Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premiership with another impressive home performance against a Fulham team who again seemed to be looking for the draw.
Craig Bellamy looked the most hungry of Liverpool striking force after his two-goal haul against Wigan, and he proved this within the first 5 minutes of the match with his chipped pass along the left hand side which allowed Luis Garcia to knock the ball towards the goal, only to be parried away by Fulham goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka. But Fulham were not going to let Liverpool take control, when two minuets later Brian McBride shot on the turn assisted by Moritz Volz went inches wide.
Liverpool began to find their rhythm through a series of corners, but could not convert their possession into a goal.
Dirk Kuyt had a chance to make amends two minutes after halftime when a long clearance from Jose Reina caught the Fulham defence off-guard, but Kuyt’s volley went straight into the goalkeepers grateful hands at an easy height. Kuyt’s resistance rewarded him in the end when Bellamy teed him up for a fierce volley only to be stopped by Ian Pearce’s arm, therefore referee
Uriah Rennie had no hesitation but to give Liverpool the penalty. Captain Steven Gerrard stepped up to take the penalty, which was saved on the left hand side by Jan Lastuvka, but Gerrard lashed it home on the rebound to score his 4th goal of the season.
Later on on the 60th minute, Steven Gerrard whipped a corner in from the left, which was met by Danish defender Daniel Agger, his header looked to be going wide, only to be knocked into the bottom right hand side of the net by the unlikely source of Jamie Carragher.
Agger set up another in the 67th minute, when his cross was met by Luis Garcia whose header went dipping neatly underneath the bar and in.
Late into stoppage time Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez, back after his injury against PSV Eindhoven, fired a left footed shot from a free-kick into the bottom right hand corner of the net, unstoppable for goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka as it went totally beyond him.
Liverpool should now be pleased of themselves after getting a win despite their 3-2 loss to Galatasaray last Tuesday. Now the Reds need to prepare themselves for their next away trip to Charlton Athletic who are now struggling in the league and under the command of caretaker manager Les Reed, after the sacking of Iain Dowie.
Jack McCorry
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