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December 7, 2011

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Dempsey strike sinks Reds

CLINT Dempsey pounced for an 85th-minute winner as Fulham beat Liverpool 1-0 in a dramatic Premier League match at Craven Cottage on Monday after a rare mistake from keeper Pepe Reina.

The pulsating game, in which Liverpool was reduced to 10 men when Jay Spearing was sent off after 72 minutes, appeared to be heading for a draw when Reina spilled a shot from Danny Murphy and American international Dempsey scored from close range.

Fulham, outplayed in the first half, came back strongly in the second but Liverpool was on the wrong end of three decisions from referee Kevin Friend which otherwise might have turned the game its way.

Fulham defender Philippe Senderos was lucky not to concede a penalty after 59 minutes when he clattered into Charlie Adam inside the box.

The officials also ruled that Luis Suarez was offside putting the ball in the Fulham net when he looked level with the last defender, and Spearing was shown a red card for a foul on Moussa Dembele when he caught the Fulham player with his trailing leg after playing the ball first.

"It's frustrating because no-one ever tells us what the level of acceptance (from referees) is," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said.

"Jay had it in his mind to win the ball and he did win it, but the referee didn't think so. I don't think we were going to get anything tonight, were we? The goal that Luis scored could have gone either way and we could have got a penalty when he got pulled down. We did not play as well as we have been playing, but it was enough to win the game. But we never got it, we will just have to brush ourselves down and get on with it."

Fulham manager Martin Jol thought Spearing should have been sent off.

"It was a bad challenge," he said before concentrating on his team's first league win since the end of October. "It was a very welcome three points, we needed that. We had more space after the sending-off and Clint had a good game, got us a much needed win and I am very pleased. We had the rub of the green tonight, it was an even game but we took the chance."

Liverpool, unbeaten in its previous 11 matches in all competitions, came to Craven Cottage seeking to equal a club record run of seven successive away wins, which included two at neighboring Chelsea in the Premier League and League Cup.

In contrast, Fulham was looking to improve a poor home record in the league in which it had won just one of eight matches since Liverpool won 5-2 at Craven Cottage at the end of last season.

Liverpool went closest to a goal after 28 minutes when a lofted shot from Jordan Henderson beat Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer before hitting the inside of the post and bouncing away.

The win lifted Fulham away from the relegation zone to 13th in the table on 15 points.



 

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