Huge slice of luck gives ’Pool a lift

THE tide finally appears to be turning at Anfield after a huge slice of luck gave Liverpool victory over Fulham and moved them into seventh place in the Premier League, just as manager Kenny Dalglish promised the club’s owners will spend in the transfer window.

An own goal from John Pantsil, slicing the ball past Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale in the 52nd minute, was enough to hand Dalglish the first home win of his second spell in charge at Anfield, completing a recovery that began with a point against Everton and three against Wolves.

It leaves Liverpool only one place outside the top six and, if you were being super optimistic, only six points away from a treasured place in Europe next season.

But although the Kop celebrated a crucial victory and chanted their manager’s name it was a nervy night in which the home side were short on quality and relieved in the end to take the points against a Fulham side who really should have earned something from the match

Liverpool, for certain, are still a long way from where they want to be and a long, long way short of the standards set in the days when Dalglish last managed the club.

But things are at least moving in the right direction and the Scotsman gave fans hope that new recruits could be on their way as Liverpool step up their quest to bring the likes of Luis Suarez to Anfield.

“I had productive meetings with the club’s owners last week,” Dalglish said. “I think they’ve quickly grasped this football club and realise there has to be investment to move forward. That isn’t a criticism of any of the players that are here, that’s just a fact of life.

“Everybody loves to see investment – fans, players and staff. And it gives everybody a lift.”

Liverpool are still in need of a lift, despite this result, because Fulham gave them a run for their money and Dalglish’s side hardly showed the same kind of style and energy that made a recent 3-0 victory at Wolves so impressive — even though they had captain Steven Gerrard finally back in midfield.

But the Liverpool captain found the going tough against a side who kept the ball well and pressed like demons in midfield, denying him time and space.

He was lucky to escape with just a lecture for kicking out at Pantsil in an ugly confrontation in the second half, so perhaps the lessons of his dismissal at Old Trafford in Dalglish’s first game in charge have not been properly learned, and he knows more than anyone he can do far more. But then the same can be said of just about everyone at Anfield.

Although Liverpool begun the match brightly, with Torres finishing off a smart Meireles through-ball only to find he was offside, the Kop soon lost their roar as Fulham dug their heels in during an even first half.

Meireles had a header well saved by David Stockdale and the Fulham keeper also tipped over a stunning effort from Glen Johnson, asked to play out position at left-back, but the visitors were not without chances of their own; Dempsey and Dembele were both denied by Pepe Reina and it took a real piece of good fortune to finally put Liverpool ahead in the 52nd minute.

It’s fair to say the Reds haven’t had a lot of luck in recent times, ever since that dreaded beach ball at Sunderland last season, but they certainly got a huge slice of it when Torres’ shot was deflected onto the post and then, in the confusion that followed, Fulham defender Pantsill comically sliced the ball backwards past his own goalkeeper.

Only then did the match, and the crowd, spark into life with tackles beginning to fly as two confrontations involving Pantshil, desperate to make up for his mistake, turned up the heat.

Fulham, to their credit, refused to buckle and twice went close to equalising; first when Reina saved from a Hughes header and then when Meireles cleared frantically off the line from Brede Hangeland.

There was one last scare for the Kop even after that, Dembele wasting an excellent chance to score when he fired straight at Reina from a late melee. But, under a new manager, Lady Luck finally seems to have found her way to Anfield once more; and reaching seventh spot less than three months after Dalglish’s emotional return is no mean feat.

“It’s not where we want to be of course,” said Gerrard. “But it’s a step in the right direction.”

LIVERPOOL: Reina 8, Kelly 7, Skrtel 6, Agger 7, Johnson 7, Meireles 7, Poulsen 5 (Aurelio 80,6), Kuyt 6 (Shelvey 67; 6), Gerrard 6, Maxi 6, Torres 7.

FULHAM: Stockdale 7, Pantsil 5, Hughes 6, Hangeland 7, Baird 6, Duff 5 (Gera 63; 6), Sidwell 7, Murphy 7, Dempsey 7, Dembele 7, Andrew Johnson 6.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)