Crouch Strikes As Fulham Sink in the Mire

It is a common perception in sport that the team or individual who wants something more will be the one most likely to prevail. This theory was tested at Craven Cottage as a Fulham side desperate for points were pitted against a Liverpool side, containing five changes, who were more concerned with putting their feet up before Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.

In the event desire proved to be burden not boon and hard as Fulham strived they were no match for a relaxed Liverpool. Last season a victory against weakened visitors ensured their survival. This season's inability to make an impact against depleted rivals seems likely to send them down into the Championship. The local derby will be against Queens Park Rangers not Chelsea.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, it's show time,' said the PA, and to Carmina Burana and a ticker-tape welcome the teams came on to the pitch. A moment of exultation before the anxiety started to kick in.

The Fulham fans were in fine voice. If they could win this one and Birmingham lose at the Villa today then there was the hope that the match here on May 3 between the two might be decisive. But they would have to be in it to win it.

A free-kick on the left was whipped in dangerously by Jimmy Bullard only for Jose Reina to collect. A corner was forced on the right, but Liverpool stood firm. The team who wanted it more were in the ascendancy - for now. Time after time they pinged the ball into the area, but could not quite create a chance. Liverpool barely threatened, but when they did Peter Crouch might have scored with a header that went just wide.

Minutes later they did as Jermaine Pennant received the ball wide on the right, drifted past Brede Hangeland and sent in a swerving shot that Kasey Keller seemed to assume was going wide because he allowed it to pass into the net, standing with his hands up as it went whistling past him. It was a bizarre goal; it was as if the whistle had blown and everyone was waiting to collect the dead ball and continue the game.

The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of Fulham and their fans, all that nervous tension that had kept them afloat during the first quarter-hour dissipating to leave them flat and bewildered.

Liverpool nearly doubled their lead after Andriy Voronin released Pennant and his flat low cross was met at the far post by John Arne Riise and deflected to safety by Aaron Hughes. Fulham, to their credit, refused to buckle and after good work from David Healy the towering Hangeland nearly made amends for his earlier lethargy, but headed wide.

Pennant continued to pose a threat, leaping athletically to control the ball on the touchline before setting up the rampaging Voronin. It may have been a weakened side, but such is the gulf between top and bottom it was still too strong for the strugglers. The Mighty Whites were being toasted.

Just before the break, Healy again found space down the left and crossed well to force a corner. It fell to him, but he failed to connect properly with his half-volley.

Liverpool shuffled the pack at half-time, bringing off Sami Hyypia and bringing on Mr 110 per cent Scouse Jamie Carragher. It was Liverpool who enjoyed the better of the play, Crouch nearly creating a chance and the impressive Voronin placing a well-executed overhead just over the bar. When Fulham attacked they succeeded only in leaving spaces open at the back. One team were relaxed and fluent, the other tense and overwrought. Liverpool passed the ball prettily; Fulham chased and harried, but to no avail. Javier Mascherano and Pennant ran a show that seemed likely to consign Fulham to the Championship.

And yet. A cross from Clint Dempsey nearly found captain Brian McBride unmarked at the far post. They needed some luck and time was running out. Dempsey headed just wide, but it would not have mattered because he was offside. A cross was deflected off Lucas Leiva, but straight into Reina's hands. Dempsey connected with a powerful header, but could not quite keep the ball down. All this industry and yet no reward.

To add insult to industry, Liverpool broke fast and Pennant's clever pass found Crouch who shot under Keller and into the net. Once again the American might have done better. This was not a Stallone- style performance.

The game won, Liverpool could afford to rest Mascherano and give Xabi Alonso a run-round. It needed a timely interruption from Hughes to stop his side slipping further behind. Fulham attacked and Danny Murphy nearly capitalized only for Reina to save well with his feet.

Fulham had battled and striven, but it had not been enough and way before the end their fans were looking at the fixture list and working out that their side will need to take maximum points from trips to Manchester City and Portsmouth and defeat Birmingham at home to have a chance of avoiding the drop.

Liverpool, meanwhile, had enjoyed a comfortable outing to consolidate fourth place before Rafa Benítez's possible job-saving match against Chelsea on Tuesday. Beat them for the third time and defeat Manchester United in Moscow and all the boardroom bickering in the world will not be able to detract from his and their achievement.