MX23RW : Friday, March 22 16:03:21
Mar 17, 2019 at 2.15pm UK at ​Craven Cottage
Attendance: 25,043
Fulham
1-2
Liverpool
Babel (74')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Mane (26'), Milner (81' pen.)

Klopp hails 'sensational result' after Liverpool scrape past Fulham

Klopp hails 'sensational result' after Liverpool scrape past Fulham
© Reuters
James Milner struck a late penalty after Virgil Van Dijk's gaffe had handed Fulham an equaliser.

Jurgen Klopp felt James Milner's late penalty in Liverpool's 2-1 victory at Fulham had kept them in the title race.

Klopp's side lead the Premier League table heading into the international break after moving two points clear of Manchester City, who have played one fewer fixture, but having come so close to a damaging draw at Craven Cottage.

After the in-form Sadio Mane had given them a half-time lead, Milner, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker combined to gift former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel the chance to score Fulham's equaliser.

James Milner celebrates his spot-kick winner
James Milner celebrates his spot-kick winner (Adam Davy/PA)

Victory was ultimately secured in the 81st minute when Mane was perhaps fortunate to have been awarded a penalty following a challenge by the hosts' goalkeeper Sergio Rico, and Milner scored from the spot.

"We want to stay in the race. That's what we did," said Liverpool boss Klopp. "Nothing is decided, but we can make sure we stay in the race.

"(First is) the best position you can be in. City don't look as if they drop a lot of points, so we have to win, to win and to win. Now they have a game in hand but it was very important we won. We were really all very happy. You could see in our reaction.

"I didn't see us panic. I liked how we reacted. The penalty doesn't say we are sensational. Five or 10 minutes before the equaliser, we had so many little mistakes.

"We controlled the game completely, and then we gave Fulham the ball and the crowd woke up. But we had a very intense week, going to Munich, coming back, travelling to London, so I'm completely fine. Average game, sensational result."

Klopp was asked whether Jordan Henderson would be fit for England's Euro 2020 qualifiers with the Czech Republic and Montenegro, given his absence on Sunday with an ankle injury, and he responded: "He will go to the national team. He has two or three days still at Melwood, but it still looks positive.

"When it looks positive and he can train, he will go to the national team. He was not able to play, but it's not that serious. In three or four days, it should be fine."

Fulham, who are 13 points from safety with seven games to play, have lost their last seven games and their next fixture is at home to reigning champions City after the international beak.

Sadio Mane earns Liverpool their penalty
Sadio Mane earns Liverpool their penalty (Adam Davy/PA)

Caretaker manager Scott Parker has so far overseen three defeats from three despite some improved performances and he is aware he needs to start producing results.

"I'm really disappointed," the 38-year-old said. "We were well in the game. Then Sergio's made a mistake and we couldn't hold on to what would have been a massive point.

"I understand that, in the position I'm in, my main focus is seeing improvements. But I understand it's about results. I want them more than anyone. Do I see an improvement? For sure I do. But we're just trying to get some results."


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Ryan Sessegnon in action during the Premier League game between Fulham and Watford on September 22, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914

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