Three former Liverpool players started for Fulham as John Arne Riise returned to Anfield for the first time, Captain Danny Murphy was restored to the heart of the midfield, and former Kop youth player Alex Kacaniklic was also handed a starting berth.

With Martin Jol still absent with a chest infection, Michael Lindeman and Billy McKinlay once again took charge and they welcomed Stephen Kelly back to the starting line-up following Philippe Senderos’ injury he picked up at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Whites made a fantastic start to proceedings when a good move resulted in them taking the lead courtesy of a Martin Skrtel own goal after just five minutes. Clint Dempsey, playing just off Pavel Pogrebnyak, marauded forwards before feeding Riise down the left, who fizzed a low ball into the area. Kacaniklic couldn’t control it but his touch was enough to wrong-foot Skrtel who could only watch as it deflected off him and past Doni into the net.

Fulham came close to doubling their lead after quarter of an hour after excellent work by Kacaniklic. The Swedish winger intercepted a pass in his own half and galloped 40 yards before finding Dempsey in the middle. The Texan then dinked a delicate ball over the top for Pogrebnyak, but the Russian's volley was straight at Doni who parried it away to safety.

Liverpool were limited to shots from distance and didn’t have Schwarzer worried until the 24^th minute but even then Kuyt’s snap-shot sailed wide of the Aussie’s right-hand post.

Both sides were beginning to enjoy more forays forward as the half progressed and on 28 minutes Brede Hangeland was forced to clear the ball off the line after Schwarzer had been stranded following a collision with Andy Carroll.

The home side were doing their best to use Carroll’s aerial prowess and came close again on 36 minutes when the former Newcastle man headed across the face of goal following a corner. Fortunately for the Whites, Maxi’s connection was loose and the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The Reds were finishing the half the stronger and Schwarzer needed two attempts to collect Carroll’s low header in the 45^th minute after the striker got a good connection on Jay Spearing’s cross.

Kenny Dalglish replaced Jordan Henderson with Stewart Downing at half-time and the home side began the second period on the front foot with Spearing testing Schwarzer within three minutes after robbing Dempsey who had lost his footing.

The Whites responded five minutes later when Dempsey beat Skrtel in the air to get on the end of Damien Duff’s corner but nodded a yard wide of Doni’s near post.

Liverpool began to press and it required a superb last-ditch tackle from Hangeland to deny Maxi a shot on goal after the Argentine had seemingly burst clear.

All the while though Fulham posed a threat on the counter and Kerim Frei, a replacement for the tireless Kacaniklic, grazed the post with a curling shot from 20 yards after being found in space on the left by Dempsey. And moments later Riise tested Doni with a poked effort from a tight angle after being played in by Mousa Dembele.

The game was wide open as it entered the final stages and Fulham were presented with a glorious chance to sew the tie up in the 78^th minute when Dempsey was sent through one-on-one by an intricate through ball by Frei. The Whites’ top scorer tried to bend it into the far corner but Doni read him well and beat the ball away.

Liverpool desperately searched for a way through but couldn’t beat Mark Schwarzer who held out to complete his 140^th Premier League game without conceding, putting him joint second with David Seaman for clean sheets held in the competition’s 20 year history.