Sunshine, a perfect playing surface, and scores of Kopites with wallets inflated by Tony McCoy's Grand National triumph; all that was missing from this spring-time romp at Anfield was the result. Liverpool's draw with Fulham has surely ended Rafael BenÃtez's hopes of securing the Champions League football he bullishly guaranteed at the turn of the year, and the Spaniard can have few complaints this time.
Anfield's first stalemate of the season was greeted with predictable derision - Liverpool's supporters were left frustrated by their side's inability to raise the tempo of the game after a bright start to the second half - and there was a sense that both sides were showing the after-effects of their midweek exertions in Europe. If this was a dress rehearsal for the Europa League final, then it is advisable to make other plans come May 12th.
Shorn of the services of Fernando Torres, who was suffering with a knee injury, Liverpool were unable to find a way through a solid, but far from impenetrable Cottagers' defence. The support cast, who often flourish in the glow of the Spaniard's presence, were this time found wanting.
David Ngog has done an admirable job deputising for one of the world's best strikers this season, and boasts an impressive scoring ratio, but the Frenchman's presence was not enough today. Brede Hangeland had a few nervy moments, but bossed his young opponent with comfort.
Benitez will argue that his side dominated possession for the entire game, and he will have some justification. But the key is in turning such dominance into something of substance. Liverpool have been able to do that of late at Anfield - since losing to Arsenal in December they had won eight on the spin at home in the Premier League - but today the Reds came up short.
In fairness, visiting 'keeper Mark Schwarzer was the game's star performer. The Australian was tested by Maxi Rodriguez, Alberto Aquilani (twice), Ryan Babel and Javier Mascherano as Liverpool spent most of the afternoon probing between the half-way line and the Fulham penalty area.
But the fact that Sotirios Kyrgiakos' late header was the only clear-cut chance of the second period, and the affectionate yet desperate ovation afforded to young forward Daniel Pacheco upon his late introduction, tells its own tale. Without the prolific Torres, Liverpool had no-one to rescue a decent, yet unspectacular, performance.
Benitez's programme notes spoke of how Liverpool could ill-afford to drop further points following last week's 1-1 draw with Birmingham City: "we have no room for mistakes" was the Spaniard's message. Unfortunately, the Reds' inability to nail down any kind of consistency this season was again in evidence. And without their Spanish superstar, who unfortunately has missed too many games through injury this season, they simply cannot be trusted to win games with any comfort.
Scoreless draws peppered the Premier League this Sunday, and whilst Manchester United's failure to swat aside Blackburn Rovers earlier in the day was greeted with jeers of delight and relief, Liverpool's latest dropped points means their bid for a top-four finish can surely be written off.
The saving grace is that their rousing efforts in midweek mean they have a basket marked 'Europa League' in which to place all their eggs. The collateral damage from this stalemate, however, is that that is it is in the Europa League where they will be playing again next season.
Anfield's first stalemate of the season was greeted with predictable derision - Liverpool's supporters were left frustrated by their side's inability to raise the tempo of the game after a bright start to the second half - and there was a sense that both sides were showing the after-effects of their midweek exertions in Europe. If this was a dress rehearsal for the Europa League final, then it is advisable to make other plans come May 12th.
Shorn of the services of Fernando Torres, who was suffering with a knee injury, Liverpool were unable to find a way through a solid, but far from impenetrable Cottagers' defence. The support cast, who often flourish in the glow of the Spaniard's presence, were this time found wanting.
David Ngog has done an admirable job deputising for one of the world's best strikers this season, and boasts an impressive scoring ratio, but the Frenchman's presence was not enough today. Brede Hangeland had a few nervy moments, but bossed his young opponent with comfort.
Benitez will argue that his side dominated possession for the entire game, and he will have some justification. But the key is in turning such dominance into something of substance. Liverpool have been able to do that of late at Anfield - since losing to Arsenal in December they had won eight on the spin at home in the Premier League - but today the Reds came up short.
In fairness, visiting 'keeper Mark Schwarzer was the game's star performer. The Australian was tested by Maxi Rodriguez, Alberto Aquilani (twice), Ryan Babel and Javier Mascherano as Liverpool spent most of the afternoon probing between the half-way line and the Fulham penalty area.
But the fact that Sotirios Kyrgiakos' late header was the only clear-cut chance of the second period, and the affectionate yet desperate ovation afforded to young forward Daniel Pacheco upon his late introduction, tells its own tale. Without the prolific Torres, Liverpool had no-one to rescue a decent, yet unspectacular, performance.
Benitez's programme notes spoke of how Liverpool could ill-afford to drop further points following last week's 1-1 draw with Birmingham City: "we have no room for mistakes" was the Spaniard's message. Unfortunately, the Reds' inability to nail down any kind of consistency this season was again in evidence. And without their Spanish superstar, who unfortunately has missed too many games through injury this season, they simply cannot be trusted to win games with any comfort.
Scoreless draws peppered the Premier League this Sunday, and whilst Manchester United's failure to swat aside Blackburn Rovers earlier in the day was greeted with jeers of delight and relief, Liverpool's latest dropped points means their bid for a top-four finish can surely be written off.
The saving grace is that their rousing efforts in midweek mean they have a basket marked 'Europa League' in which to place all their eggs. The collateral damage from this stalemate, however, is that that is it is in the Europa League where they will be playing again next season.
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