Kenny Hails Five-Star Reds

Kenny Dalglish hailed a Liverpool masterclass after they thumped Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage.

The Reds were rampant as a Maxi Rodriguez hat-trick set them on course for a fourth win in five games, which took them above Tottenham into fifth place.

The visitors charged into a 3-0 lead inside 16 minutes, with Maxi scoring after just 32 seconds and the Argentinian midfielder again in the seventh minute.

A Mark Schwarzer error then gifted Dirk Kuyt his fifth goal in five games before Moussa Dembele pulled one back for the hosts in the 57th minute.

But Maxi restored Liverpool's three-goal cushion in the 70th minute with his seventh goal in three games, which have included two hat-tricks, while Luis Suarez claimed a richly-deserved goal five minutes later.

Steve Sidwell hit a fine late consolation for the Cottagers but that did not detract from a great evening for Dalglish's men.

"It was a fantastic performance," the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.

"We started really brightly, which may seem stating the obvious when you get a couple of early goals.

"But the football we played, the movement, the work-rate and the effort they put in to stop Fulham playing.

"They picked it up in the second half and had right go at us, which you would expect, but we matched them.

"Although they scored two, you can't take it away when you've scored five. It was fantastic."

Maxi has looked a different player since Dalglish took charge in January.

His latest treble took his tally to nine for the season and Dalglish feels the football Liverpool are playing is perfectly suited to Maxi's game.

"The movement of the team and anticipation has been fantastic," he said.

"The way they go about their work and the way they train is a credit to their profession.

"The wee man (Maxi) is a very clever player, he's very intelligent. If there's some movement he'll be the one that's in and round it.

"Some balls have fallen for him in the box and he's put them away, but he's been there to put them away. He's also been involved in the team movement as well.

"The fact he's playing games has helped. He had a few games off and has come back really strong.

"I'm delighted for him and delighted for everybody."