With leaders Manchester United earlier turning the screw on the peloton with a 3-1 derby win, three points were essential after recent hiccups.
But a 4-0 win looked a far-off prospect at the beginning of this match, with possession an industry not paying off for the Anfield outfit.
And as has been common in this campaign, Liverpool's crisp directness became bogged down in overworked moves and missed chances.
Fulham did not look threatening enough to score and earn precious away points and so it proved as the game wore on.
It took a rapid-fire three-goal burst in the second half to sink the visitors, showing what can happen when Liverpool's system works.
Craig Bellamy looked the keenest from the kick-off fresh from this two-goal haul at Wigan and he made a nuisance of himself in the Fulham area.
And he nearly put the home side ahead in only the fifth minute, his chip from the left channel allowed Luis Garcia to knock the ball goalwards, but it was palmed away by Jan Lastuvka.
Fulham did not let the home defence settle either when two minutes later Brian McBride's shot on the turn from a centre by Moritz Volz went only inches wide.
The home side began to find their rhythm, but despite a series of corners, could not convert meaningful possession into a goal.
Dirk Kuyt had a gilt-edged chance to open up a lead, but he could not steer Jermaine Pennant's low cross from the right on target on 34 minutes.
Liverpool had one more clear effort before the half was out, as the pint-sized Garcia leapt to meet Kuyt's ball, but his attempt landed on the roof of the net.
The Dutchman had a chance to make amends two minutes after the interval after he latched on to Jose Reina's long clearance, which caught the Cottagers defence off-guard.
He fired off a volley but it went straight to the visiting keeper at an easy height.
However, his persistence paid off only minutes later when Bellamy teed him up for a rasping volley.
Kuyt's shot hit defender Ian Pearce square on the arm and referee Uriah Rennie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Steven Gerrard, stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick. Lastuvka saved the captain's tame effort to his left, but it came straight back to the midfielder who lashed it home.
As the heavens opened with a heavy shower of hail, Fulham were feeling the pressure and their defensive dam was breeched for the second time.
On 60 minutes Gerrard fired in a corner from the left which was met by centre-back Daniel Agger.
His effort looked to be spinning wide until defensive partner Jamie Carragher arrived unmarked at the far post to direct it home.
Agger provided again when his 67th minute cross was met by the unmarked Garcia - this time his looping header dipped neatly under the bar and in.
And in the final minute Mark Gonzalez, back in the team after injury, sent an unstoppable free-kick over the wall and beyond Lastuvka to finish the job.