Chris Coleman had called on his players to produce a performance worthy of the late Johnny Haynes - and they delivered in style at Craven Cottage today with a vital win over the European champions.
Liverpool looked nothing like Kings of Continent - but the Fulham fans who had turned up to pay their emotional respects to 'The Maestro' cared not a jot.
They saw Collins John fire Fulham ahead after 29 minutes, before Luis Boa Morte sealed the win in injury-time with a delightful strike into the roof of the net.
Haynes died on Tuesday, a day after turning 71, and was feted before kick off as a club legend and Fulham's favourite son. The afternoon ended with the sell-out crowd chanting his name and celebrating a win.
Coleman spoke during the week of how he wanted Haynes to look down smiling on Craven Cottage at 4.50pm today and he would have been delighted by Fulham's performance.
It contained little of the style and grace Haynes brought to the game, but owed much to the grit, determination and stubborn defending Coleman is trying to instil in his squad.
Liverpool offered very little until Luis Garcia was introduced on the hour and stirred his side into action but Fulham's reserve goalkeeper Tony Warner, who was on for the injured Mark Crossley, produced a hat-trick of top-class saves.
The victory, all the emotion of the day aside, was vital for Fulham who are battling to escape the clutches of the relegation zone.
It was no classic and as he enjoyed his half-time cup of tea, England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson may well have been questioning his decision to turn up at Craven Cottage.
Not only was Jamie Carragher the only Englishman in either starting XI, but John's 29th-minute strike was the only action of any real note in a poor opening 45 minutes.
Liverpool, through Xabi Alonso and the imposing Mohamed Sissoko, closed down the midfield but their wide-men Harry Kewell - making his first start since the Champions League final - and John Arne Riise were anonymous.
And Fulham, the home side in front of a packed house, were happy to hit Liverpool on the counter-attack having squandered a gilt-edged chance of a second-minute lead.
John cut into the Liverpool box and picked out Ahmed Elrich but the Australian, playing in place of the injured Phillippe Christanval, spooned his effort over the bar.
After a period of jousting which created little for either side, Liverpool earned a free-kick on the edge of the Fulham box when Alonso went down under a challenge from Carlos Bocanegra but Riise skewed his shot harmlessly wide.
Fulham then survived a close call inside their own box when Riise was dubiously called offside as he collected Xabi Alonso's wonderful ball over the top.
Not that Coleman's men pondered their good fortune for too long. Within a minute they were ahead.
John touched the ball back to Claus Jensen on the edge of the Liverpool box and the chance seemed to have gone when he decided against shooting first time.
But the Danish international midfielder clipped a wonderful return pass over the top of the Liverpool defence and John slotted the ball past Reina for his third goal in as many games.
Liverpool's complaints for offside were waved away - and rightly so with television replays showing John had been played onside by the dawdling Alonso.
Coleman had asked his side to develop a mean streak in defence, to be more stubborn and that is certainly how Liverpool were finding them.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Liverpool |
| Goals |
2 |
0 |
| Possession |
41% |
59% |
| Goal attempts |
8 |
14 |
| On Target |
3 |
5 |
| Corners |
3 |
8 |
| Fouls |
10 |
15 |
| OffSides |
3 |
7 |
| Yellows |
0 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: skysport |
Things barely improved for Liverpool until Luis Garcia entered the fray.
He immediately twisted his way clear in the Fulham box but Crossley stuck out a palm and gathered the cross, only to be replaced by Warner a minute later having apparently damaged a hamstring.
Liverpool scented an opening and after Kewell had almost worked space for a shot, Warner's first action was to tip Morientes' volley over for a corner that Alonso headed wide.
Fulham were struggling to hold onto possession and after Carragher had muscled John off the ball, Liverpool broke and Cisse, enjoying freedom down the right flank, almost picked out Morientes in the box.
Warner then tipped Luis Garcia's curling effort round the post, dived at the feet of three Liverpool strikers and denied Hyypia with a reaction save from close range.
Fulham held on resiliently and then stung Liverpool on the break and Boa Morte snatched the winner, firing his shot into the roof of the net after cleverly escaping the offside trap.
Fulham Crossley (Warner 63), Volz, Goma, Bocanegra, Niclas Jensen (Rosenior 69), Malbranque, Diop, Claus Jensen, Boa Morte, Elrich (McBride 76), John.
Subs Not Used: Helguson, Rehman.
Goals:
- Collins John 30
right-footed into
bottom-right
of goal
from centre of penalty
area (12 yards out).
- Luis Boa Morte 90
left-footed into
top-left of goal
from left side of penalty
area (12 yards).
Liverpool Reina, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore (Luis Garcia 59), Sissoko, Alonso, Riise, Kewell (Crouch 75), Cisse, Morientes.
Subs Not Used: Hamann, Carson, Warnock.
Booked: Josemi, Sissoko.
Att: 22,480
Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).