This Premier League season has to be the best yet, and that is said every season nowadays. But the way that the table is so unpredictable is too exciting for any football fan, and the matches replicate this unpredictability. The many emotions I felt and every other Liverpool fan felt during the course of the 90 minutes of this match just show how every game takes you on a rollercoaster ride. This midweek game at Craven Cottage was one of just 8 Premier League matches that took place in this matchday, as both Man City's and Everton's games against Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively, fell victim to the awful British weather. At one point this game too was in doubt, however not for the same reason as only the cancelling of a London Underground strike, that was originally due to take place throughout the duration of the match, meant that this encounter could take place.
Right from the off every reds fan had a right to be nervous as Fulham broke several times in the first ten minutes. It seemed as if there was going to be another poor defensive performance from Liverpool and these feelings were confirmed when Kolo Toure mis-timed his clearance of Kieran Richardson's cross on the edge of the six-yard box with the ball consequently ending up in his own net. Reds fans watching this must have been raging as the Ivorian continued his spell of defensive mishaps after he gifted the home side a goal in the 8th minute. The giveaway of the goal is not something the Liverpool fans will take lightly as they still have Toure's pass which lead to a Victor Anichebe goal against West Brom still lingering in their minds. Maybe he should dress up as Father Christmas for next year, with all of the gifts he keeps giving away (excuse the writer's first blog joke).
Liverpool however instantly responded well and picked up the pace as Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard both fired wide of the target going into the late stages of the first 45 minutes. Fulham keeper Maarten Steklenburg however was not left gazing as he was forced into battle thanks to superb efforts from his former Ajax counterpart, Luis Suarez. And just before the break Liverpool got their wish as Daniel Sturridge equalised with his 4th goal in 2 visits to Craven Cottage. However the plaudits should go to skipper Steven Gerrard for delivering one of the passes of the season to set the striker up in the 41st minute. Even with the late first half goal, the reds' defensive display would have infuriated manager Brendan Rodgers going into the break.
If Liverpool fans thought that their team would replicate the events of their 3-1 victory here last season, in which they came back into the game having being 1-0 down, then they thought wrong. The Merseysiders' character was tested even more when Martin Skrtel was the 'gift-giver' this time and failed to deal with a Sascha Riether cross, which ultimately lead to a Kieran Richardson tap-in on 61 minutes. The former Manchester United man had caused the reds' back line trouble all evening, which contrasts to the solid defensive performance when dealing with the likes of Giroud, Wilshere and Cazorla on Saturday.
If the reds are to finish in a top 4 position, or even potentially win the Barclays Premier League, then they are going to have to show consistency in their results, and perform well both home and away. And they raised their performance levels once more as the Liverpool midfield and the crafty forwards dominated for the rest of the match. Brazillian Phillipe Coutinho is doing a pretty good job in his attempts to show Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari just why he should go to the World Cup, and his goal in the 72nd minute won't have done him any harm. Coutinho burst into space and through to the edge of the box where he pulled the trigger and scored via a deflection off of former Everton man John Heitinga.
It was then clear that the West Londoners were keen to replicate their performance against Manchester United by hanging onto a point, and their efforts were not aided by an injury to their Dutch shot stopper when trying to deny Suarez and Liverpool a winning goal. This forced David Stockdale into the home side's net and in the 91st minute had to face a Gerrard penalty, caused by a silly Riether challenge on Sturridge inside the box. Unlike the Merseyside Derby a few weeks ago, Sturridge was replaced by the skipper as penalty taker for this one as Liverpool looked to steal a 3-2 win in the capital. And, as the skipper still always does, pulled his team mates and his manager from the brink of disappointment as his shot fired just past the substitute keeper.
There are definitely improvements for this Liverpool side to make, with most of them in the defence as many reds fans will know. Bad days at the office for Toure may now come in short supply however as Daniel Agger returned from injury by coming off the bench in stoppage time to boost confidence. The trip down to London had been made even more successful and beneficial, as Portuguese Under-21 starlet Joao Carlos Teixeira came off the bench for his first team debut. It wasn't as simple as just coming on as a substitute either as the youngster, back from the termination of a loan spell at League One side Brentford, saw his shot breeze over the bar in his attempts to win Liverpool the match.
It keeps the redmen in 4th place, 3 points clear of Tottenham who bagged a healthy 4-0 scoreline away at Newcastle on the same night. The postponing of Manchester City's home match against Sunderland means that Liverpool are just one point off 3rd place, while the postponing of Everton's game against Crystal Palace means that the reds are 8 points clear of their rivals.
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