Cottagers puts themselves in the safety zone

Fulham 1 Liverpool 0

Fulham substitute Clint Dempsey produced a vital second-half winner to put Lawrie Sanchez’s side on the brink of Barclays Premiership survival.

Dempsey combined with Liam Rosenior before sending the ball past Jose Reina in the 69th minute to snatch the victory that should be enough to keep Fulham the top flight for a seventh successive season.

Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler missed a near-open goal from point blank range while only the heroics of goalkeeper Antti Niemi kept Craig Bellamy at bay.

Liverpool brought Harry Kewell on for his first appearance since the World Cup and then had the ball in the back of the net with seven minutes to go but Paletta was rightly adjudged offside.

The Reds pressed for an equaliser but Fulham, who had Diop sent off in injury time for picking up a second yellow card, held firm to secure three priceless points.