Stalemate at Anfield as Liverpool let slip two points at home to Fulham

Fernando Torres started for Liverpool playing the full 90 minutes as the Reds only managed a 0-0 draw versus Fulham. Liverpool applied pressure from the kick-off as Mark Schwarzer had to be alert to block an early effort from Dirk Kuyt. Leiva then tried his luck from range, but Fulham withheld the early Red onslaught.

At the other end, Reina was tested by Johnson before Keane had a great chance to give his side the lead. A ball from Kuyt found the Irishman in the box, but the forward’s close-range effort struck Schwarzer before going behind for a corner.

Jimmy Bullard almost gave the Londoners a shock lead with a right-footed shot from outside the box, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Pepe Reina.

Torres let fly from 25 yards but his drive bounced favourably for the Fulham keeper who made a comfortable save to keep the scores level as both teams went in at the break 0-0.

It was all Liverpool in the second-half as Reina had very little to do in the Red goal. Torres cutting in from the left was first to try his luck with a right-footed effort that curled just wide of the far post.

The home team continued to dominate against a team looking for their first away league win of the year. A series of corners failed to find Liverpool the breakthrough as Roy Hodgson’s side held firm.

Alonso blasted high and wide from the edge of the box, as Leiva had a goal-bound shot strike a Fulham defender before going behind.

The final seconds were eaten away as the Cottagers made a final substitution. All in all, a frustrating afternoon for the Reds who dominated through the match from start to finish but failed to find a way through Schwarzer in the Fulham goal.


- Match Stats: Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Kuyt (El Zhar, 81), Lucas, Mascherano (Alonso, 64), Riera (Babel, 78), Keane, Torres

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey (Gera, 84), Bullard (Baird, 90), Murphy, Davies, Johnson, Zamora