Fulham 1 Liverpool 3: match report
Read a match report of the Premier League game between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Sunday May 12, 2013.
Trickery: Daniel Sturridge caused Fulham all sorts of problems Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Luis Suárez has a tendency to overshadow most things at Liverpool but with the
Uruguayan suspended, it is Daniel Sturridge’s turn to become the focus of
attention.
An impressive hat-trick took his tally to 11 goals in 15 appearances since his
January move from Chelsea. Little wonder Brendan Rodgers was quick to point
out the forward is much more than a support act for his controversial
team-mate.
The England striker (pictured), who was complemented by the excellent Philippe
Coutinho, produced three outstanding finishes to cancel out Dimitar
Berbatov’s goal and extend his side’s unbeaten run to seven games while
inflicting a fifth successive defeat on a Fulham side who are simply
grateful to have reached the 40-point mark some time ago.
Rodgers’s side have lost just one of their past 12 games and while they cannot
now catch Everton in sixth place, the manager can draw satisfaction from his
team’s form, and in particular that of Sturridge, who spurned at least two
good opportunities to add to his haul.
“Daniel was outstanding,” said Rodgers. “He scored three goals, he could maybe
have had six. He’s made a great start to his career. He’s not perfect.
"He should have squared one but he was on two goals and he is a
goalscorer. But you can’t complain. If you’ve got three goals in a Premier
League game, there can’t be too much at fault.
“His first goal was brilliant, his second he put it in the corner after a great ball from Coutinho and the third one you can’t credit it all to Sturridge because the weight of pass from Coutinho was incredible. But Dan still had a lot to do and his finish was sublime.
“People have asked if he is stepping in well for Luis but I didn’t bring him in to be a sub, I brought him to play at Liverpool because I believe he can get goals and he is a goalscorer. I think what we are seeing without Luis is there are still goals in the team.
“I’ve seen him develop since he was a young boy. I just felt that as a young player he needed an opportunity and that was going to be difficult for him at Chelsea when there was Didier Drogba and other world-class players. He needed a run of games and he has got that with us. Eleven goals in 15 games since January is an outstanding record.”
There were few positives for Fulham manager Martin Jol, who watched his side slump to a fourth successive home reverse after Berbatov had given them a 33rd-minute lead. A summer of rebuilding lies ahead and on this evidence, it cannot start soon enough.
“Sometimes you should count your blessings because we knew the last seven or eight games could be a heavy schedule and it has been,” said Jol.
“So we are happy to be on 40 points but the only disappointing thing is we haven’t managed to get a couple more results.
“If you look at the effort we put in against Chelsea and Arsenal, I don’t think there has been anything wrong with the mentality. I thought we made a big step last year and we played well after Christmas.”
He added: “On the one hand it’s disappointing, on the other hand we are happy to be on 40 points.”
A pedestrian opening reflected the status of the game with Coutinho’s 10th-minute shot, a powerful drive from outside the area that forced a hurried save from Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, the only significant effort on goal during a period dominated by the visitors.
It was Fulham, however, who forced the lead in the 31st minute when Berbatov took advantage of woeful visiting defending.
Damien Duff and Sascha Riether were given time and space to work the opening for a right-wing cross while Berbatov lingered unmarked on the six-yard line before heading home with ease.
Liverpool’s response was impressive, with Sturridge collecting a long clearance from Andre Wisdom three minutes later and turning Aaron Hughes inside out before finishing right-footed.
Fulham were convinced they should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when Bryan Ruiz’s cross was blocked by Lucas Leiva, but referee Mark Halsey judged the contact was accidental.
The decision appeared harsh on Fulham, particularly when Sturridge claimed his second goal just two minutes later Coutinho was the provider, collecting Jonjo Shelvey’s nod down before finding Sturridge on the right-hand side of the area and the striker’s finish was again exemplary.
The third came four minutes from time, again from a Coutinho pass, with Sturridge chipping the ball over Schwarzer.
“His first goal was brilliant, his second he put it in the corner after a great ball from Coutinho and the third one you can’t credit it all to Sturridge because the weight of pass from Coutinho was incredible. But Dan still had a lot to do and his finish was sublime.
“People have asked if he is stepping in well for Luis but I didn’t bring him in to be a sub, I brought him to play at Liverpool because I believe he can get goals and he is a goalscorer. I think what we are seeing without Luis is there are still goals in the team.
“I’ve seen him develop since he was a young boy. I just felt that as a young player he needed an opportunity and that was going to be difficult for him at Chelsea when there was Didier Drogba and other world-class players. He needed a run of games and he has got that with us. Eleven goals in 15 games since January is an outstanding record.”
There were few positives for Fulham manager Martin Jol, who watched his side slump to a fourth successive home reverse after Berbatov had given them a 33rd-minute lead. A summer of rebuilding lies ahead and on this evidence, it cannot start soon enough.
“Sometimes you should count your blessings because we knew the last seven or eight games could be a heavy schedule and it has been,” said Jol.
“So we are happy to be on 40 points but the only disappointing thing is we haven’t managed to get a couple more results.
“If you look at the effort we put in against Chelsea and Arsenal, I don’t think there has been anything wrong with the mentality. I thought we made a big step last year and we played well after Christmas.”
He added: “On the one hand it’s disappointing, on the other hand we are happy to be on 40 points.”
A pedestrian opening reflected the status of the game with Coutinho’s 10th-minute shot, a powerful drive from outside the area that forced a hurried save from Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer, the only significant effort on goal during a period dominated by the visitors.
It was Fulham, however, who forced the lead in the 31st minute when Berbatov took advantage of woeful visiting defending.
Damien Duff and Sascha Riether were given time and space to work the opening for a right-wing cross while Berbatov lingered unmarked on the six-yard line before heading home with ease.
Liverpool’s response was impressive, with Sturridge collecting a long clearance from Andre Wisdom three minutes later and turning Aaron Hughes inside out before finishing right-footed.
Fulham were convinced they should have had a penalty in the 61st minute when Bryan Ruiz’s cross was blocked by Lucas Leiva, but referee Mark Halsey judged the contact was accidental.
The decision appeared harsh on Fulham, particularly when Sturridge claimed his second goal just two minutes later Coutinho was the provider, collecting Jonjo Shelvey’s nod down before finding Sturridge on the right-hand side of the area and the striker’s finish was again exemplary.
The third came four minutes from time, again from a Coutinho pass, with Sturridge chipping the ball over Schwarzer.
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