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FULHAM 1 - 0 LIVERPOOL
Saturday 05 May 2007 15:00 , Barclays Premiership
REDS CRASH TO DEFEAT AT THE COTTAGE
Liverpool's bid to win the race for third place in the Premiership has suffered a setback after they went down to a 1-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Clint Dempsey's goal midway through the second half proved to be the crucial moment of the match as Rafael Benitez's side fell to their second Premiership defeat in succession.
The Reds still stand a point ahead of Arsenal in the league standings, but the Gunners now have a game in hand against Chelsea on Sunday.
With more than one eye on resting key players ahead of the Champions League final, manager Rafael Benitez made nine changes to the side which defeated Chelsea in midweek with only Pepe Reina and Jermaine Pennant surviving from Tuesday night.
Craig Bellamy was partnered by Robbie Fowler in attack while Harry Kewell made his first appearance of the season on the substitute's bench.
Despite the game holding much more importance for Lawrie Sanchez's side as they battle for their Premiership lives, it was Liverpool who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Craig Bellamy missing a couple of early chances.
Fulham soon settled down and started causing problems for the Reds' backline, with Vincenzo Montella going closest to breaking the deadlock with an overhead kick which rebounded to safety off the base of the post.
Robbie Fowler missed a chance to add to his incredible career haul against Fulham by missing a sitter on the stroke of half time when he failed to convert from close range after good play by Jermaine Pennant.
The deadlock was broken midway through the second half and came at a time when it was Liverpool who looked the more likely side to open the scoring.
The Reds' defence were caught out down the flank and when full-back Liam Rosenior rolled the ball into the area substitute Clint Dempsey was well placed to slot the ball past Pepe Reina to score his first goal of the season.
Rafael Benitez made an instant change with Steve Finnan coming off the substitute's bench to replace Emiliano Insua while Harry Kewell joined the action soon after to make his first appearance of the campaign.
Kewell almost made a dream return with a low shot ten minutes from time which rolled agonisingly wide with Robbie Fowler just unable to touch the ball home.
Gabriel Paletta thought he'd equalised when he powered home a free kick from Xabi Alonso but his joy was short-lived as the linesman flagged for offside.
The Reds forced a number of late corners in a bid to salvage a point but Fulham survived to claim three precious points in their battle for safety, even though they lost midfielder Papa Diop in the final minute to a red card.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Hyypia (captain), Paletta, Arbeloa, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Alonso, Pennant, Fowler, Bellamy. Subs - Finnan, El Zhar, Padelli, Hobbs, Kewell
Fulham: Niemi, Bocanegra, Knight, Christanval, Rosenior, Radzinski, Diop, Brown (captain), Davies, McBride, Montella. Subs - Routledge, Helguson, Dempsey, Volz, Lastuvka
Referee: Steve Bennett
Conditions: Mild
Attendance: 24,554
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Xabi Alonso
Breakdown
14:03 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Fulham get the game under way at a packed Craven Cottage
2 mins : Liverpool are defending the goal behind which their mass support is gathered
3 mins : Montella is on side, but Reina is able to sheppard the ball into his area and pick up comfortably
5 mins : Pennant's pass finds Bellamy and his shot is pushed out for a corner by Niemi. Liverpool's first attack
6 mins : Hyypia gets his head to the corner, but he can't send it goalwards
8 mins : Fowler's pass gets Bellamy in easily and again Niemi needs to produce a fine save to keep it goalless
10 mins : Liverpool are getting on top here. This time it's Pennant causing the Fulham defence problems
13 mins : Fulham apply some pressure and it takes a good block from Hyypia to stop Doip's long range blast
15 mins : McBride is in a good position in front of goal, but he can't control and the chance is gone.
16 mins : Pennant runs down the right and finds Bellamy, but he dwells on the ball and Fulham clear
18 mins : Radzinski plays a brilliant cross into the box and it takes a flying save from Reina to clear
21 mins : Alonso finds Gonzalez with a superb drilled pass, but his cross doesn't find anyone in the area
22 mins : Montella comes dangerously close for Fulham as his acrobatic shot hits the post and then Fowler fouls Brown on the edge of the box
22 mins : First Booking: Robbie Fowler:
28 mins : Liverpool break with Bellamy and Pennant, but Bellamy's cross to Fowler is overhit and a good chance goes begging
30 mins : Davies' corner finds the head of McBride, but he can't keep it down and it goes over Reina's crossbar
35 mins : A great Liverpool moves ends with Bellamy flashing a half volley just passed Antti Niemi's right hand post
36 mins : The home support get behind their team as they fight for every ball, making life difficult for the Reds
42 mins : Brown's shot looks goalbound before Paletta stops it with a brilliant block
45 mins : Pennant drives the ball in hard and low and Fowler mis-kicks when he looked certain to score
45 mins : First Booking: Alvaro Arbeloa:
14:50 GMT : Half Time Reached
15:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : The Champions League finalists kick off the second half. Doesn't that sound good
47 mins : Liverpool break forward and Fowler lays in Sissoko, who hits a good shot just wide from 30 yards
48 mins : The Reds have started the second half well and the thoughts of Fulham fans are as much on other results as this one as they fight to survive the drop
52 mins : First Booking: Papa Diop: Diop is booked for a foul on Sissoko
53 mins : Substitution: Clint Dempsey for Vincenzo Montella:
54 mins : Alonso has the option of a pass to Gonzalez, but he somewhat wastefully shoots from his own half and it's easy for Niemi
55 mins : Fulham have a free kick 30 yards out in the centre of the goal
58 mins : Diop is fortunate to stay on the pitch after a foul on Alonso - he's already been booked
60 mins : A deep ball into the Liverpool's box brings danger and Reina is forced to punch the ball out for a corner
62 mins : Pennant has a good chance at the far post and his shot is on target before being blocked by Christanval
63 mins : The Reds come close again as this time Bellamy brings another fine save from Niemi. Liverpool have stepped up a gear
67 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Jermaine Pennant:
67 mins : Momo Sissoko looks hurt and needs some attention on the pitch
68 mins : Sissoko gets to his feet gingerly, but he's ok to continue
69 mins : GOAL! Clint Dempsey: Rosenior crosses to Dempsey and he scores what could be a vital goal for Fulham from eight yards
75 mins : Substitution: Steve Finnan for Emiliano Insua: Finnan gets a good reception from the Fulham fans
77 mins : Substitution: Harry Kewell for Mark Gonzalez: Kewell makes his first appearance of the season
76 mins : First Booking: Michael Brown:
80 mins : Fulham have dropped deep in their own half with a safety first approach and the Reds are struggling to find a way back into this game
81 mins : Kewell flashes a shot across the face of the goal and Fowler is just inches from turning it home
84 mins : Alonso's free kick is headed home by Paletta, but the goal is ruled out for offside
85 mins : Liverpool are piling on the pressure and Fulham are getting nervous. Rosenior almosts heads into his own net
86 mins : Substitution: Heidar Helguson for Brian McBride:
88 mins : Liverpool have a succession of corners, but they cant make anything of them
90 mins : Substitution: Moritz Volz for Tomasz Radzinski:
90 mins : There will be an additional three minutes
90 mins : There's a Premiership survival party starting at Craven Cottage
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