Goal Highlights:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xms9og_fulham-1-0-liverpool-5-12-2011-elkooratoday_sport
Dempsey prodded home on 85 minutes after Pepe Reina had turned
away Danny Murphy's shot.
It had been a real ding-dong battle that saw shot after shot
pepper both goals — yet with no result.
But Jay Spearing's 72nd-minute red card, for scything through
Moussa Dembele, gave Fulham the advantage — before Dempsey cashed
in by grabbing the points.
It had taken just five minutes for the first chance to be carved
out.
Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz sliced their way through — only
for the Belgian to hit his shot straight at Pepe Reina.
At the other end, Andy Carroll had a sighter but Mark Schwarzer
saved his shot.
Charlie Adam was next the threaten and pinged a shot at the
Fulham stopper.
It was end-to-end stuff already and Dembele and Dempsey both
tested Reina with sharp long-rangers.
Liverpool were a whisker from taking the lead after Jordan
Henderson's dazzling 27th-minute run.
Henderson danced through Fulham before dinking a shot against
the post.
Reina was called into action again when Dempsey hit a wobbler
from distance.
Incredibly, though, neither team could find a way through and
the half ended goalless.
After the break, both sides came charging out of the blocks —
and Schwarzer pulled off a cracking early save from Jose
Enrique.
Liverpool then threatened as it pinballed around the box but
Fulham held firm.
Luis Suarez was then shouting for a penalty after going down
between Brede Hangeland and John Arne Riise.
Yet the striker's reputation went before him and his claims were
dismissed.
The Reds had a much more convincing appeal when Charlie Adam's
darting run was ended by Phillipe Senderos.
Senderos hauled down the Scot on the edge — and got the benefit
of the doubt when a free-kick was given.
Bellamy drilled the set-piece wide and it was a real let-off for
the Cottagers.
The Wales man was in the thick of it again shortly after when he
dragged Glen Johnson's through-ball wide.
Fulham were under the cosh now — yet were handed a boost when
Spearing saw red for scything through Dembele on 72 minutes.
The Kop ace dived in with both feet off the air and was sent for
an early bath.
Dempsey hit the bar with 10 minutes to go — and Downing had his
own brush with glory when Schwarzer tipped his shot onto the
post.
Incredibly, there was still time for more drama.
Murphy skinned Glen Johnson on the left before taking a pot-shot
at goal. That was saved by Reina, but Dempsey was on hand to turn
in.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - MOUSSA DEMBELE
FULHAM: Schwarzer 7, Kelly 7, Hangeland 8,
Senderos 7, Riise 7, Dempsey 7, Murphy 7, Etuhu 7, Dempsey 7,
Dembele 8, Ruiz 7, Zamora 6. Subs: Johnson (Zamora 71) 5, Gecov
(Murphy 90) 5. Not used: Etheridge, Hughes,
Briggs, Kasami, Frei. Booked: Dembele, Senderos,
Dempsey.
LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger
7, Enrique 7, Henderson 7, Spearing 7, Adam 8, Bellamy 7, Suarez 7,
Carroll 6. Subs: Kuyt (Carroll 77) 5, Downing
(Bellamy 77) 5. Not used: Doni, Coates, Carragher,
Kelly, Maxi. Booked: Bellamy. Sent
off: Spearing.
REF: K Friend 5
