Liverpool 0 Fulham 1

On a day when former Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson was confirmed as the new England manager, Liverpool’s stock under Kenny Dalglish fell even lower to one of Hogson’s former teams.  Dalglish said Cup Final places were still up for grabs.  If this was an audition for the provincial show to move to the West End, the manager woefully misinterpreted his underlings talents to move up to the big stage.

In matches like this one expects the likes of Jordan Henderson, who the manager has shown an extended amount of faith in, to be a cut above the competition.  Instead, he and Spearing produced performances which had fans in the Anfield Road End, shaking their heads in disbelief.  Passes, not for the first time this season, were failing to reach there intended target even from 10 yards.

All Gone Wrong!

The level of respect for the manager has led fans to believe that Henderson will be the future replacement for Gerrard, but right now he might well be a major factor in Dalglish being replaced eventually.  He was rightly replaced at half-time, but so has been the level of trust placed in the young man, that it would not be a surprise to anyone if he were being rested for the final.

Liverpool had chances, with Shelvey having a shot cleared off the line.  Fulham played with a level of assuredness on the ball which belied the fact they were the away team. The clear cut chances fell to them and had they been more precise with their finishing, we could have been a tad more embarrassed.  Shelvey, had a reasonably good first half, compared to his midfield colleagues. But he like the rest of the team faded away alarmingly in the second-half, so much so that Fulham kept for ball comfortably in patches.

Aurelio’s left foot briefly reminded us of what mind have been had he stayed fit, but one wondered with the door to his Anfield career about to be firmly shut, wouldn’t gain time for youngsters be the more prudent approach.   Dalglish might be disappointed with the players attitude, but one of a catalogue of his failures this season has been an inability to change the face of game.  Bringing on Enrique to replace Aurelio said it all, we needed attacking verve and instead we got decision making stuck in the same old groove.

The biggest cheers of the night were for Riise and Murphy returning to their former home and for Raheem Sterling entering the fray 14 minutes from time for Dirk Kuyt. He produced two excellent crosses in the time he was on and provided a vibrant threat level little seen in the second-half.

Dalglish, speaking to the BBC said, "I don't think it can be described as a performance,"  "The attitude was very poor.

"I think we got what we deserved from the game and that was absolutely nothing. If you don't approach the game properly you're not going to get anything.

"I take part of the blame because I thought I was being fair to everybody by giving them the opportunity to get some minutes on the pitch," added Dalglish. "The game coming up on Saturday is important to the club."

We may not have heard this level of disappointment from him this season, but surely this is patently down to him. Second team or not, 5 wins at home is not good enough for any team in the Premiership let alone Liverpool football club and as has been said by others managers’ have been sacked for less. Ask Roy Hodgson…

Kop-Post Man of The Match: Doni… says it all really…

Critical Eye: Yet again another team has come to Anfield, to win for the first time in their history. And once again to sit amongst the throng and watch my fellow supporters empty the stadium before the end was sad.  Ever sadder was to hear the half-time announcement “Stoke 0 Everton 1 and almost at once the air in the lungs of Liverpool supporters flow out as their lungs simultaneously deflated.

The atmosphere were mostly dead.  The second time in the last three years I have come and heard Fulham supporters shouting “Is this a Library… and where your famous atmosphere”.

The Cup Final now becomes our most important match in years.  It can make a mediocre season seem more palatable or we can be made to look pathetic with Torres and Meireles celebrating at our expense and eulogising over the fact that they were correct to leave a sinking ship.