That Liverpool will be deserved Premier League title winners but far from infallible has been obvious for some time. No need to panic just yet after defeat by the Thames. Collecting silverware while requiring further growth and repair can be taken as a positive sign.

An often-rampant Fulham, enjoying their football perhaps because any pressures are now lifted, with the brilliant Alex Iwobi turning on the style, reminded top-tier English football is full of quality, that laurels can never be rested on. For Arne Slot, the first half – and much of the second – at Craven Cottage was a case study of what needs to improve, and such is the ruthlessness of successful dynasties, who will need to be replaced.

Arsenal fans need not get too excited, particularly after Everton all but removed their last vestiges of hope on Saturday. Next for Slot’s team, West Ham, who have won once at Anfield since 1963, and hopelessly sinking Leicester.

Fulham v Liverpool: Premier League – live

Slot’s most obvious alteration to Jurgen Klopp’s team has been to add a change of gear, hence that added durability, though even his team now requires patching up. That proved crucial here after playing in midweek’s muscular Mersey derby. In the right-back spot Trent Alexander-Arnold will soon vacate Curtis Jones again took one for the team, neither Jarell Quansah’s aptitude nor Conor Bradley’s match fitness trusted.

The early signs were worrying. Jones could only look aghast as Ibrahima Konaté’s dallying on the ball allowed Andreas Pereira to sneak the ball into a scoring position for Rodrigo Muniz. In rescuing his centre-back colleague, Virgil van Dijk took a hefty whack. The Dutchman, whose own presence cannot be taken as read for next season, stayed in a bad mood for the rest of a 90 minutes in which he was no innocent party amid collective defensive collapse, his mood darkened by Muniz’s attempts to repeat that early monstering.

Liverpool began the game scratchily and grabbed their lead from almost nowhere. Their fans, up in the corner of the Putney End, were already singing songs of celebration before Mac Allister opened the scoring. His goal was all his own work, robbing Iwobi, then shaking off the bulk of Sander Berge before unleashing a low shot Bernd Leno found no answer to.

Fulham’s recent slump has followed the pattern of their Marco Silva Premier League years, high points dwindling into inconsistency, though they retain the capability of giving anyone a contest. One of their manager’s key skills is the restoration of previous talents fallen from prominence, with Iwobi and Pereira as prime examples.

Ryan Sessegnon is Fulham’s lost boy returned, sold to Tottenham when the club that made him couldn’t afford to keep him, now back in the fold after a harrowing spell of injuries and loss of confidence in north London. His goal, lashed in after Jones had shown off his defensive weaknesses with a panicked shank was a moment of prodigal celebration.

Luis Díaz scores Liverpool’s second goal to take the score to 3-2 to Fulham. Photograph: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

The next to make a mistake was Andy Robertson, one of those whose number may soon be up in Liverpool’s rebuild, the left-back twice laying up Iwobi with shooting chances. Then, in a final act of desperation, he prevented Caoimhin Kelleher from seeing the shot arrowing into the goal.

Iwobi, ably supported by Antonee Robinson, a possible candidate for Robertson’s position, was toasting Jones in the London sunshine. Everything he did turned to gold, even a Peter Kay-style hoof resulted in Muniz taking down the ball and bullying past Van Dijk to score an inexplicable – if not undeserved – third.

Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, had barely had a touch worthy of the name, a factor sustained throughout, and Liverpool’s attack hardly looked much more dangerous as the second half arrived. Luis Díaz replaced the ineffectual Cody Gakpo, and Harvey Elliott arrived to boos, as another prodigal who fled the Cottage. Robertson and Jones were still having a torrid time, Iwobi and Sessegenon full of confidence, Van Dijk still narked.

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Jones was eventually released from his right-back torture chamber, as Bradley arrived and Gravenberch was shifted to centre-back. The Darwin Núñez panic button was pressed, too, in an attempt to shake up a Fulham defence far less troubled than their opponents. Silva’s team’s speed on the counter retained its latent danger even as Jones and Mac Allister gained more midfield control.

Bradley showed off his attacking qualities in speeding forward from Jones’ pass to set up Díaz to score Liverpool’s second and set up a frantic last-15 minutes chase for an equaliser, and perhaps even a winner.

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Díaz made an attempt to claim a penalty, Elliott crashed a shot against the crossbar. On came Federico Chiesa, unable to beat Leno from close range, Mac Allister’s departure leaving holes through which found space to attack, and Harrison Reed forced a full-length save from Kelleher. Silva had clearly decided that locking down defence would provide a guarantee of victory.

As added time ticked on, Elliott had another effort saved as Fulham threw bodies at the ball. Iwobi winning repeated fouls when taking on loose balls before Leno claimed the ball one last time to cheers.

He and his teammates could celebrate a hugely enjoyable win and delaying the very probably inevitable.