Liverpool’s capitulation as champions stooped to an unprecedented low as Fulham boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 win at Anfield which condemned Jurgen Klopp’s side to a sixth successive home defeat.
Klopp made seven changes in the wake of Thursday’s defeat by Chelsea but they failed to inspire the Reds as their horrendous home run continued against the relegation-threatened Cottagers.
Mario Lemina punished slack defending from Mohamed Salah to rifle in his first Fulham goal on the stroke of half-time as Scott Parker’s side were rewarded for their adventurous approach at the home of champions.
Substitute Sadio Mane clipped the crossbar in the second half and a crucial stoppage-time clearance from Joachim Andersen prevented Liverpool from salvaging a point as they failed to win for an eighth consecutive game at Anfield for the first time since 1958.
By contrast, it was a memorable first managerial visit to Anfield for Parker as he guided Fulham to only their second victory away at Liverpool which sees them move level on points with 17th-place Brighton in the battle for survival.
With an eye arguably on Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 second-leg with RB Leipzig, Klopp made seven pre-match changes, but they were pounced upon by a Fulham side fighting for their lives.
The visitors came close to taking an early lead when January loan signing Josh Maja shanked a volley wide inside three minutes, and Fulham’s adventurous approach went on to cause Liverpool’s makeshift defence issues throughout the first period.
Ademola Lookman had the beating of Neco Williams, tormenting the Liverpool right-back throughout with driving runs which he could have capped with goals had he found the target with two shots early in the first half.
Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the team beaten by Chelsea, with Diogo Jota, Neco Williams, Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips among the returnees.
Bobby Decordova-Reid and Kenny Tete returned as Fulham made team changes from the defeat to Tottenham.
Liverpool were indebted to two smothering save from Alisson Becker before the half-hour mark when he prevented Maja from bundling the ball home at the second attempt after reaching Kenny Tete’s cross to the back post.
Neco Williams was undone by another run in behind from Lookman on 35 minutes but recovered in time with a crucial last-ditch block which turned the Fulham forward’s shot over the bar.
Salah looked sharp in the final third as he looked to draw a line under his midweek substitution against Chelsea. But having flashed a couple of early chances wide of the Fulham goal, the Egyptian’s week took a turn for the worse a minute before the break.
Salah dithered in possession on the edge of his own area after Liverpool had cleared a cross into the box, inviting pressure from Lemina who picked his pocket and rifled a low shot past Alisson which gave Fulham the half-time lead.