Reds suffer Fulham defeat
Liverpool were unable to sign off with a win before the FA Cup final as Fulham recorded a 1-0 victory at Anfield on Tuesday night.
The visitors grabbed the game’s only goal after five minutes when Martin Skrtel inadvertently diverted John Arne Riise’s cross into his own goal from close range.
Liverpool’s best effort of the first half saw Brede Hangeland hack Jonjo Shelvey’s strike off the line following a goal-mouth scramble.
The Reds continued to toil in search of an equaliser in the second period, but Fulham were able to hold out and secure a first-ever win at Anfield.
With the FA Cup final with Chelsea just days away, Kenny Dalglish opted to make nine changes to the team he deployed against Norwich City on Saturday.
Jordan Henderson and Shelvey were the only two players to retain their places as in came the likes of Alexander Doni, Sebastian Coates, Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio. There were also starts for Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Skrtel, who captained the side.
However, with five minutes on the clock, Fulham were ahead. Two Anfield old boys combined with John Arne Riise crossing for Alex Kacaniklic before the ball bounced against the chest of Skrtel and looped into the corner of the goal leaving Doni wrong-footed.
The Slovakian had an instant opportunity to make amends, but his header from Aurelio’s free-kick drifted wide of goal – and Liverpool had Doni to thank for preventing Fulham from furthering their advantage on 15 minutes when the Brazilian produced a smart stop to thwart Pavel Pogrebnyak’s toe-poke on the stretch.
Next, Kuyt’s dipping volley from the edge of the area had Mark Schwarzer worried, though the strike drifted the wrong side of the upright.
Fulham were to suffer a real let off on 28 minutes when Kelly’s deep delivery from the right allowed Carroll to cause panic in the visitors’ defence. With Schwarzer flapping, the ball broke for Maxi who squared for Shelvey, but Brede Hangeland was well positioned to repel his low drive off the line.
Maxi was next to try his luck, nodding Carroll’s knock-back over from Shelvey’s corner and the Argentine threatened again when he hooked over from eight yards on the turn soon after.
Then, with half-time edging ever closer, great work from Carroll sent Shelvey scampering into the left-hand channel of the Fulham box before the midfielder scooped a left-footed effort wide of the far post.
Liverpool had increasingly grown into the game as the first half progressed, and Schwarzer was required to parry Carroll’s header to keep Fulham’s advantage intact heading into the interval.
Stewart Downing was introduced into the action at half-time in place of Henderson and he joined Spearing and Shelvey in trying their luck on goal in the opening exchanges of the second period.
Then, on 58 minutes, Maxi ghosted beyond the challenge of Aaron Hughes into the area, but just as the No.11 went to pull the trigger, Hangeland was able to get a foot to the ball and deny a clear strike at goal.
At the other end, a Fulham counter-attack resulted in substitute Kerim Frei striking the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the box before Doni denied Riise a goal upon his return to Anfield with a close-range block.
Back came the Reds and Carroll headed wide from Aurelio’s inviting left-wing centre. The Brazilian was replaced by Jose Enrique shortly after before Raheem Sterling took the place of Kuyt.
With 12 minutes remaining, Clint Dempsey had an opportunity to secure the victory for Fulham, but his side-foot strike from just inside the box was turned away by Doni’s dive.
The hosts applied pressure in search of a late leveller, but it wasn’t to be as Fulham held on for the win.
Liverpoolfc.tv journalists’ man of the match: Alexander Doni