The Reds overcame a slow start at Fulham to easily see off Fulham which all but ensures we won't be playing them next season. A heavily changed side took to the pitch at Craven Cottage but once they clicked in to gear they were always too good for Fulham.
As I saw the team the one worry I had was would we score goals. It all seemed to rest on Crouch for me which was a worry. Mind you we rely on Gerrard and Torres normally so it's not too different.
The Reds got the game started and it wasn't long before the trainer was on the pitch. McBride and Sami clashed.
Fulham started brightly as they had too in a sense. They are so close to relegation that only a positive start was going to come from them. The Reds seemed a little slow to start which gave Fulham hope as well.
Finally just short of the fifteen minute mark the Reds thought they might have a go. Crouch headed just wide off a Pennant cross and then on seventeen minutes they took the lead. Lucas picked the ball up in midfield and slid it through for Pennant who beat Keller at his near post with a good shot.
From that point on there didn't seem too much fear in the game for the Reds. Fulham hadn't put consecutive wins together for goodness knows how long and they won last week.
The Reds took control of the midfield now and the combination of Mascherano and Lucas seemed to work quite well. Lucas has started to improve a bit more of late and is starting to show more promise with having fuller games to play in.
As much control as the Reds had though they just never looked like scoring a bag full. That was my fear before the game but with Fulham being so poor then it wasn't a great problem really.
The Reds rotated the back line at half time with Carragher taking the arm band over in place of Hyypia.
Fulham got the second half underway but it proved to be just more of the same really. Not a great game for me apart from the fact that the Reds fans bounced their way through the game for the Torres song.
As much control as the Reds had in the game they just didn't take full advantage of it. With Fulham giving Reina an easy day though there was less fear.
The only booking came on sixty six minutes when Healy brought Mascherano down from behind.
The Reds put the game to bed finally on seventy minutes when Pennant played a ball in for Crouch and with the Fulham defence woeful Crouch turned in tot he box before firing low under Keller.
Alonso was sent on to give Mascherano a rest and the only worry now for the Reds seemed to be the rain.
It's hard to get too excited about the game in a way because the Reds were simply too good for Fulham in the positions that mattered.
There were odd shots on goal from Riise and Crouch but never looking likely to extend the lead much more. In fact some of the Reds' shotting on the day was rather woeful in terms of direction.
Reina was forced in to a save in the final minute although Nevland was offside. Reina palmed it away really well anyway though.
MotM : Jermaine Pennant - well he doesn't score too often but he did look right up for the game in this one and put good work and crosses in.
