Fulham 2-5 Liverpool

Another Maxi Rodriguez hat-trick, as he makes it 7 goals in 3 games, but Suarez steals the show.

Liverpool demolished Fulham at Craven Cottage to return to 5th in the Premier League table and continue the blistering form since the return of the greatest caretaker manager in the history of the game.

The reds were handed a shock before kick off when Andy Carroll was left out of the squad due to an injury concern.  John Flanagan started at left back with Glen Johnson returning to the right wing.

The reds took just 35 seconds to open the account when good work from Suarez down the wing opened the door for Rodriguez to lash in his 5th in 3 games, following a hat-trick against Birmingham and another goal against Newcastle.

In the 7th minute of the match, Liverpool doubled their lead when Johnson crossed in from the right wing to Rodriguez at the back post who put the ball away with ease.

The reds should have had a penalty in the 14th minute when Suarez was pushed to the ground, but not for the last time tonight the referee gave Fulham the benefit of the doubt.

Two minutes later it was 3-0 to the reds.  Kuyt received the ball outside the area and fired a great shot that Schwarzer made a mess of, and saw the ball rest in the back of the net.  Kuyt becomes the first Liverpool player to score in 5 consecutive games since Michael Owen a decade ago.

Suarez, Rodriguez and Lucas Leiva could all have added to the reds tally but they went in to the break with a 3-0 lead.

Fulham finally turned up in the second half and came out the brighter of the two sides.  In the 57th minute Fulham got their goal – Dembele firing a powerful shot in to the bottom corner.  Pepe Reina, chasing a Golden Glove award, picked up a yellow card when he booted the ball away in frustration.

In the 70th minute the reds put pay to any chance of a miraculous Fulham comeback when Rodriguez lashed  a fine shot in to the back of the net for his hat-trick.  His 7th goal in his last 3 Liverpool appearances, and his 10th of the season.

Maxi Rodriguez completes his hat-trick

Five minutes later and Suarez finally got the goal his performance deserved, when a pass from Shelvey enabled him to round the keeper and tap in.

With 4 minutes remaining Steve Sidwell got a 2nd goal back from Fulham but it was all too late.

All that remained was for Rodriguez to head back on the pitch to get the matchball off the referee….

And for Dalglish to walk off with a smile on his face.

Liverpool have scored 35 goals and conceded 14 in the 16 Premier League games has taken charge of.  The only manager in the Premier League with a better record since Dalglish returned is Ancelotti, with 2 points more.

When the fans demanded Kenny, the media laughed.  The only other people feeling foolish tonight will probably the clubs owners for not sacking Hodgson sooner.

After spending the opening months of the season flirting with relegation, Liverpool look increasingly like a team that could be playing European football next season.