LONDON, Nov 1 — Liverpool’s Premier League season spiralled back into crisis yesterday, after they went down 1-3 at Fulham in a game in which they finished with nine men.
Rafael Benitez’s side appeared to have got their campaign back on track after last week’s 2-0 win over arch-rivals Manchester United.
But goals by Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey condemned them to a fifth consecutive away defeat in all competitions.
Fernando Torres’ well-taken strike just before half-time was the only bright spot for the Anfield side, who had defenders Philipp Defen and Jamie Carragher dismissed in the closing minutes.
Buoyed by their victory over United, Liverpool began brightly at Craven Cottage and could have gone ahead after 22 minutes when Yossi Benayoun blasted a shot against the crossbar.
But the hosts went ahead against the run of play two minutes later. Damien Duff squared the ball into the Liverpool box for an unmarked Zamora to tap the ball in.
The visitors got back on level terms in the 42nd minute with a brilliant Torres strike. A weak header by Andriy Voronin came back off Aaron Hughes and fell nicely for the Spaniard, who volleyed home from 20 metres.
But Benitez decided to replace his star striker with Ryan Babel just after the hour — and that decision came back to haunt his side as Fulham regained the lead through Nevland in the 73rd minute.
A cross by Paul Konchesky was tipped away by Pepe Reina, but Zoltan Gera put the ball back into the danger area for the Norwegian striker to turn in.
Liverpool’s day then disintegrated as Degen was sent off in the 81st minute for a lunge from behind on Dempsey.
Just a minute later, Carragher followed him for an early shower after bringing down Zamora as the Fulham striker bore down on goal.
With just three minutes remaining, Dempsey and Nevland exchanged passes before the American slotted the ball past Reina to secure Fulham’s win.
Liverpool’s fifth league loss of the season probably signalled the end of their challenge for another season. — Straits Times
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