Liverpool - A Martin Skrtel own goal allowed Fulham to record their
first ever top flight league win on Merseyside in 42 attempts as the
London club prevailed 1-0 over Liverpool on Tuesday in their Premier
League clash.
The home defeat hardly represented Liverpool's best possible preparation for Saturday's FA Cup Final date with Chelsea.
In
a meeting between two of new England manager Roy Hodgson's most recent
employers, Liverpool's wretched home league form continued as they
failed to record a victory for the 13th time in 18 games.
More
alarmingly, Liverpool could also end the season outside the top eight in
the top division of English football for the first time since 1954.
Manager
Kenny Dalglish elected to leave four potential Wembley starters out of
his line-up - goalkeeper Pepe Reina, plus Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger
and Luis Suarez - and his decision looked a costly one when Fulham took
the lead after only five minutes.
From the game's first attack,
Clint Dempsey's pass sent former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise
down the left-hand touchline and his cross into the six-yard box was met
by another former Anfield player Alex Kacaniklic.
The 20-year-old's mishit shot bounced against Skrtel's legs, wrong-footing Doni on its way into the net.
Liverpool
responded in reasonably impressive fashion, Skrtel quickly trying to
make amends as he headed wide from a Fabio Aurelio free-kick, although
Fulham might have doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Dempsey threaded
through for Pavel Pogrebnyak whose first-time shot was well parried by
Doni.
Maxi Rodriguez collected Dirk Kuyt's lay-off and sent a
shot soaring over the Fulham bar although Andy Carroll was becoming the
most impressive attacking presence in a red shirt.
After 23 minutes, Kuyt latched onto a loose ball after Carroll's progress was blocked and volleyed inches wide.
Before
the half-hour, Mark Schwarzer mis-handled a cross under pressure from
Carroll, allowing Maxi to square the ball for Jonjo Shelvey whose shot
beat the Fulham keeper but not defender Brede Hangeland who cleared off
the line.
Dalglish brought on Stewart Downing and switched to a
4-4-2 formation at the interval with early second half signs looking
promising as Shelvey volleyed over and Jay Spearing dispossessed Dempsey
before testing Schwarzer with a 20-yard shot which the goalkeeper kept
out at full-stretch.
Hangeland was also required to make an
impressive and timely tackle to halt the progress of Maxi as he surged
into the area and bore down on Schwarzer's goal.
But Fulham began to exploit some of the gaps created by Liverpool's increasing attacking urgency.
Dempsey
headed just wide from Damien Duff's 53rd minute corner, substitute
Kerim Frei created room for himself on the edge of the area and saw his
well-hit shot impressively touched onto the post by Doni.
