Liverpool FC 0 Fulham 1: Reds slump to home defeat ahead of FA Cup final
- By Ian Doyle
- May 2 2012
Liverpool FC players dejected as they slump to Anfield defeat against Fulham
FORGET Anfield South. Liverpool will hope Wembley proves anything but a home from home when they target FA Cup final salvation this weekend.
Ninety minutes of depressingly familiar frustration saw Kenny Dalglish's much-changed side fall to defeat against Fulham last night.
Yes, few of those on display will be in the starting line-up when Liverpool take on the Cottagers' West London rivals Chelsea at Wembley.
But this performance only underlined why the Anfield outfit are on course to post their worst-ever league finish since returning to the top flight in 1962.
On the same evening 22 years earlier, Liverpool were presented with their 18th and most recent league championship as Dalglish made his 515th and last appearance for the club.
Last night, though, it was another manager with Anfield connections whose name could be heard resonating through the unseasonal chilly Merseyside air.
"There's only one Roy Hodgson" sang the small group of Fulham supporters in salute of their former boss and newly-instated England chief.
The sentiment was not shared by the majority inside Anfield, for whom Hodgson symbolises a dark era from which the club are still striving to recover.
Martin Skrtel's unfortunate fifth-minute own goal was enough to give Fulham their first-ever win at Anfield and, remarkably, their debut league success on Merseyside at the 49th attempt.
Former Liverpool players John Arne Riise – making his first return to Anfield since departing – and Danny Murphy were both given a warm reception from Kop.
And that's been the problem. Dalglish's men have been far too accommodating to visiting sides, with Liverpool having now dropped an astonishing 30 points in 18 home Premier League games this season.
Writing in his programme notes, skipper Steven Gerrard warned that letting their focus wander towards the FA Cup final could see Liverpool punished by Fulham.
That, though, was always likely to be mere lip service, with Dalglish's team selection suggesting he had more than one eye fixed on Saturday's showpiece.
The Liverpool manager made wholesale changes to the side that defeated Norwich City at the weekend, with only Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey being retained in the starting line-up.
Realistically there are few Cup final places up for grabs, although Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez were no doubt both keen to at least plant a seed of consideration in Dalglish's mind.
Along with most of their team-mates, both were found wanting; only the hard-working Andy Carroll emerging with any semblance of credit.
Having already been informed he would not be retained beyond the end of the season, last night's start acted as a farewell for Fabio Aurelio at left-back.
There was, however, a focus on the future, with Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing and Sebastian Coates also starting, and Raheem Sterling joining Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson on the bench.
Fulham manager Martin Jol, who missed his team's 4-0 surrender at Everton on Saturday, was again absent with a chest infection.
But he would have been cheered by news of his side forging ahead in only the fifth minute.
Clint Dempsey released Riise down the left and, after his driven cross took a nick off Alex Kacaniklic, Skrtel couldn't get out of the way and the ball struck his body and bounced agonisingly out of the reach of the wrong-footed Doni.
Kacaniklic, making only his second start for Fulham last night, spent three years at the Anfield academy before moving to Craven Cottage in August 2010 as part of the deal that saw Paul Konchesky go the other way.
The goal set the tone for a dreary opening quarter for Liverpool, Doni alert to prevent the hosts falling further behind after a stretching Pavel Pogrebnyak met Dempsey's ball over the top.
Too many passes went astray in midfield as Dalglish's side, missing the drive and ingenuity of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, struggled for attacking ideas.
Liverpool finally got going midway through the half. After Dirk Kuyt struck a dipping volley wide from 20 yards, a bout of pressure ended with a Shelvey shot that went through Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer but was cleared off the line by Brede Hangeland.
Schwarzer then saved Kuyt's angled drive while, from a deep Shelvey corner, the increasingly involved Andy Carroll headed back for Maxi Rodriguez to nod over from 10 yards.
Liverpool threatened again approaching the interval when, released by a good first-time ball by Carroll, Shelvey shot across the face of goal before Schwarzer grabbed Carroll's header at the second attempt from Aurelio's cross.
With Stewart Downing on for the hapless Henderson, Liverpool upped the tempo in the second half with Maxi denied a clear opening by a resolute Hangeland challenge.
Fulham, though, gained a second wind, and after substitute Kerim Frei shot wide, Doni saved well from Riise.
Liverpool lost their way the longer the game progressed, and Doni was required to make another good stop from Dempsey.
The final whistle was met with jeers from the home supporters. Not the best way to prepare for Wembley.
MAN OF THE MATCH. Andy Carroll. Liverpool's most lively attacker on an evening when few emerged with any credit
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Doni; Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Aurelio (Enrique 65); Henderson (Downing 46), Spearing; Kuyt (Sterling 76), Shelvey, Maxi; Carroll. Subs: Jones, Carragher, Flanagan, Robinson.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise; Duff, Dembele (Baird 87), Murphy, Kacaniklic (Frei 58); Dempsey, Pogrebnyak (Etuhu 80). Subs: Stockdale, Kasami, Sa, Briggs.
REFEREE: Lee Probert.
ATT: 40,106.
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