Liverpool take all three points at the Cottage
Starting Line Ups
First Half Action
6 mins
Fulham were looking dangerous in the early stages and Clint Dempsey was first to threaten when he intercepted a loose Macherano pass in midfield. The American international made good ground down the field before he was eventually run off the ball by two accompanying defenders.
9 mins
The presence of Peter Crouch up front for the visitors clearly presented Rafa Benitez’ side with an easy option out of defence. And the Reds were eager to find the head of the tall striker on a regular basis early on.
11 mins
Jermaine Pennant earned the wrath of the Craven Cottage faithful when, on 11 minutes, the winger lost control of a wayward pass and Dempsey was in like a shot to dispossess him. With Dempsey having successfully gained control of the ball, play was suddenly pulled back for an infringement on Pennant.
14 mins
The first chance of the match saw Peter Crouch climb high at the far post and get his head to a well-delivered Pennant cross. The England striker’s header flashed just wide of Keller’s right hand post, although the keeper looked to have his angles covered.
16 mins – GOAL LIVERPOOL – Pennant
Liverpool took the lead with just over quarter of an hour on the clock. Lucas Leiva spotted the run of Pennant down the side of Brede Hangeland and set the winger away. Pennant stretched out and directed a shot inside the near post which flew past the stationary Keller. It was a poor goal to concede, certainly out of keeping with the tight nature of the match.
23 mins
The goal momentarily took Fulham out of their stride and it wasn’t until the 23rd minute when Bullard latched on to a neat one-two and was almost set free – but for a well timed sliding tackle from Sami Hyypia.
26 mins
Fulham were caught on the back foot by a fluid Liverpool attack. The visitors managed to break beyond Fulham’s midfield line. The ball was worked to Pennant whose low cross to the back post was met on the stretch by John Arne Riise. His goal bound effort was headed away from danger by the covering Paul Stalteri.
29 mins
Brede Hangeland almost got the Whites back on level terms as they desperately searched for an equaliser before half time. A Jimmy Bullard free kick found its way to David Healy who made space and crossed. Lucas' unconventional clearance fell straight to Hangeland, who was making a nuisance of himself in the area; unfortunately he was unable to direct his header on goal.
37 mins
With the interval nearing, the pace of the game slowed slightly. However, the Whites almost struck parity went a long clearance from Keller was misjudged by Hyypia but Brian McBride miss-hit his shot which Reina collected calmly.
Second Half Action
50 mins
The second half got off to a somewhat subdued start, with neither side pressing forward with too much conviction. However, Liverpool were the first to up the stakes when they counter-attacked in the 53rd minute, forcing a corner.
55 mins
If the 55th minute was anything to go by, Liverpool’s main weapon in the second half was going to be their lighting fast counter-attacks. The Whites lost possession and immediately six Liverpool outfield players had broke forward en-masse, making for a very nervy passage of play.
60 mins
Yossi Benayoun saw a good opportunity blocked by Paul Stalteri who proceeded to run the ball out of defence as Fulham looked to counter. The move lost some of its momentum through the midfield area but was back on track when Bullard found Simon Davies with a cross-field pass. Davies’ cross to the far post had the Liverpool defence in two minds but had just too much on it for McBride to make contact.
67 mins
Fine work from David Healy down the right flank presented Clint Dempsey with a good opportunity to draw level. The Northern Ireland striker did well to get to the by-line and whipped a cross into the danger area where Dempsey arrived to head just wide.
69 mins – GOAL LIVERPOOL – Crouch
The visitors doubled their lead when Danny Murphy lost possession and Jermaine Pennant fed the ball into the feet of Peter Crouch. The striker made space for himself with his first touch and fired a shot low and hard. Keller managed to get a touch but could only slow the ball’s progress before it spun over the line.
74 mins
An extended piece of possession football from Liverpool was interrupted when David Healy nicked the ball into the path Danny Murphy. The Fulham midfielder touched the ball away from his marker but, with only the keeper to beat, Murphy’s shot struck Reina’s shin and ricocheted away.
75 mins – Fulham substitution
David Healy OFF – Erik Nevland ON
77 mins – Fulham substitution
Danny Murphy OFF – Leon Andreasen
Roy Hodgson made a quick-fire double substation as he looked to revive Fulham’s chances of getting back into a game that was rapidly slipping away. David Healy was replaced by Erik Nevland and further fresh legs were added to the midfield with Leon Andreasen coming on for Danny Murphy.
80 mins - Fulham substitution
Brian McBride OFF Diomansy Kamara ON
The final throw of the dice saw Joe Kamara replace McBride in the hope that his pace would give the Liverpool defence a different problem.