Liverpool rides on Maxi magic
Source: Agencies |
May 11, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MAXI Rodriguez notched his second hat-trick in three matches as Liverpool thumped Fulham 5-2 on Monday to boost its Europa League qualifying chances.
Maxi grabbed his first goal 31 seconds into the Premier League game before the Argentine struck again in the seventh minute. Dirk Kuyt made it 3-0 when he scored for the fifth successive match.
Shell-shocked Fulham pulled one back in the 57th minute through Moussa Dembele but Maxi, who also recorded a treble against Birmingham City on April 23, slammed in a fantastic long-range shot 13 minutes later and Luis Suarez added a fifth.
Steve Sidwell scored late for Fulham but it did not change anything for Liverpool (58 points) which climbed above Tottenham Hotspur into the Europa League spot ahead of Spurs (56).
"It was just one of those days for us," Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "We've been playing well of late, confidence is good, we are looking forward to games."
Nippy runs
While Suarez's nippy runs and deft touches were at the heart of many Liverpool surges, Fulham's Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer had much to answer for as the visitors went three up in 16 minutes.
Schwarzer kicked Suarez's deflected cross into the path of Maxi for the opener and did not cover his near post well enough for the second but his worst blunder was for the third goal when he let Kuyt's soft effort slip past him.
He could not do anything about Maxi's third, a stunning strike from 25 meters, while at the other end Sidwell's consolation goal into the top corner was of a similar class.
Liverpool's win came the day after arch rival Manchester United closed within one point of winning the league to stand on the brink of breaking the record it shares with the Anfield club of 18 English top-flight titles.
While a Champions League place is still a mathematical possibility, Liverpool would need Spurs to win in Manchester City and for the results in the final two matches of the season to go its way.
Maxi grabbed his first goal 31 seconds into the Premier League game before the Argentine struck again in the seventh minute. Dirk Kuyt made it 3-0 when he scored for the fifth successive match.
Shell-shocked Fulham pulled one back in the 57th minute through Moussa Dembele but Maxi, who also recorded a treble against Birmingham City on April 23, slammed in a fantastic long-range shot 13 minutes later and Luis Suarez added a fifth.
Steve Sidwell scored late for Fulham but it did not change anything for Liverpool (58 points) which climbed above Tottenham Hotspur into the Europa League spot ahead of Spurs (56).
"It was just one of those days for us," Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "We've been playing well of late, confidence is good, we are looking forward to games."
Nippy runs
While Suarez's nippy runs and deft touches were at the heart of many Liverpool surges, Fulham's Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer had much to answer for as the visitors went three up in 16 minutes.
Schwarzer kicked Suarez's deflected cross into the path of Maxi for the opener and did not cover his near post well enough for the second but his worst blunder was for the third goal when he let Kuyt's soft effort slip past him.
He could not do anything about Maxi's third, a stunning strike from 25 meters, while at the other end Sidwell's consolation goal into the top corner was of a similar class.
Liverpool's win came the day after arch rival Manchester United closed within one point of winning the league to stand on the brink of breaking the record it shares with the Anfield club of 18 English top-flight titles.
While a Champions League place is still a mathematical possibility, Liverpool would need Spurs to win in Manchester City and for the results in the final two matches of the season to go its way.
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