EPL Week 34: Fulham - Liverpool

Pennant 0-1

Crouch 0-2

The loss leaves the Cottagers five points from safety with just three games left to play and a near-impossible survival mission on their hands.

The Reds, meanwhile, will go into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea on a high, as without star players Gerrard and Torres they showed their class to run out comfortable winners.

Fulham will feel aggrieved that their efforts weren't rewarded, particularly after a dominant spell in the first half, but they were once again architects of their own demise and now look almost certain to be playing Championship football next season.

Jermaine Pennant was the Man of the Match, finishing well to open the scoring after being played through by Lucas, and sliding a ball across goal for Peter Crouch to tap in the second and seal the points, as the Reds have all-but sealed a fourth place finish ahead of local rivals Everton, trailing by eight points in fifth with three games to go.

First Half

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez caused much controversy last year when he named an under-strength side at a similar stage in the season to face Fulham, the Cottagers won the game and all-but sealed their survival.

In classic Benitez style, he did not change his ways this afternoon and it looked like it might play into the London club's hands yet again. The hosts came out of the blocks the better side and created several half-chances as Liverpool were caught on the back foot.

They were made to pay for their lack of precision in front of goal when, just after the quarter of an hour mark, Jermaine Pennant gave the visitors the lead.

He had just provided a cross for Crouch, who headed off target, but when Andriy Voronin and Lucas combined to set him up, he made no such mistake, slotting home to stun the home fans.

Fulham had chances to level, but Brede Hangeland headed off target and Brian McBride sliced his volleyed effort off target.

Liverpool too created more chances, with Pennant at the centre of much of the action, but John Arne Riise had his effort cleared off the line by Paul Stalteri, and Voronin's self-made effort causing Fulham few difficulties.

Second Half

Clint Dempsey - the match-winner this time last year - began to cause problems after the break, but Liverpool did their utmost to marshal the US international and keep him at bay.

Indeed 20 minutes from time, Liverpool's calmness in front of goal settled the game, with Pennant squaring the ball across goal for Crouch to slide between Kasey Keller's legs.

Danny Murphy, playing against his former club, fought hard all game and almost scored a surprise goal, but Pepe Reina was alert to keep it out, and the midfielder was substituted soon after.

Fulham continued to press until the end, but to little avail, as the main worry Liverpool faced was the fitness of Sami Hyypia and Javier Mascherano, who were both substituted with injuries, and will be racing to regain full fitness for Tuesday.