Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 0 Liverpool 1: Yossi late show keeps title dream alive for Rafa's men
Liverpool went to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a goal deep into injury-time by substitute Yossi Benayoun in the most dramatic of encounters at Craven Cottage.[LNB]Rafael Benitez's team missed several good chances and looked set to pay until Benayoun smashed the right foot winner.[LNB]It means Liverpool top the table, two points clear of second-placed Manchester United - who have two matches in hand.[LNB]My shout: Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun celebrates with Dirk Kuyt after his late strike[LNB] Manager Rafael Benitez picked virtually his strongest side to faceFulham as Liverpool attempted to leapfrog Manchester United at the topof the Premier League.[LNB]With United playing tomorrow against Aston Villa, Fernando Torresand Steven Gerrard were both in the Liverpool starting line-up despitea Champions League quarter-final clash with Chelsea on Wednesday,although Javier Mascherano was left on the substitutes' bench.[LNB]Fulham, however, were hoping to continue their brilliant form against the Big Four at Craven Cottage.[LNB]This season they have beaten Arsenal, drawn with Chelsea and lasttime out shocked Sir Alex Ferguson's United with a 2-0 triumph.[LNB] Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, now Fulham captain, was hoping to lead his side to their 10th home victory of the season, although the Cottagers had scored just one goal against Liverpool in their last five games.[LNB]Liverpool could have gone ahead within 10 minutes. A neat piece of work by Dirk Kuyt played Andrea Dossena into space in the penalty area and his left-footed shot was tipped over the bar by Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]From Gerrard's resulting corner Martin Skrtel thundered in another left-footed shot which flicked the head of Dossena before clipping the Fulham crossbar and bouncing to safety.[LNB]Liverpool looked a side full of confidence, hardly surprising considering they had scored 11 goals in their previous three league matches.[LNB]They were dominating possession and Xabi Alonso was running affairs in midfield.And in the 23rd minute they were denied only by a superb left-handed save from Schwarzer after Gerrard had surged into the penalty area and fed Torres who needed no invitation to pull the trigger from eight yards.[LNB] Doing it for kicks: Clint Dempsey, Paul Konchesky and Dirk Kuyt battle for possession[LNB] The red tide was beginning to overwhelm Fulham. In the 32nd minute Kuyt's powerful shot was blocked by Aaron Hughes and then moments later the ball fell to Alonso outside the area and he unleashed a thunderous right-foot volley which crashed against the Fulham crossbar once more.[LNB]Within a minute Liverpool had struck the woodwork again, this time after wonderful interplay between Gerrard and Torres.[LNB]It saw the Spanish striker carve his way through the Fulham defence only to see his angled shot come back off the post.[LNB]Incredibly, two minutes later the woodwork was trembling again. Gerrard again was the provider, swinging in a right-wing cross which Dossena threw himself at only to see his header come back off Schwarzer's bar.[LNB]The frustration continued for Liverpool after 53 minutes when Torresrose high and unmarked in the six-yard box only to see his free headerdrop harmlessly into the arms of Schwarzer.[LNB]In the 65th minute Benitez, seeing the possibility of crucial points being squandered, threw on Ryan Babel in place of Dossena.[LNB] Fallen idol: Fernando Torres is dejected after missing a chance[LNB] Liverpool were still dominating possession, so much so that it took until the 66th minute for Fulham to have their first shot on target, Paul Konchesky firing in a swirling free-kick which stung the hands of Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina.[LNB]A swift break by Babel caused chaos in the Fulham defence but try as Liverpool might the breakthrough would not come.[LNB]Torres might have scored the vital goal in the 72nd minute but somehow contrived to miss his header from two yards when it looked easier to score.[LNB]At the other end Murphy sent Reina scrambling with a long-range shot and the crowd began to sense another famous result for Fulham at the Cottage.[LNB]Fulham rode their luck, especially in the closing stages when Gerrard fired across goal and the ball was back-heeled by Yossi Benayoun just wide of the Fulham post.[LNB]However, deep into injury-time it was Benayoun who smashed the right foot winner which takes Liverpool to the top of the table.[LNB] West Ham 2 Sunderland 0Fulham v Liverpool: How the game unfoldedFULHAM
