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Dempsey stars as Cottagers trip Reds

Comment: 0 December 6th, 2011 by: admin

THANKS but no thanks to Clint Dempsey, Liverpool’s eight-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League is over.

The American midfielder capitalised on a late miscue by goalkeeper Pepe Reina to give Fulham a 1-0 victory over the Reds at Crave Cottage on Monday.

It was the Cottagers’ third win in their campaign and the London outfit eased their relegation problems by moving five points clear of the bottom three.

Dempsey found the back of the net after Reina failed to hold on to a tentative shot by former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy in the 85^th minute. Dempsey fired home the rebound for the clincher.

The Reds had been down to 10 men at that juncture after defensive midfielder Jay Spearing was banished for a nasty tackle on Moussa Dembele in the 72^nd minute.

Liverpool looked headed for a win that could have nudged them above Newcastle United at sixth spot but they hit the frame twice through Jordan Henderson in the first half and substitute Stewart Downing just before Dempsey’s brace, while Luis Suarez’s goal was whistled offside in the 67^th.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish lamented Spearing’s sending off that proved to be the turning point of the fixture. Spearing was red-carded for the tackle which he followed up by catching Dembele’s leg.

“He has won the ball but he has probably upset the referee with his follow-through,’’ said Dalglish.

The Reds tasted defeat for the first time since Sept. 18 and that loss at Craven Cottage diminished their hopes of keeping abreast with their rivals for the Champions League positions. The Reds at present are 15 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

Dalglish’s sentiment was echoed by Fulham boss Martin who said they had a little bit more space after the sending off and that they took advantage of that. “I thought it was a bad tackle. I thought it was a sending-off.’’

With his 37^th goal, Dempsey became the most prolific American scorer in England’s top division, bettering the record he shared with former Fulham striker Brian McBride.

 

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