A ball aimed at Torres falls kindly for Benayoun who picks up the ball and turns Etuhu and shoots from a tight angle but he hits the side netting and another chance goes begging.

Four minutes of stoppage time to be played at Craven Cottage. Still time for either side to snatch a winner.

Gerrard takes another Liverpool corner that finds Skrtel at the back post but his driven shot is blocked by Etuhu.

Konchesky plays the free-kick in but Reina comes to gather comfortably to the disappointment of the home fans.

Olivier Dacourt has had an absolute howler so far making countless errors - Insua is judged to push Gera just to the left of the Liverpool box so Fulham have a free-kick in a dangerous area.

Liverpool have a corner after an excellent sliding challenge from Gera prevented Insua crossing from the byline. Alonso's delivery is cleared by Etuhu at the front post.

A scramble in the Fulham box as the ball falls for Babel but he takes too many touches and gets crowded out. Konchesky thumps a clearance straight to Gerrard who drives the ball across goal but Benayoun's touch sends the ball fractionally wide.

A chance for Fulham as Zamora found space and time to try to pick out Johnson running in behind but his pass was picked off by Alonso covering back.

Danny Murphy sees an opportunity to test Reina from distance but he drags the shot well wide of the post.

Gerrard turns inside Paintsil on the left side of the box and hits a dipping cross towards the back post but Torres misses it by inches and Schwarzer parries the ball out of danger.

A superb delivery from Gerrard from the corner sees the ball dropping uncomfortbaly just infront of the Fulham goal but Murphy is able to clear the danger.

Clever play from Johnson earns Fulham a corner - Liverpool break from the corner and Babel shoots across the box but it just evades Kuyt and Paintsil scrambles it clear.

An awkward bouncing ball for Torres to control in the box but he manages to get a shot off over his head but Schwarzer can make an easy save.

Just a quarter of the game to play and Fulham are still holding the title chasers Liverpool. This result would be a disaster for Liverpool and no doubt Sir Alex will be watching on with appreciation at the moment.

Johnson nicks the ball away from the toes of Carragher who brings him down just outside his own box. Konchesky fired it goalboun but Reina moved quickly across his goal to save.

Alonso fires a ball into the feet of Gerrard who brings it under control brilliantly before attempting to slide Lucas in but Konchesky made a crucial interception.

Danny Murphy made a good break driving into the Liverpool box but Skrtel does well to close out the Fulham skipper and the danger passes for the visitors.

As we go into the hour mark it is likely to be soon that Benitez makes any changes he wishes to try to find that elusive goal.

Alonso tries his luck with his weaker foot from range but the shot is a tame one and Schwarzer can save easily.

Insua makes an excellent run from deep on the left hand side before lifting a wonderful cross onto the head of Torres, unmarked in the box, but he can only find Schwarzer with the header.

Danny Murphy does well in a congested area on the edge of the box to somehow squeeze the ball into the danger zone but it's just too firm for Dempsey to reach and it rolls behind for a goal kick.

The second half starts much as the first ended with Liverpool controlling the ball and passing it across the midfield as they probe for an opening.

An excellent ball from Alonso in behind the Fulham back line into the path of Dirk Kuyt who was clean through before being unfairly given offside by the assistant.

Clint Dempsey plays the ball in from the left hand side towards Zamora on the edge of the box but the striker's touch evades him and the chance goes begging.

Liverpool now have a free-kick just outside the left edge of the area. Gerrard will drive it goalwards but Danny Murphy races out of the wall to make the block.

Fulham win a free-kick just outside the Liverpool box as Skrtel is penalised for holding onto Zamora. Murphy shifts the ball to Dempsey who strikes cleanly but it rises up and over the bar.

Gerrard finds space on the right hand side and whips in a low cross between Schwarzer and Hangeland that is met by the diving head of Dossena but he rattles the crossbar once again from six yards!

A wonderful piece of interplay between Torres and Gerrard sets the Spaniard through and he slides the ball past Schwarzer from a tight angle but again the woodwork rescues the home side.

Torres cuts inside off the left flank as Liverpool break and he tries his luck with his favored right foot but the save is a comfortable one for Schwarzer.

Gerrard's corner is headed clear by Zamora but only as far as Alonso who strikes a bending effort on the bounce which smashes the Fulham crossbar with Schwarzer beaten. So close again Liverpool.

After a fast start the game is just starting to slip into a rhythm as Liverpool are content to keep the ball and patiently try to find an opening.

Clint Dempsey has started well on the left for Fulham with some confident touches and wherever possible he has looked to take on Arbeloa.

Dirk Kuty does well to skip past Konchesky on Liverpool's right before whipping in a cross which finds Torres but the Spaniard heads over from close range. That's a chance by his standards.

The visitors are starting to control the game, keeping the ball for long passages. Gerrard picks it up and plays an incisive ball into Torres who can turn in the box and shoot but Schwarzer makes an excellent save low and to his left.

Liverpool will be hoping to secure the victory relatively early so they can start to make changes to save players for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea but Fulham will have other ideas.

Alonso slides the ball into Torres but Hangeland comes across smartly to cover the danger and calmly lifts the ball over Torres to find Paintsil and ease the pressure.

Aaron Hughes and John Paintsil playing themselves into trouble on the edge of their box and the pressure of Gerrard and Torres makes the clearance an uncomfortable one for Paintsil.

Skrtel plays a shocking pass and gifts Zamora possession in the Liverpool half and the striker drives foward but his pass to Johnson is misplaced and the danger passes. Skrtel can breathe again after a real error.

Again the high line of Liverpool is exploited by Fulham as Davies works the ball in behind towards Johnson but it is just too firm and Reina comes and gathers.

Gerrard slides the ball to Kuyt who is able to attack the byline but the Dutchman slices his cross behind the goal with players free in the middle. Wasted opportunity for the visitors.

The setting West London sun is still causing the players on one side of the pitch a few problems with the high ball. There may well be a few mistakes as players lose the ball in the sunshine.

The resulting corner finds its way through to Skrtle at the back post who drives the half-volley at goal, it brushes the head of Dossena and canons off the crossbar and over.

A raking pass from Alonson finds Torres who brings it down and touches the ball into the path of Dossena who strikes with the outside of his boot and forces a save from Schwarzer.

Great play from Dempsey as he touches the ball through the legs of Arbeloa before getting to the by-line and forcing a corner. Davies' delivery is a poor one and Liverpool can clear.

Liverpool holding a high line against the pace of Johnson and once again he raced in behind to see the flag raised. Again the replays suggest the Fulham man could feel rather hard done by.

Johnson trying to use his pace early on to get on the end of a Zamora flick on but Carragher comes across quickly to snuff out the danger.

Danny Murphy lifts the ball in behind the Liverpool defence into the path of Dempsey who is judged offside rather unfairly and Liverpool escape. Poor decision denies Fulham a good early chance.