Liverpool	2 - 0	Fulham
Scorers Torres 81 Gerrard (pen) 85	Half Time ( 0 - 0 )	Booked Murphy 54 Dempsey 64

Liverpool’s sixth victory of the season lifts them up to fourth as Fulham again lost the match in the last 10 minutes after working hard to keep the scores level earlier on.

Fulham hadn’t won a league game at Anfield in their history and it wasn’t a good omen that they began the trip to the north-west without an away win in 22 games.

After demolishing Besiktas in midweek, Rafa Benitez named an unchanged side for Fulham’s visit. A fit-again Fernando Torres was again denied a starting place as Peter Crouch, boosted by his impressive recent performances, partnered Andriy Voronin up front.

Lawrie Sanchez was looking for goals to build on last weekend’s victory against reading and gave Shefki Kuqi his debut in attack alongside Healey, Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer.

Liverpool made the first chance and nearly scored through an unlikely source, Sami Hyypia, when the defender’s long-range effort brought a full-stretch save from Niemi. Gerrard then guided his shot over the bar from 25 yards when he’d found himself outside the penalty area. .

At the other end, Danny Murphy’s volley brought a save from Jose Reina as Fulham briefly threatened. But the threat wasn’t sustained enough or powerful enough over the course of the game to really trouble the home side.

Instead, it was Liverpool who looked more dangerous in attack. Voronin was unlucky to be caught offside as he ran through the defence who’d pushed up close to the half-way line.

After looking to have done the hard work, Fulham were nearly caught out right on the final whistle when Peter Crouch was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a first-half header as he climbed at the back to meet a diagonal free-kick.

Liverpool took control after the break and dominated the game more and more as it progressed. Murphy brought down Gerrard as the Reds’ midfielder began striding away from him and his free-kick was fumbled by Niemi but Benayoun’s follow-up was over the bar when he really should’ve done better.

The Fulham keeper was then forced into another save from Voronin as the Ukrainian powered a shot goalwards after a good move across the pitch.

It was a frustrating day for the Reds in front of their home crowd as their league performance struggled to match their midweek European goal bonanza. Fulham provided difficult opposition because they didn’t look too dangerous coming forward most of the time but also looked difficult to get past at the back.

Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres came on as substitutes in an eight minute spell midway through the second-half and it was the introduction of these two players which helped to turn the game. Torres, particularly, offered something different for the Reds as he came off the bench to bring renewed vigour to a side which was looking tired trying to break down a tough Fulham.

As the game wore on, Liverpool dominated more and more as what Fulham offered up front petered out. Babel’s pass across the pitch to Benayoun saw the Israeli’s shot to the far post well saved by Niemi before Voronin’s shot went narrowly wide as Liverpool upped the pressure.

With nine minutes to go, Torres scored a brilliant individual goal to put Liverpool ahead. He picked the ball up on the right and twisted and turned Aaron Hughes before beating the keeper with a cool finish at the near post.

Liverpool continued to push forward and Niemi was forced into another good save. But ultimately they couldn’t hold on.

Just minutes later, Peter Crouch’s heel was clipped by Carlos Bocanegra as he ran on to a through ball and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty, although the first contact appeared to be just outside the box. Captain Steven Gerrard stepped up to hit an unstoppable shot past Niemi to secure the win.

It was Fulham’s fifth defeat of the season but another game in which they conceded goals in the final minutes to throw the result away. After keeping themselves in the game for so long, it was so cruel to lose two late goals, but they didn’t close the game down as usual and paid the ultimate price.

Liverpool’s sixth victory of the season lifts them into the top four again – at least until Chelsea and Portsmouth play on Sunday – and it’s another clean sheet for the Merseyside team. A solid, dogged performance paid dividends in the end but they made hard work of it against a resolute Fulham side who should’ve held out for a point.


Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio, Benayoun, Mascherano (Lucas 81), Gerrard, Riise (Babel 62), Voronin (Torres 70), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Martin, Finnan.

Fulham: Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey (Kamara 69), Kuqi, Healy (Bouazza 60).

Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin, Leijer.

Att: 43,073

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

By Ben Hughes