Having endured the toughest season of his Liverpool tenure to date, Jurgen Klopp is at least ensuring his players finish strongly as they made it five wins in as many games to keep their Champions League aspirations alive.
It was far from a classic and a nervous finale ensured fans were kept in a state of unease as the game headed towards its conclusion, but Mohamed Salah's first-half penalty was just about enough to secure this 1-0 win over Fulham.
It's officially the most consistent run of the campaign to date. Now unbeaten in seven with five victories on the trot since that 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Easter Sunday, Klopp may even yet rue the fact that his team's return to form came just too late in the day to secure the salvation of a top-four place. That dream, however, still lives on. For now.
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Now just four points behind Manchester United, who currently occupy the final Champions League spot, the Reds can sit back and watch Erik ten Hag's men try and negotiate a difficult trip to Brighton on Thursday night, knowing a slip-up could yet prove to be seismic.
That United have only played 32 matches still affords them the opportunity to decisively pull clear of the chasing pack, but points on the board are better than games in hand, even if Liverpool are in possession of more hope than expectation now.
With tricky trips to both West Ham and Bournemouth also still on the fixture list for Ten Hag - and with a first-ever all Manchester FA Cup final against Man City to come on June 3 - the possibility of a stumble or two in the next few weeks is something Liverpool simply have to be coiled for if they are to be involved in the European Cup shake up. So registering maximum points from the last 15 on offer has been an ideal way to keep the pressure on at least.
Despite the extending of their best run of the season, though, the problems they encountered here, particularly during the second half, are an indication as to why it has not been plain sailing over the last nine months. The lack of control, especially during the last 15 minutes, was alarming before they eventually reached dry land.
Klopp made three changes from Sunday's remarkable 4-3 win over Tottenham as Kostas Tsimikas, Jordan Henderson and Darwin Nunez all came in at the expense of Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo.
It was Nunez's first start since the goalless draw with Chelsea a month ago as he was entrusted to lead the line and try to add to his 15-goal haul he has so far registered across all competitions in his maiden season in English football.
The Uruguay international came haring out the traps and looked like a player determined to make a point after being told that his work on the defensive side of things needs to show an improvement by Klopp of late. "Counter-pressing is the ticket into this side," the Reds boss says. Nunez appeared to have been listening. Or at least had that message translated.
The No.27 chased down, harried and battled at every turn, even if the rough edges around his game were still very evident at times. It was his hard work that brought about a penalty and the winning goal when he smartly nudged the ball ahead of Issa Diop before being clattered by the defender's attempt to clear.
It's interesting to reflect on where Nunez currently sits in the pecking order for the Reds and their six-man frontline. The former Benfica man is not guaranteed his place based on his £64m price tag - one that could rise to a club-record £85m - and Klopp has, at times, been quite pointed in his critiques.
The 23-year-old's pressing and linguistic skills, the manager says, need to improve before he forces his way back in on a more regular basis but this was an outing full of the sort of endeavour that has made him a hit on the Kop in his debut campaign. His name rang all over Anfield as soon as referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot.
That was the cue for Salah to score his 29th of the season with his second successive spot-kick conversion at the Anfield Road end, just before half time.
Keep the effort and add the quality and Liverpool will have a serious player on their hands in Nunez. Even on something of an off-night with the ball he still caused more than enough problems for his team to decisively profit.
Klopp sent on Gakpo and Robertson for Diaz and Tsimikas shortly after the hour mark as Fulham started to grow into the second period. Carlos Vinicius should have made it 1-1 as the match sleepily crept towards the final 10 minutes but Alisson Becker got a strong right hand to it to keep his side in the lead.
Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota and James Milner came on for Salah, Nunez and Curtis Jones for the final 10 minutes but it was never really secure until the final blast of the whistle. It was someway short of a vintage night, but the points are in the bag.
It's a sign of how ordinary this season has been that Liverpool were quietly picking up a routine home victory in the Premier League one year to the day since they booked their place in the Champions League final at Villarreal with an FA Cup final and title run-in still to come, but small steps are required just now as Klopp looks to plot a long-term pathway back towards the summit of the game. This was another one towards that, if little else.
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