Why Liverpool’s Triumph At Fulham Was Worth More Than Three Points Ahead Of Title-Defining Run

Fighting back for three points at Fulham on Sunday was a crucial moment for Liverpool, with their next three games potentially defining the title race.

This was a massive step forward; this was a defining result.

The type of victory that successful league title campaigns are built upon and a win that put Liverpool back on top of the Premier League.

Craven Cottage was ripe for the classic Liverpool banana skin moment, and so it almost proved.

To walk away with a win is nothing but a kick in the teeth for anybody who either wants Man City to win the title, or alternatively just doesn’t want Liverpool to win it.

A miscue from James Milner, a hesitation from Alisson, a delay from Virgil van Dijk and a gift presented to an apologetic Ryan Babel.

This had Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea, five years ago, stamped all over it; this was meant to be the definitive moment we shot ourselves in the foot, circa 2018/19.

This was meant to be this season’s version of the 4-4 against Arsenal in 2008/09; this was to be Gerard Houllier’s “10 games from greatness” from 2001/02.

This was threatening to be David James inadvisable attempt to collect the ball against Coventry in 1996/97.

Another self-inflicted wound in a title race where we were in with a very real chance of lifting the curse; another self-inflicted wound elicited just as the title drought seemed to be in danger of ending.

People of a non-Liverpool denomination set their watches by stuff like this.

This Liverpool has a vague sense of being detached from its vulnerable modern history, a modern history of talking ourselves out of winning league titles.

Generally speaking, I dislike those massive oversized headphones that players wear when nonchalantly strolling into football grounds. They represent better than anything else the sense of detachment between football clubs and their supporters.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 17, 2019: Liverpool's captain James Milner celebrates scoring the second goal from a penalty kick with team-mates during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Yet, what Liverpool are currently doing is strolling into football grounds with a metaphorical and collective set of massive oversized headphones on, attempting to blot out the habits of a lost Liverpool generation.

Undeterred by the manner of his introduction to the game, Milner went from playing a huge part in a poorly conceded equaliser, to calmly slotting home the winning penalty.

In technical terms, it wasn’t the greatest penalty.

Stroked down the middle, it both psyched out the Fulham goalkeeper and came with that element of risk, where if Sergio Rico had just stood still he could have simply volleyed the ball high up the pitch, or launched it into row Z.

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