- Date:2009-10-31
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Craven Cottage
- Attendance:25700
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
90mins
Full time at Craven Cottage and Fulham take all three points as Liverpool's title challenge implouds in west London as they suffer their sixth defeat in seven games.
87mins
Fulham get their third after a well worked move results in Nevland slipping the ball through for Dempsey who has plenty of time and space to place the ball past Reina.
84mins
Benitez tries to sure things up at the back with Daniel Sanchez Ayala coming on for Dirk Kuyt.
81mins
Another red card for Liverpool as they go down to nine men and look certain to be heading for a fifth league defeat of the season. This time it is Jamie Carragher who has to walk after bringing down Zamora when he is through on goal.
79mins
The Reds are really up against it now as Philipp Degen is shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Clint Dempsey, looked to have been a little harsh.
77mins
Desperation time for Benitez as he brings on youngster Nathan Eccleston in place of Yossi Benayoun.
73mins
Fulham retake the league as Gera and Nevland combine to make it 2-1, Gera turning Konchesky's shot into the path of Nevland who slots it right down the middle with Reina stranded.
66mins
Zamora tries his luck from outside the box but makes a real pigs ear of it, sending it high over the crossbar with his shot.
63mins
Rafael Benitez must value Wednesday's game with Lyon over this one as he brings off Torres to be replaced by Ryan Babel, Torres doesn't look happy as he takes his place in the bench.
59mins
Zamora produces a peach of a cross to find Gera at the far post. However, Reina denies Gera with a decent save.
53mins
Chris Baird becomes the first man to go into the referee's notebook, bringing down Lucas just minutes after the Brazilian did the same thing to him.
46mins
Fulham make a double change at the break with Damien Duff, who looks to be carrying an injury, coming off to be replaced by Erik Nevland while Zoltan Gera comes on for Diomansy Kamara.
45mins
The second half gets underway with Liverpool knowing that if they don't win today then all the hard work against Man United last week will be for nothing.
45mins
Even stevens at the break after a first half which Liverpool have dominated but failed to make too much impact on the Fulham backline, Roy Hodgson will be happy with his teams performance so far.
42mins
Fernando Torres gets Liverpool back on level terms, sweeping the ball into the bottom left corner after Voronin's header cannons back off Aaron Hughes.
37mins
Degen takes a freekick for Liverpool, swinging it into the penalty area only for Hangeland to produce another great header to clear the ball away.
35mins
Paul Konchesky breaks down the left and produces a wicked cross towards the far post, only for Kyrgiakos to head the ball away from danger.
29mins
Fulham try their luck from range through Diomansy Kamara, whose effort rises over the crossbar as Fulham continue to frustrate Liverpool.
24mins
Bobby Zamora gives Fulham the lead against the run of play, Zamora stealing in between Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Emiliano Insua to tap in Damien Duff's low cross.
21mins
Benayoun hits a thunderous drive towards goal which Schwarzer can only stare at as it hits the crossbar and is eventually scrambled away by Fulham.
10mins
Liverpool have the better of the opening exchanges between the two sides with Fulham content to sit back and defend. However, the Reds can't make the break through as Benayoun wastes a good chance from a freekick.
4mins
Both sides make a bright start to the game with Andriy Voronin and Clint Dempsey going close for their respective sides.
0mins
Referee Lee Mason gets the game underway with Liverpool knowing they need to build on last week's victory over Manchester United.
0mins
Liverpool have all kinds of injury problems and are without Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio. Andriy Voronin partners Fernando Torres up front while Philipp Degen gets a rare start.
0mins
Fulham make just one change from the side that drew with Manchester City last time out as Paul Konchesky returns in place of Stephen Kelly.
Match Preview
Roy Hodgson's Fulham entertain a rejuvenated Liverpool on Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage with both desperate to pick up the three points on offer.
Fulham picked up a creditable point against big summer spenders Manchester at City of Manchester Stadium last weekend end as they pegged the hosts back after trailing 2-0 at one stage.
Liverpool on the other hand, ended their four game losing run to smash their fiercest of rivals Manchester United 2-0 at a bubbling Anfield.
The Merseysiders occupy fifth spot in the table and another win would put pressure on those at the top although they remain six points behind Chelsea at the summit.
Fulham have hauled themselves away from the relegation zone in recent weeks after picking up a point in a draw at West Ham United, a much needed home success against fellow strugglers Hull City and the gritty point against Mark Hughes' Citizens last time out.
Liverpool will be buoyed with Fernando Torres' energetic return to the first team.
He outpaced and over powered Rio Ferdinand before lashing home to put the European giants ahead last week and Rafael Benitez will be confident his Spanish star will lead the line once again.
With four defeats from ten already for Liverpool, they will know the importance, even at this early stage, to keep the pressure on those ahead of them in the league.
Albert Riera (hamstring) and Sotiris Kyrgiakos (knee) are expected to be ruled out with inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard and Andrea Dossena (both groin) winning their fitness battles.
New summer signing Alberto Aquilani is now ready for first-team football and he could feature.
Fulham's Andrew Johnson (groin), Dickson Etuhu (knee) and Simon Davies (ankle) are coming along nicely from their injuries although Danny Murphy (knee) is not expected to return until late in November.
Last season's fixture at Craven Cottage resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors.
advertisement
advertisment
Match Report
The euphoria of Liverpool's victory against Manchester United last Sunday was quickly wiped away as Fulham inflicted a fourth successive away defeat on Rafa Benitez's men.
While the 2-0 victory against United had Liverpool fans convinced they were back in the title race, defeat at Craven Cottage was their fifth in the league this season and another painful reminder of how reliant they are on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Gerrard missed the match through injury and after Torres had been substituted, Benitez's men were exposed once again as Erik Nevland won it for Fulham with 15 minutes to spare.
Earlier, Bobby Zamora had given Roy Hodgson's men the lead only for Torres to level it for Liverpool, who saw Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher sent off late on.
Beating United last Sunday sparked what seemed to be a revival at Anfield but it was back to the drawing board for Benitez as Fulham ran riot.
After the Carling Cup disappointment, it was back to Premier League duties for Liverpool and yet more misery as the red mist descended and their title dreams up in smoke.
Zamora almost opened the scoring early on but he couldn't reach Clint Dempsey's through ball, while Torres was similarly disappointed when Lucas failed to find him on the edge of the box.
It wasn't long before Zamora was celebrating, however. Minutes after Yossi Benayoun cracked the crossbar for Liverpool, Fulham striker Zamora met Damien Duff's cross from the right and coolly slotted the ball past Pepe Reina to stun the travelling support at Craven Cottage.
Once again, the absence of talismanic captain Gerrard seemed to deflate Liverpool and while Benitez is quick to dismiss claims he relies too heavily on the England midfielder, his absence was telling.
Alberto Aquilani was also missing with a virus while Andriy Voronin cut a disconsolate figure as he struggled to provide an adequate partner for Torres.
It was just as well the sublime Spaniard picked up where he left off against United last Sunday. Just when Fulham thought they had engineered a surprise half-time lead, Torres' superb volley nestled into the far corner.
Zoltan Gera and Erik were introduced at the interval and both combined to deadly effect. Winger Gera found the former Manchester United striker in the area and the Norwegian expertly flicked home to send Craven Cottage into delirium with 15 minutes remaining.
Liverpool's hopes to get back into the game were dead-and-buried in the space of four minutes. First, with 12 minutes on the clock and hopes of an equaliser high, Degen was dismissed for a lunge on Dempsey and then Carragher hauled Zamora down and had to go as he was the last man.
Fulham expertly made their advantage count and added a third when Nevland found Dempsey to slot in a third.
Fulham Team
Liverpool Team
Fulham | Liverpool |
Corners
| 2 | 2 |
Fouls
| 10 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 4 | 2 |
Offsides
| 3 | 2 |
85mins
Fulham make their last change of the game with Dickson Etuhu making his return from injury in place of Jonathan Greening.