Fulham 0 Liverpool 2
For all their troubles at Anfield, Liverpool still have no problem winning
away from home.
This win over Fulham at Craven Cottage was their 10th in the Premiership this
season and no other side - not even mighty Manchester United - can better that
figure.
It was also the sort of victory that wins titles and Liverpool had to defend
for much of the game against Jean Tigana's stylish side.
And defend they did as they repulsed everything Fulham could throw at them
with much ease it must be said.
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Luis Boa Morte returned to first team action and was mugged by the Ref
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Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring when he netted his third goal for the club and
in stoppage time, as Fulham threw everyone forward in search of an equaliser,
substitute Jari Litmanen scored their second.
After playing five matches for Liverpool last month, Michael Owen's hamstrings
were given a breather against Fulham and the England striker started on the
bench.
That handed Anelka a starting place alongside Emile Heskey and the Frenchman
took full advantage to score after 13 minutes.
Danny Murphy found Anelka on the right-hand side of the area and his initial right-footed
shot hit Rufus Brevett on the foot.
Anelka collected the rebound, advanced into the Fulham box and curled the ball
home left-footed into the bottom far corner to register his third goal for the
club.
Back came the Cottagers and Louis Saha volleyed against the crossbar before
Stephane Henchoz made a superb tackle on Steve Marlet in the Liverpool area
as the striker prepared to pull the trigger.
Fulham continued to create the better chances and Marlet released the recalled
Luis Boa Morte down the left and when the fit-again Jerzy Dudek partially saved
his shot, Henchoz was on hand to head the loose ball over the top for a corner.
Fulham were forced to make an early reshuffle when Lee Clark, who has been
out for over two months with an Achilles injury, came on in place of the injured
Sean Davis, only to be replaced himself later on by John Collins.
Tigana's side maintained the pressure and Steed Malbranque wrong-footed Abel
Xavier only for his drive to come off Henchoz's chest and go behind for a corner.
But for all Fulham's pressure, Liverpool's well-drilled backline refused to
buckle.
Henchoz, who received a gash in his left leg tackling Marlet, was having a
towering game at the heart of the Liverpool defence and he was getting his head,
body or whatever in the way of any Fulham attempt at goal.
Fulham thought they should have been awarded a penalty two minutes after the
interval when Boa Morte went down under a challenge from Xavier.
| Match
Stats |
Fulham |
Liverpool |
| Goal
attempts |
11 |
10 |
| On
Target |
5 |
4 |
| Hit
woodwork |
1 |
0 |
| Fouls |
13 |
14 |
| Offsides |
0 |
3 |
| Corners |
9 |
3 |
| Yellows |
3 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source:
www.sports.com |
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But instead of pointing to the spot, referee Alan Wiley booked the Frenchman for
diving to the fury of the home fans.
It seemed a harsh decision and Xavier had been leaning on Boa Morte with his
left arm.
The game opened up in the second half and and Edwin van der Sar denied Liverpool
a second when he touched Murphy's right-foot curling shot around his left-hand
post for a corner.
Dudek then saved a Marlet header from Steve Finnan's free-kick before he pushed
away Saha's attempted cross after it was deflected off Henchoz's head.
With just under 20 minutes left, Nicky Barmby replaced Vladimir Smicer to make
his first appearance since injuring his ankle ligaments in October.
Liverpool might have scored a second near the end and the hard-working Heskey
shot wide from Anelka's right-wing cross.
Marlet should have snatched a point for Fulham four minutes from time when
Legwinski played him through on the left, only for the French striker to shoot
past Dudek's far post.
His miss looked all the more glaring when in stoppage time, Litmanen, who had
come on for Anelka, nodded Xavier's long ball beyond van der Sar, who was stranded
outside his box, and netted from the tight angle on the right to seal Liverpool's
fifth win in their last six league games.
Fulham:
Van der Sar, Finnan, Goma, Ouaddou, Brevett, Legwinski, Malbranque, Davis
(Clark 25), Saha, Marlet, Boa Morte (Hayles 66), Clark (Collins 76).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Melville.
Booked: Legwinski,(F, 42) Brevett(F, 45), Boa Morte(UB, 48).
Liverpool:
Dudek, Xavier, Hyypia, Henchoz, Wright, Smicer (Barmby 71), Hamann, Murphy,
Riise, Anelka (Litmanen 80), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, McAllister, Owen.
Booked: Wright, Hyypia.
Goals: Anelka 13, Litmanen 90.
Att: 21,103 Ref: A Wiley (Burntwood).