Liverpool plough on with more hope than expectation in the title race, writes MATT BARLOW after 3-1 win at Fulham

The sun was disappearing behind the new, imposing Riverside Stand as Jurgen Klopp embarked on another round of congratulatory handshakes and backslaps.

Liverpool had resisted a late Fulham flurry to win with some degree of comfort, easing shoulder to shoulder with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and Klopp beamed.

He was in good spirits as he prowled the pitch and moved towards the away fans in the corner of Craven Cottage, where he delivered his trademark trio of first pumps and a hearty slap on his chest to reciprocal cheers.

They will not share this ritual many more times and yet none of it was quite at full power. It was not the super-charged reaction of a team on a title drive and there are reasons for that.

Liverpool’s stumbling form over recent weeks has left its mark.

There are five games left before Klopp rides into the sunset and the hopes of glorious finale have faded. Win all five and the Reds will have 89 points, which was enough for Manchester City to win the title last season but the champions can break 90 points and nobody expects them to slip.

That is the standard set by Pep Guardiola and Liverpool face tough fixtures on the road this week, first at neighbours Everton and then back to London at West Ham.

Until a shot at the title is back in their hands, Liverpool will do what they can, win their games and move on.

They are not purring by any stretch of the imagination and will not allow themselves to be carried away with results like this, even though there were elements of satisfaction.

Trent Alexander-Arnold looked somewhere near finding his groove and curled in a beautiful free-kick for the game’s opening goal, Ryan Gravenberch struck for the first time in the Premier League and Diogo Jota his first