sounds like a result to be expected, but it’s not. Liverpool keep a clean sheet in the second-half and as the whistle blows the heavens break and torrential rain falls. It’s been hard to know what to expect.
Marco Silva’s Fulham are a good side today and assertive footballers like Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz show no fear, attacking in waves. Muniz fancies it against Liverpool. He knows he has form. And Iwobi is an underrated player.
Fulham simultaneously don’t entirely deserve this scoreline and could lose 3 or even 4. Up and down the pitch Fulham are a test for Liverpool. A test we pass but nonetheless a test.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper has a decent game. He has a few saves to make but the main test for him is distributional; what would make it easier is if his teammates passed to his stronger foot. There is a bundling of the ball amongst a gaggle of players on one occasion but he is largely better today than in recent games. He has more intent and is less reliant on long balls. The drawing on of Fulham works but it isn’t a barrel of laughs for a nervous crowd.
Cromarty and Fisher.
The crowd is nervous and the crowd is fractious. The crowd is behind the players but there is a point to be made and I am worried sick Liverpool Football Club’s hierarchy are needlessly backing themselves into a corner. The club only works when everyone pulls in the same direction. There is still time to change course.
The defence overall is effective and organised for about seventy percent of the game. Rocky in parts but in the end, good enough for a clean sheet. When Joe Gomez comes on it is clear what Liverpool are about for the rest of the game and that clarity helps. But Jeremie Frimpong is so convincing and verges on unique going forward. He is just electric. Being able to replace him with Liverpool’s most reliable man doesn’t half help.
There are just four minutes between Rio Ngumoha’s opener on the 36th minute and the last goal of the game on the 40th. Ngumoha looked like a move rehearsed many times came off. Windscreen wipers over the ball, a quick flick, and into the top far corner of the goal. He’s a young man with speed and ideas. Who knows what can happen given the right environment and a fairer wind than Liverpool have had this season?
Cromarty and Fisher, Dogger and Lundy.
It’s important not to over burden him both now and next year. Today showed what he could be as sixth of five, as Liverpool’s auxiliary winger, after the club acquire two. Arsenal are currently showing how much strength in depth you need. Ngumoha should be given more room to develop but more opportunity next year.
Mo Salah’s second is also a lovely effort. A much needed moment when it comes together. After an emotional storm, but the calm manner in which he has chosen to announce his parting at the end of this season, it felt right he took his chance. He is excellent today. Scooping the ball up, working hard for others and to create chances. He owes us nothing. He’s been a joy. He should take his bow with pride.
Along with Andy Robertson who starts and finishes the game today. He’s still the player we will always love and he gives us pace today as he always has. This era of players have been through an awful lot. The dignified manner in which they are bowing out hopefully allows us to thank them properly.
As does putting points on the board. We need them not to be scrapping until the end but they will if need be. Today though is a leap forward.
Around the pitch it is a solid if not dazzling performance. The definition of a needed win. A balm for troubled hearts. A win always helps. Szoboszlai, Jones and Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Wirtz, Konate and Gakpo, they do their work and come away with their points. This is how it should be. Everyone is their seven out of ten and Liverpool win at home against a good midtable outfit. This is the budget and the price tag and just competence coming together.
North Utshire, South Utshire. Forties, Fitzroy, Sole.
Who knows how hard it will be on Tuesday? What will need to be reckoned with? But we go into it with a home win under our belts and that surely helps. And the same is the case for next Sunday. Ngumoha should face up the giant O’Brien. Alexander Isak should threaten from the bench. An all-time great like Mo Salah should grace the Hill Dickinson and they should be glad they get to see his like once. Liverpool should be swatting aside midtable outfits away as well as home and that starts next Sunday.
Sometimes in football, there are storms to be faced. There are hills to be walked up. But as fans leaving Anfield in the pouring rain tonight found, facing all your problems is easier if Liverpool have won. A win always, always helps.
The table looks brighter. Tuesday is alive until it isn’t. Sunday is alive until the bitter end. And this season has been all storms, biblical shit at times, and we are all sick of getting wet but the destination is just there. Today Liverpool take a step forward towards getting out with the minimum of damage done on the pitch despite the Beaufort Scale being tested all over the place.
Very rough; squally showers; occasional high until later.
Visibility? Good. Occasionally poor.
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