Liverpool 1-0 Fulham

Liverpool clung on for victory against Fulham as they moved up to seventh in the Premier League.

The Reds took the lead when a Fernando Torres strike was deflected against the post before John Pantsil sliced a shot into his own net in the ensuing melee.

Fulham belatedly came out of their shell and had a Brede Hangeland header cleared off the goal-line.

A point-blank save late on by Reds keeper Pepe Reina from Moussa Dembele also helped secure Liverpool's win.

The home side had to endure a nervous finish as Fulham produced a late rally but they managed to do so and continue the impetus, although maybe not the improvement in play, manager Kenny Dalglish has engineered since taking over.

It was the Scot's second win in five games and will have Reds fans looking up the Premier League table rather than behind their shoulders at the relegation zone.

Fulham do not have that luxury as they lie four points from the bottom three after a game in which both teams struggled to find their passing game or rhythm.

Dalglish had masterminded a 10-0 win over Fulham in his first spell in charge as Liverpool manager and he almost got the perfect start to reacquainting rivalries with the London club.

Raul Meireles slid a weighted ball through for Torres to control and slot past Cottagers' keeper David Stockdale only for the assistant referee to rule the goal offside in a questionable decision.

Stockdale might have been beaten on that occasion but the 25-year-old, who had not been on a losing side in his previous eight first-team outings for Fulham this season, excelled as he played a big part in keeping his side level at Anfield.

The threatening Reds right-back Stephen Kelly drove in a cross and a steered header from Meireles seemed destined for the bottom corner before Stockdale palmed the ball wide at full-stretch.

Fulham's keeper also saved a 20-yard Steven Gerrard strike before he excellently tipped a well-struck Glen Johnson effort, after the defender had cut in from the left, over the bar.

The visitors had grown into their task of nullifying Liverpool and almost benefitted when two chances came their way in quick succession.

Fulham forward Clint Dempsey intercepted a Kelly pass and had a left-foot drive parried by Reina before it was cleared.

Almost immediately, former Everton forward Andrew Johnson pulled a ball back from the by-line for the unmarked Dembele, who could only shoot straight at Reina from close range as a glorious chance went begging.

As the defences of both teams appeared to have the upper hand as both teams lacked an urgency, the home side eventually broke the deadlock in scrappy style.

A Torres shot was deflected on to the post by centre-back Brede Hangeland and, in the ensuing melee, Stockdale appeared to palm the ball against Pantsil and into his own net.

Dempsey had volley from a Pantsil cross saved by Reina and ex-Reds Danny Murphy sent a free-kick for the visitors but Fulham struggled to break down the Liverpool defence.

The visitors threw centre-back Hangeland forward and the move almost paid off when he met a corner with a firm header which beat Reina but was cleared off the goal-line by Meireles.

The Cottagers again went close when Dempsey nodded down a Murphy free-kick for Dembele, whose snapshot was again saved by Reina as the Reds held on to secure victory.

Source: BBC

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