Dempsey pounces to down Reds

Fulham snatched all three points against 10-man Liverpool with an entertaining 1-0 win at Craven Cottage on Monday.

Clint Dempsey tapped in after Pepe Reina fumbled a Danny Murphy effort five minutes from the end but the Reds were dominant until Jay Spearing received a straight red card for a tackle on Moussa Dembele on 72 minutes.

Damien Duff failed to recover from his calf injury in time to play while Spearing was drafted in for the injured Lucas Leiva as Liverpool looked to climb to fifth with a win.

In the opening half Fulham exploited the space between the Liverpool midfield and defence as the visitors perhaps missed the influence of Leiva. It was in that area that Dembele burst through after five minutes but Reina was quick to smother the chance.

The Belgian and Dempsey were both denied again by the Spaniard in the opening quarter but it wasn't all one way traffic. Craig Bellamy was giving former teammate John Arne Riise a torrid time on the right and he created a fine chance for Andy Carroll but the big man fired straight at Mark Schwarzer after nine minutes.

But the closest either side came in the half was when Jordan Henderson drove into the box and hit a looping toe poke that deceived Schwarzer and struck a post before bouncing to safety. Henderson, and most of the crowd, thought it was in.

The second half was a little scrappier, with Dempsey and Bellamy both going in the book for a clash in the centre circle.

But Kenny Dalglish's men were pressing hard and Fulham were close to buckling. A long-range effort from Jose Enrique was well parried by Schwarzer and the big Australian dealt with a succession of corners to keep Liverpool at bay.

But you sensed a goal was coming and it should have come on the hour when a fast break saw Liverpool outnumber Fulham but Charlie Adam waited too long to slip in Bellamy and Glen Johnson set up the Welshman just two minutes later but he snatched at the ball and dragged it wide.

Suarez did get the ball in the net on 65 minutes but he was ruled, possibly harshly, offside.

As the game entered its final stages Fulham seemed to settle for a point but the dismissal of Spearing changed the complexion of the game. Jol threw on Andy Johnson for the ineffectual Bobby Zamora but it was Dempsey who nearly won it, hitting the bar with Reina beaten.

Stewart Downing, on as a sub for Bellamy, almost won it but his swerving shot was superbly tipped onto a post by Schwarzer, leaving the game still up for grabs.

And in the end Dempsey would decide it, slotting home after the previously excellent Reina fumbled a tame effort from Murphy, presenting the goal to Dempsey and the points for Fulham.

Source: Setanta

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.