Two second half goals earned Liverpool victory over Fulham at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Starting Line Ups
Liverpool
Jose Reina, Sami Hypia, John Arne Riise, Steven Gerrard (c),Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun, Fabio Aurelio, Peter Crouch, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javier Mascherano, Jamie Carragher
Subs: David Martin, Steve Finnan, Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel, Lucas
Fulham
Antti Niemi, Carlos Bocanegra, Dejan Stefanovic, David Healy, Steven Davis, Shefki Kuqi, Aaron Hughes, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, Danny Murphy, Chris Baird
Subs: Tony Warner, Alexey Smertin, Diomansy Kamara, Hameur Bouazza, Adrian Leijer
First Half Action
1 min A minute’s silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday preceeded kick-off before Fulham got the game underway, attacking the Kop end. Shefki Kuqi was full of energy in the opening exchanges, chasing down Liverpool's back four. The Finnish striker conceeded an early free-kick after two minutes following an over exuberant challenge on Gerrard.
5 min Sami Hypia had two chances on goal in as many minutes during the opening exchanges. His first chance was created after Danny Murphy conceded a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Gerrard laid the ball up Hypia fired in on goal but Niemi was alert to tip the ball round the post. Moments later Hypia surged forward to meet a cross from the left but his header lacked direction and drifted wide of the far post.
12 min Liverpool broke down the left at pace and the resulting cross came back out to Gerrard twenty five yards from goal. The Liverpool captain’s strike curled over Niemi’s far post. The home side’s pressure was interrupted seconds later when a long ball upfield was cleared short by Hypia. Murphy was on hand to send in a vicious volley from the edge of the area. Reina could only turn the ball away from goal but a fine instinctive shot by the Fulham midfielder.
20 min After a quiet spell the atmosphere inside Anfield heated up. First Voronin claimed a penalty but Referee Tanner was adament that there was no contact. Seconds later Crouch broke through Fulham’s defence on the left flank. The striker controlled the ball on his chest but before he could unleash a shot Baird raced in to block the ball away to safety. Fulham’s earned a number of free-kicks but Liverpool's defence dealt with the away side's threat with ease.
31 min Just past the half hour mark Veronin raced through Fulham’s high back line and latched onto Gerrard’s through ball. The striker was clear through on goal but marginally offside and the linesman’s flag was raised. Good reading of the game by Fulham's back line.
40 min Fulham’s travelling supporters had a nervous moment before half-time when Benayoun’s looping header from 16 yards came under the bar and Niemi was forced to parry the ball away. The ball bounced in front of the line but the keeper collected before Crouch could capitalise.
45 min A Liverpool free-kick from the left was swung into the far post and Peter Crouch headed the ball goalwards. Niemi was beaten but fortunately the ball rattled against the post and Fulham went into the break on level terms. The home side may have dominated possession in the first period but their chances were few and far between and Sanchez’ side kept the Reds at bay with two well organised banks of four.
Second Half Action
46 min Liverpool got the second half underway and within a minute Voronin fired in a left footed volley from the edge of the area. Niemi’s position was perfect and the keeper collected with ease. Two minutes later play was interrupted when Dempsey required treatment following a challenge by Carragher.
53 min Davis lost possession in the middle of the park to Gerrard. Liverpool’s captain sensed the advantage and raced towards goal before Danny Murphy clipped his heels. Referee Tanner showed Murphy the yellow before Aurelio fired in a left footed curling free-kick. Niemi parried the ball and Voronin fired over from three yards.
57 min Voronin tested Niemi once again with a rasping right footed shot from the right hand side of the area. Fulham’s goalkeeper produced an outstanding block to deny the home side. Lawrie Sanchez introduced Hameur Bouazza minutes later, replacing David Healy. Bouazza took up his position on the left flank and Dempsey moved into attack.
62 min Benitez introduced Babel for Riise and the home side moved up a gear. Niemi was in incredible form, producing another fingertip save from Benayoun when the ball was heading into the far corner. Two minutes later Dempsey collected a needless booking when he kicked the ball away.
66 min Fulham almost snatched the lead when Bouazza’s inswinging cross skimmed past Dempsey at the far post. Seconds later Voronin thought he had claimed the lead but his right footed shot from inside the area went wide of Niemi’s far post.
68 min Sanchez made his second substitution of the game, introducing Kamara for Dempsey in attack. Benitez followed suit, introducing Torres for Voronin.
78min Crouch put the ball into the back of Fulham’s net as the final ten minutes approached but the striker was clearly offside. Benitez made his final substitution two minutes later, bringing on Lucas for Mascherano.
80 min Substitute Torres broke the deadlock on 81 minutes, firing a left footed strike past Niemi from 8 yards. The striker drifted down the right before cutting inside Hughes and putting the home side ahead.
84 min Bocanegra clipped the heels of Crouch outside the area but the striker’s momentum took him into the box and Referee Tanner pointed to the spot. Bocanegra was booked before Gerrard rifled the ball into the corner of the net to make it two goals to nil.
90 min After three minutes of added time Referee Tanner blew the final whistle and Liverpool took the win by two goals to nil on Saturday evening.
Man of the Match
Antti Niemi
Despite conceding two goals the Finn was in superb form, producing several outstanding saves during the course of the game.