Little went Liverpool's way just before the first international break of 2025, as their dreams of EFL Cup and Champions League glory crashed and burned within the space of a few days, and little went the Reds' way in the first half of Wednesday's derby also.

However, after Toffees defender James Tarkowski inexplicably avoided taking the walk of shame for a crunching tackle on Alexis Mac Allister - which the PGMOL have now admitted was the incorrect call - Diogo Jota demonstrated his ruthless side to propel the champions-elect to a joyous win.

Slot and co may only end the campaign with the one trophy as opposed to the four that were possible just a couple of months ago, but as the Reds are still 12 points clear of Arsenal with just eight rounds remaining, their status as England's top dogs should not be up for debate.

September's shock home loss to Nottingham Forest remains the only time that the leaders have been bested in the top flight this term, as success over Everton prolonged their Premier League unbeaten run to a fabulous 26 matches, including each of their 15 on the road.

In fact, it has been almost exactly a year since Liverpool were last beaten in a Premier League away game - falling to none other than Everton on April 24, 2024 - and Slot's men have also found the back of the net at least twice in 13 of their 15 top-flight road matches this term.

Had Fulham managed to take a leaf out of Liverpool's attacking book at the Emirates, the Reds could have been just two matches away from clinching the title by now, but Marco Silva's former Gunners could not better the current Gunners in the midweek London derby.

A Fulham side comprising the likes of Bernd Leno, Willian, Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi put up a decent fight, but Mikel Merino's deflected strike and Bukayo Saka's emotional first goal of 2025 rendered Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp effort inconsequential.

Silva's outfit could at least reflect on that performance more positively than their FA Cup quarter-final crushing at the hands of Crystal Palace, and the European dream could still become a reality for the ninth-placed hosts, who are only three points off the top seven.

Inconsistency on their own patch has harmed their bid for continental football, though, as Fulham have alternated between winning and losing in each of their last six games at Craven Cottage in all competitions, and they have not managed to secure back-to-back Premier League home victories all season long.

Furthermore, the Cottagers' last top-flight home win over Liverpool came all the way back in December 2011, but they dug deep to leave Anfield with a 2-2 draw in December, their only point from their last 11 Premier League games against the team starting the day at the summit.

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Quansah, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Jota