A late Clint Dempsey goal gave Fulham a hard fought 1-0 win over 10-man Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
The result sets the Anfield club back in their ambitions to finish in the top four, whilst the Cottagers move towards mid-table security.
In an end to end game both sides had chances to win the game, with Jordan Henderson coming closest to breaking the deadlock in the first-half; a dipping shot by the England under-21 man reverberated off the home side’s post.
The game changed after 72 minutes when Jay Spearing was shown a straight red card for a lunging challenge on Moussa Dembele, and the hosts took the initiative.
Dempsey saw an effort hit Pepe Reina’s bar, and the game looked to be going to a stalemate as Stewart Downing also hit the woodwork at the other end.
However on 85 minutes Reina could not hold a shot by former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy, and Dempsey was there to give Fulham the three points.
After the game, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish felt his side were unlucky to leave the capital empty handed.
“I think we would have taken something from the game if we had been left with 11 men,” he told Sky Sports.
“For us, we played as well as we have been playing but you have to do enough to win the game. I think we did enough to come away with something, but we haven’t done it.
“We need to brush ourselves down and get on with it and not feel sorry for ourselves. The lads put in a great effort to try and win the game, even when we went down to 10 men we had a couple of close things,” he stated.
The Merseysiders stay in seventh place, five points behind Chelsea in fourth and take on QPR at home next weekend.
Fulham are up to 14th, and travel to take on Swansea in Wales on Saturday.
By Gareth McKnight
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