Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
Premier League; Tuesday 1st May 2012
Liverpool suffered their second 1-0 home defeat in a row, this time handing Fulham their first ever win at Anfield. Kenny Dalglish‘s side have won just one home League game in 2012, and just five all season, with only Chelsea at Anfield remaining next Tuesday.
Dalglish showed his intentions, or lack of it, by naming a hugely understrength team ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final.
Reina, Gerrard, Suarez and Agger were rested and those who came in showed absolutely no desire, with only goalkeeper Alexander Doni coming out of the game with some credit after making three good saves.
The keeper could do nothing about the goal, coming inside 5 minutes when former Red John Arne Riise’s cross came off Dempsey, hit Skrtel and fell into the Kop net. Riise knows how that feels. It was the Norweigan’s first appearance at Anfield since leaving the club four years ago and duly got a good reception.
While the decision to rest so many players wasn’t unexpected, there were plenty of bizarre decisions that Dalglish made. Once again the subs bench featured four defenders but also no forwards. Talk about showing a lack of attacking intent.
The game itself was dour, played in an atmosphere that was befitting of a team put out by a manager who showed he clearly didn’t care about winning the game.
Liverpool: Doni, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Aurelio (Enrique 65), Spearing, Shelvey, Henderson (Downing 46), Maxi, Kuyt (Sterling 76), Carroll.
Subs not used: Jones, Carragher, Flanagan, Robinson.
Attendance: 40,106
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