Thursday Fulham Stuff (27/01/11)...

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http://life.hereisthecity.com/2011/01/27/paul-konchesky-in-talks-with-fulham-over-move-from-liverpool/?

Konchesky In Talks With Fulham Over Move From Liverpool

Paul Konchesky is in talks with Fulham about rejoining the club and ending his miserable five-month spell at Liverpool as the signing who came to represent Roy Hodgson's brief and unsuccessful time at Anfield.

Konchesky left Craven Cottage in late August to become Liverpool's new left-back but his performances under Hodgson, previously his manager at Fulham, led to him being heavily criticised by the club's supporters and demoted from the team.

The 29-year-old has not played since Kenny Dalglish took over from Hodgson earlier this month and Fulham are hoping a deal can be arranged to take him back to London before Monday's transfer deadline.

Officials from the two clubs were due to hold talks about the deal before tonight's game at Anfield and, if everything goes through, Liverpool will get back in contact with Aston Villa about Stephen Warnock returning to Anfield on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

Nottingham Forest are considering whether the Konchesky deal, in turn, could enable them to take the 19-year-old Fulham left-back Matthew Briggs on loan. Chelsea have refused to let Ryan Bertrand join the Championship promotion contenders now that Patrick van Aanholt, another of Ashley Cole's understudies at Stamford Bridge, has moved to Leicester City on loan.

This article was written by Daniel Taylor, for guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 26th January 2011 21.59 Europe/London

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http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LondonWeekofPeaceTournament.aspx?

London Week of Peace Tournament

The London Week of Peace Tournament, co-hosted by Fulham Football Club Foundation and Crystal Palace FC, recently took place at Elmer's End Goals in Beckenham.

Participants of the Foundation's Kickz programme, which is supported by the MET Police, represented the boroughs of Merton, Lambeth, Kingston and Hammersmith and Fulham in the 12 – 15 age group. All four teams produced fine displays, particularly the Kingston team who made it through to the final, but unfortunately lost 3-1.

Every year there is a different theme for the tournament, and this year's was "giving back", the idea being to recognise and promote the ways in which young people give something back to their community.

The emphasis of the day was based around volunteering one's local area and all young people participating in the tournament signed up to the Foundation's Community Champions programme. As well as the tournament the participants took part in workshops around social justice, human rights and diversity.



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LondonWeekofPeaceTournament.aspx?#ixzz1CERSsqfP

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http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/293175?&cc=5739

Pantsil own goal gift for Kenny

Liverpool's renaissance under Kenny Dalglish continued as victory over Fulham lifted them into their highest Barclays Premier League position of the season.

It was not the most notable of performances, although there were plenty of spells of good football from the hosts, as John Pantsil's second-half own goal divided the teams.

But the Reds registered back-to-back wins for the first time since early November to move up to seventh, within six points of fifth-placed Tottenham, and maintain the feeling of optimism which arrived when Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson earlier this month.

The last time the legendary Scot faced a Fulham team at Anfield he was player-manager on the occasion of a 10-0 League Cup victory in September 1986 against the then third-division side - and he did not even score.

There was to be no repeat of those fireworks, understandably considering Liverpool's still fragile form and the Cottagers' precarious position.

Until Pantsil put through his own net the main talking point was the goal Fernando Torres had disallowed after just six minutes.

Liverpool's last match, the 3-0 win at Wolves, had prompted much debate - and subsequent sexism controversy - about female referee's assistant Sian Massey.

On that occasion she made the correct call in not flagging Raul Meireles offside for the Reds' opening goal at Molineux.

Male counterpart Mick McDonough was not so accurate as he wrongly ruled the Spain international was offside before he slotted Meireles' through-ball past David Stockdale.

Fortunately for the assistant referee, Pantsil prevented him making the headlines.

Portugal international Meireles was man of the match at the weekend and he started brightly again as he kept the advanced midfield role even on captain Steven Gerrard's return after suspension.

It was he who got on the end of Martin Kelly's right-wing cross to direct a low header goalwards which the goalkeeper turned around his post.

Stockdale was called into action again in the 25th minute when Glen Johnson, playing at left-back, cut inside to unleash a right-footed shot which the keeper tipped over.

Clint Dempsey forced Jose Reina into a low save just before the half-hour but the Spain international should not have been given a chance seconds later when Andrew Johnson cut the ball back to the penalty spot but Moussa Dembele hit his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Daniel Agger fired a low 30-yard drive wide and Torres headed over from Kelly's cross in added time at the end of the first half as the hosts failed to make their dominance pay.

Maxi Rodriguez had a shot blocked by Aaron Hughes but when a cross was swung back into the area the Argentinian wasted his free header with an aimless looping effort.

But that was forgotten when Liverpool took the lead in the 52nd minute.

Dirk Kuyt's interception of Dempsey's pass touched the ball into the path of Torres on the edge of the penalty area and he unleashed a shot which deflected off Brede Hangeland and rebounded back off the post.

Pantsil and Stockdale got in the way of each other in the resulting melee with the defender, under pressure from Meireles, slicing an attempted clearance over his own goalline.

The Fulham right-back tried to make amends when his cross picked out Dempsey but the American volleyed straight at Reina.

Meireles' quick counter-attack from Reina's throw almost brought the second goal as his attempted pass to Rodriguez deflected off Hughes and had Stockdale scrambling at the foot of his left-hand post to recover.

The Fulham centre-back proved equally effective at the other end as his header forced Reina into a full-length dive to prevent the ball creeping inside the post.

Seconds later Meireles displayed his rarely-seen defensive duties by hacking Hangeland's header off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.

Liverpool hung on, something they have struggled to do in the past, as Dalglish's influence continued to be felt.

At the final whistle the PA system played Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Optimism is definitely growing at Anfield.

Dalglish: No settling for 7th
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has no intention of settling for seventh place after a 1-0 victory over Fulham lifted his side to their highest position in the Premier League this season.

''I think we are better than that,'' he said. ''It is getting a bit more realistic but we are not getting carried away with being seventh - that is not where this football club wants to be.

''We want to be further up than that but to do that we have to win more games and that is what we will try to do, starting against Stoke next Wednesday.''

Asked what his long-term objective was he replied: ''To beat Stoke next Wednesday, the same we have done here since I can remember. We have never come in at the start of the season and said 'we're going to do this or that', we just went out to do the best we could.

''At the end of the season we added up the points to see where we were and I don't any reason to change that. It never did us any harm. It is the only way I know, that is the way I was brought up.''

On the game he felt his side did well to keep the determined Cottagers at bay.

''I think Fulham will be feeling a little hard-done by because they will think they deserved something from the game,'' he added. ''But there have been many games when we thought we deserved more from it than we got.

''Tonight the boys showed a great deal of determination and effort and it is great credit to them after a hard run of games. I think that type of victory tonight has been a long time coming because we worked hard we got a little bit of good fortune.

''We had some bad luck because Fernando's goal was onside but we never got it so kept going. Referees make bad decisions, we make bad decisions and players make bad decisions. It is just the way of life.''

Fulham boss Mark Hughes also felt his side deserved more from the game.

''We are shaking our heads in there,'' he said. 'I've been involved in many teams as a player and a manager coming here where we've been totally dominated and been lucky to get anything. Tonight was the complete opposite. To take the game to Liverpool and not get anything was disappointing.''

[WhiteJC]

http://www.footymad.net/storytext.asp?article=3572645

HUGHES LEFT DISAPPOINTED

Fulham boss Mark Hughes felt his side deserved more from the game after losing 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.

John Pantsil's 52nd-minute own goal turned out to be the decisive moment in the game, with Aaron Hughes having a header saved by Jose Reina and Meireles hacking Brede Hangeland's header off the line.

"We are shaking our heads," he said.

"I've been involved in many teams as a player and a manager coming here where we've been totally dominated and been lucky to get anything.

"This was the complete opposite. To take the game to Liverpool and not get anything was disappointing."

Source: PA

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/01/27/2325378/blackpool-target-fulhams-zoltan-gera-as-replacement-for?

Blackpool target Fulham's Zoltan Gera as replacement for Charlie Adam - report

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has identified Fulham's Zoltan Gera as a potential replacement for Charlie Adam should the Scotsman leave Bloomfield Road during this transfer window.

The Hungarian has seen his first team opportunities limited since the arrival of Mark Hughes at Craven Cottage and is becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation.

With Adam having handed in a transfer request it seems likely he will be moving, but Holloway is still holding out for a fee significantly more than the £4 million offered by Liverpool and Aston Villa.

If Blackpool were to receive such an amount they would be in a good position to land Gera who would be likely to cost less than £4m.

Talk of Gera moving away from Craven Cottage was intensified by his agent Vladan Filipovic, who told Nemzeti Sport: "I talk with Zolly every day, who is frustrated, because he plays less.
"I hope his future will be sorted in a few days, and he changes club.

"I negotiated about him with Fulham's directors, because there are clubs which would pay for him."

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http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/4811/6/exclusive-coleman-zamora-return-can-fire-fulham-table?

Exclusive - Coleman: Zamora return can fire Fulham up the table

Chris Coleman believes the return of Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele can turn Fulham's season around.

Zamora was injured during the Cottagers' 2-1 win against Wolves in September and could return at the end of February.

Coleman told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show that although Fulham are playing well, a lacklusture approach could be costly.

The former player and manager said: "They're not the same team without Bobby Zamora, his goals and his presence.

"When they get him back they'll [Fulham] will be a bit higher in the Premier League and with Dembele approaching full fitness, he's a livewire and he'll give them some impetus. They are certainly looking a little big healthier now than they were at Christmas.

"They [Fulham] are only six points away from the relegation zone, that can change around in a fortnight, if you have a bad run of games. If you come up against better teams, and they're on their game then odds are, you're going to lose the game.

They have got to try and turn that into ten points, and then they'll be looking a lot more comfortable."

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http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/sport/football-ealing/fulham-fc-ealing/2011/01/27/david-stockdale-poses-dilemma-for-fulham-boss-hughes-64767-28065322/?

David Stockdale poses dilemma for Fulham boss Hughes

IF FULHAM keeper David Stockdale has anything to do with it – Mark Schwarzer will be on the bench when the Aussie returns from the Asian Cup next week.

The replacement is hell-bent on adding to his boss's 'dilemma' by keeping a clean sheet against Spurs in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The crunch decision for Mark Hughes could be solved with a Whites win and another accomplished performance from the 25-year-old.

Stockdale's first unwelcome taste of defeat in a Fulham shirt came after nine games against Liverpool, but he boasts four shutouts and an England call-up blighted only by an ankle injury back in August.

The Leeds-born player insists the likes of Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe bearing down on him is not much different to the last-but-one time he played in the Cup.

The fourth-round virgin was part of a full-strength Fulham side that saw off Peterborough 6-2 on January 8 – but before that Stockdale never got past first base with Darlington.

In fact, it was his gaffe that saw Northampton oust his former club 2-1 in front of a spartan 2,895 fans at a chilly Sixfields back in November 2007.

He added: "They're all hard in different ways. I don't like to think of one game as harder than another. And I try not to think about facing Spurs too much – you'd end up scaring yourself.

"There's a lot of talent there like Bale – but we have to look to ourselves."

Were England coach Fabio Capello to see Stockdale pass the Spurs test with flying colours – surely there's more to be gained than keeping Northampton at bay?

"It doesn't matter if someone like Capello were watching me," said Stockdale, "I still have to save the shots first, and if the England call-up comes, so be it, but I've got to give the manager here a dilemma first."

[WhiteJC]

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/01/27/another-chance-to-win-fulham-v-newcastle-tickets-82029-28046146/?

Another chance to win Fulham v Newcastle tickets!

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To stand a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

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To enter, visit out Facebook page, click 'like' and post your answer underneath the question.

Closing date for entries is midday Monday. Normal competition rules apply.

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Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/fulham-fc/2011/01/27/another-chance-to-win-fulham-v-newcastle-tickets-82029-28046146/?#ixzz1CEU8DG8r

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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6704149,00.html?

Fulham in Konchesky talks
Defender could return to Craven Cottage

Skysports.com understands Liverpool are in advanced talks with Fulham over a possible return to Craven Cottage for Paul Konchesky.

Konchesky has dropped out of the picture at Anfield in recent weeks following the appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager.

The left-back was brought to Merseyside from Fulham in the summer by former Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson.

However, the defender has endured a difficult time in trying to win over the Reds fans and he has not played since Dalglish replaced Hodgson earlier this month.

Escape route

Fulham are now ready to offer Konchesky an escape route out of Anfield and a quick return to his former club by taking him on loan for the remainder of the season.

Mark Hughes is in the market for a new left-back with Mexican defender Carlos Salcido reportedly failing to settle to life in England.

A number of clubs are thought to have made enquiries to ask about Konchesky's availability, but because he has already played for Fulham and Liverpool this season, the only club he can join during this month's transfer window is the Cottagers because of Fifa regulations.

Fulham are now hoping to reach an agreement with Liverpool to sign Konchesky before the transfer window closes on Monday.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/26/paul-konchesky-fulham-liverpool?INTCMP=SRCH


Paul Konchesky in talks with Fulham over move from Liverpool

• Konchesky in talks to end unsuccessful Liverpool spell


• Stephen Warnock could replace 29-year-old left-back


Daniel Taylor guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 26 January 2011 21.59 GMT


Paul Konchesky could return to Fulham after finding himself out of favour at Liverpool since the return of Kenny Dalglish as manager. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Paul Konchesky is in talks with Fulham about rejoining the club and ending his miserable five-month spell at Liverpool as the signing who came to represent Roy Hodgson's brief and unsuccessful time at Anfield.

Konchesky left Craven Cottage in late August to become Liverpool's new left-back but his performances under Hodgson, previously his manager at Fulham, led to him being heavily criticised by the club's supporters and demoted from the team.

The 29-year-old has not played since Kenny Dalglish took over from Hodgson earlier this month and Fulham are hoping a deal can be arranged to take him back to London before Monday's transfer deadline.

Officials from the two clubs were due to hold talks about the deal before tonight's game at Anfield and, if everything goes through, Liverpool will get back in contact with Aston Villa about Stephen Warnock returning to Anfield on a loan deal for the rest of the season.

Nottingham Forest are considering whether the Konchesky deal, in turn, could enable them to take the 19-year-old Fulham left-back Matthew Briggs on loan. Chelsea have refused to let Ryan Bertrand join the Championship promotion contenders now that Patrick van Aanholt, another of Ashley Cole's understudies at Stamford Bridge, has moved to Leicester City on loan.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/26/liverpool-fulham-premier-league-report?INTCMP=SRCH

Fulham's own goal gift propels Liverpool to seventh in table


Comments (234) Guardian report

Andy Hunter at Anfield guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 26 January 2011 21.57


Steven Gerrard was back at the heart of the Liverpool action at Anfield tonight after his suspension. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Four league games into his second coming and Kenny Dalglish has Liverpool where Rafael Benítez left them: seventh in the table and longing for new faces to take them higher. It really is like the Roy Hodgson era never happened.

Victory over Fulham tonight was fortunate, in terms of the manner of the decisive goal and the desperate rearguard action needed to preserve a second successive clean sheet and win for Dalglish's team. The pass–and–move philosophy the Liverpool manager follows was fractured compared to Saturday's performance at Molineux and Mark Hughes had every justification for lamenting a pointless trip to Anfield. Not that Dalglish should care one iota. He now has a foundation to the feelgood factor his appointment was guaranteed to bring in the form of the club's highest league position of a trying season. Operation Permanent Appointment is proceeding well.

"I think we are better than seventh but it [the table] is getting a wee bit more realistic now," Dalglish said. "We will not get carried away with seventh, that's not where this football club wants to be."

Liverpool got the breaks Dalglish believes they have lacked in recent weeks. He now needs Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner, to make similar headway in the final five days of the transfer window to underpin the progress made. Deals for Luis Suárez and Charlie Adam have inevitably stalled as Liverpool offer only half the £25m and £8m respectively that Ajax and Blackpool want for their players. Ajax have set a deadline of Saturday for any deal for Suárez to be completed. Dalglish said: "The finance is there. Everything is in place but it's difficult to get players out of other clubs at this time. If we do not get anyone it is not for the want of trying."

Fulham arrived at Anfield with a dismal record of one win in their previous 29 Premier League away fixtures, although only Manchester City had conceded fewer goals on their travels this season. That provided Hughes with sufficient encouragement to take the game to Liverpool and, a brief and costly wobble at the start of the second half aside, his players adhered to the plan.

The visitors barely allowed the hosts a touch in the opening minutes yet should have fallen behind to Liverpool's first attack. Raul Meireles, retained in an advanced role with the returning Steven Gerrard in central midfield, split Fulham's central defence and Fernando Torres held off Aaron Hughes to beat the goalkeeper David Stockdale with ease. The same combination had beaten the offside trap to deliver Liverpool's much-publicised opening goal at Wolverhampton Wanderers but here the heavens – or something in the sky – intervened as the male assistant referee ruled that Torres had strayed marginally offside.

"We had some good luck tonight but also some bad luck. Fernando's goal was onside," the Liverpool manager said. Asked if he preferred having a woman running the line, he said: "The only thing I have learned is that these things [microphones] are always on."

Stockdale was the dominant figure as Liverpool responded well to the setback, saving superbly from Meireles's diving header and from a rising drive from Glen Johnson, who is adapting impressively to a left-back position. Moussa Dembélé wasted a glorious chance to put Fulham ahead from Andrew Johnson's cutback but with Liverpool beginning to lose their way the home side were gifted the lead through a series of fortunate breaks.

First, Clint Dempsey's slack pass was deflected into Torres, whose low shot was diverted beyond Stockdale's dive by the foot of Brede Hangeland and on to a post. Meireles and Stockdale flapped at the loose ball and, having failed to clear at the first attempt on his own goalline, John Pantsil sliced the second into his own net. Most obliging.

Liverpool were evidently nervous holding a slender lead and rightly so as Fulham dominated the closing exchanges and their aerial strength began to deliver frequent opportunities. Dempsey threatened three times, Hughes headed inches wide and Hangeland had a header sliced off the line by Meireles. Unlike Pantsil, his miscue sailed to safety and Liverpool held out to deliver Dalglish's first Anfield victory since a 3-1 win over Everton in 1991.

Hughes said: "We are shaking our heads in the dressing room. I've been involved in many games here, as a player and a manager, where we've been dominated and been lucky to come away with anything, but tonight was the complete opposite."

[White Noise]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/01/26/2325025/fulham-manager-mark-hughes-admits-loan-move-for-manchester

Fulham manager Mark Hughes admits loan move for Manchester City star Shaun Wright-Phillips will be difficult

Welsh boss believes Fulham deserved something from Liverpool defeat


26 Jan 2011 23:35:00



By Greg Stobart at Anfield

Fulham manager Mark Hughes admits it is becoming 'more and more difficult' to seal a loan move for Manchester City star Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The Cottagers have been in talks over a six-month deal for the midfielder with a view to a permanent move for around £4 million at the end of the season.

But City are refusing to subsidise the England international's £60,000-a-week wages, with Fulham's budget only stretching to an offer of a £45,000 weekly salary.

And after watching his side lose 1-0 at Liverpool on Wednesday night, Hughes revealed there were significant stumbling blocks that could mean the move falls through.

He said: "We've enquired but it seems like it's becoming more and more difficult. There are a lot of things being put in our way to prevent that."

Liverpool took all three points at Anfield after John Paintsil sliced into his own net seven minutes after the re-start.

Fulham came into the game in good form and could easily have equalised as they piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes of the clash.

"To say we should have got something is an understatement," added Hughes.

"Sometimes you come here, get battered for 90 minutes but come away with a draw. Today was the opposite.

"As an away side we came here and took the game to Liverpool. It's disappointing not to get anything out of it – we deserved something.

"I thought overall, apart from a 15 minute spell at the start of the second half, we were by far the dominant team. But we didn't make it count.

"We made errors before it actually became an own-goal. But it doesn't dent our confidence because we're playing well at the moment."

[White Noise]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/dalglish-in-the-ascendant-as-pantsil-slip-sinks-fulham-2195558.html


Dalglish in the ascendant as Pantsil slip sinks Fulham

Liverpool 1 Fulham 0

By Tim Rich at Anfield


Thursday, 27 January 2011


In the the years when Kenny Dalglish last managed Liverpool, when "first was first and second was nowhere", being seventh as February dawns would have been considered a disastrous state of affairs. This morning it will be used to justify the second coming, although the man himself was considerably more cautious.

Victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and now Fulham, a club that has never won at Anfield in its history and who lost to an own-goal last night, are frankly the minimum requirements for recovery. "We are better than that," Dalglish remarked afterwards.

He was commenting on Liverpool's position in the Premier League but he might have been talking about a game in which they rode their luck, something they have seldom done this season. "We are not going to get carried away." Seventh, after all, is where Rafael Benitez left them.

It was a goalless draw against Fulham in soft April sunshine that condemned Benitez's regime by ensuring it could not requalify for the Champions League and had a trio of late chances, the best of which fell to Mousa Dembele been converted, they would have inflicted further embarrassment on the red half of Merseyside.

Although it was Mark Hughes who stood on the touchline and kicked out in frustration when Raul Meireles hacked away Brede Hangeland's header, Fulham are still a credit to the man who created this team, one Roy Hodgson.

John Pantsil was last to leave the stage and walked off with his shirt pulled over his head. The Ghanaian defender had never scored an authentic Premier League goal and it was his final touch in a goalmouth scramble once Fernando Torres's shot had struck first the sprawling figure of Hangeland and then the foot of the post that proved decisive.

In the wake of his first win at Anfield, Dalglish reflected that: "Fulham will feel hard done by," which Hughes, his opposite number, thought was "some understatement". "We were by far the dominant team but we did not make that dominance count," the Welshman added.

It has seemed weeks, such has been the ebbs and undercurrents of the story but it was when Liverpool last took the field, four days before, that Andy Gray and Richard Keys made their observations about a female official that built a bonfire of their careers.

At Molineux, Sian Massey had unwittingly answered their jeers by correctly judging a razor-thin offside decision that led to Torres' opening goal. As early as the fifth minute here, there was another marginal call as Meireles sent through Torres to score and this time the male linesman flagged, incorrectly as it turned out, for offside. It is, however, unlikely that a photograph of a scantily-clad Mick McDonough, taken in a nightclub, will be adorning the front page of The Sun under the headline "Get 'Em Off".

The fact that Australia have qualified to meet Japan in the Asian Cup final meant that Mark Schwarzer was in Qatar rather than enduring the sight of Torres driving through the Fulham back-four like a racehorse coming through the mist. However, David Stockdale's reflexes ensured he was not missed.

Whatever the limitations of his squad, Dalglish has introduced the kind of width that has been lacking since Gérard Houllier, the first modern manager to have no connection to Bill Shankly's Boot Room, began his reconstruction of Liverpool.

Glen Johnson, transformed into a left back because Dalglish has no real faith in Paul Konchesky, ran at the Fulham back four to deliver a venomous shot that Stockdale tipped over but, compared to his earlier save from Meireles' diving header, it was nothing. That was the product of a fine, low cross from Martin Kelly, the young right-back, who already looks the best bet in the long term for both Liverpool and England.

Fulham, however, recovered their balance sufficiently to force a couple of smart saves of their own from Pepe Reina before the interval and for their fans to begin chanting Hodgson's name, something that never happened during his brief, chaotic reign at Anfield. "Roy, Roy, Roy, Roy, Roy" they sang to the tune of the 1970s children's television show, "The Banana Splits". The Kop silenced them with a single chorus of "Dalglish".

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson; Gerrard, Poulsen (Aurelio, 80); Kuyt (Shelvey, 66), Meireles, Rodriguez; Torres. Substitutes not used Gulacsi (g), Fabio, Cole, Pacheco, Wilson, Ngog.

Fulham (4-4-2): Stockdale; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird; Duff (Gera, 63), Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey; Dembele, Johnson. Substitutes not used Etheridge (g), Kelly, Salcido, Kamara, Greening, Davies.

Referee L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Attendance 40,466.

[White Noise]

PANTSIL PRESENT GIVES KENNY DALGLISH A LIFT  



Pantsil's attempt to clear succeeds only in finding the net to put Liverpool ahead

Thursday January 27,2011


By Paul Joyce 

THE last time Kenny ­Dalglish took charge of ­Liverpool for a game against Fulham, his team ran out 10-0 winners. There was no such a landslide last night, yet a nervy victory still brought a sense of progress.

Liverpool moved up to the heady heights of seventh in the Premier League, their highest position in what has been a tumultuous campaign, as Dalglish posted the club's first back-to-back wins since early November.

For a spell it appeared as if the ghost of Roy Hodgson would continue to haunt Liverpool, the trademark resilience he had drilled into Fulham before his short-lived reign at Anfield ensuring the visitors dug deep for present manager Mark Hughes.

Goalkeeper David Stockdale had not been on a losing side for Fulham this season and after two outstanding first-half saves it appeared once again that it would take something out of the ordinary to beat him. Sadly for John Pantsil, his comical own-goal just after the interval ensured Dalglish's second coming gleaned further momentum.

Fulham had sold fewer than 500 tickets, yet the indifference of their travelling support is hardly a surprise.

They have won just 10 of their past 106 away games in the Premier League and the trip to a venue where they have never triumphed in 29 previous visits would have hardly fuelled belief that wretched run was about to improve.

Torres had the ball in the net inside six minutes, though his celebrations were cut short after he was ruled to have strayed marginally offside by assistant referee Mike McDonough as he raced on to Raul Meireles' sumptuous pass. It was a close call.

Yet, the start Liverpool made illustrated how the tempo and intent has changed so markedly during the short time Dalglish has been at the helm, with opponents now pressed high up the pitch, compared with what had gone before.

Martin Kelly's marauding raids down the right from full-back have caught the eye since earning a regular role under Dalglish and his low centre was met with a deft glancing header from Meireles.

The improving Portugal midfielder was denied by an impressive save from Stockdale and it will have been of scant consolation that he was not alone.

Invited to cut inside on to his favoured right foot by Pantsil, makeshift left-back Glen Johnson came close to making him pay by unleashing a rasping drive that looked destined for the roof of the net until the athletic Stockdale snaked out a hand.

However, it served as a sobering reminder that Saturday's win at Molineux had not suddenly cured Liverpool of all their insecurities.

Unsurprisingly, there were times when they lapsed back into bad old habits, their passing becoming untidy when put under pressure themselves and balls were pumped long too often, though Fulham failed to capitalise when their hosts wobbled.

Clint Dempsey had already stung the fingertips of Pepe Reina when seconds later Andy Johnson wriggled to the byline and cut the ball enticingly back for Mousa Dembele, who, unmarked 10 yards out, stroked the ball somewhat apologetically straight at Reina.

Hughes will have taken heart that his own methods are taking hold as Fulham played their way back into the game.

Dalglish, in contrast, might regard it as a sign that fresh blood is required in this transfer window.

Interest in both Luis Suarez and Charlie Adam is proving problematic and though a loan deal to bring Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock back to the club has been set up, it will require Paul Konchesky, who sat in the stands here, to return to Fulham.

Liverpool, bolstered by the return of Steven Gerrard from suspension, received an overdue slice of luck in the 52nd minute.

A sloppy pass from Dempsey towards his own penalty area was deflected by Dirk Kuyt into the path of Torres and a comical game of pinball ensued after his shot deflected off Brede Hangeland and hit a post.

Pantsil made a complete hash of clearing his lines, succeeding only in slicing the ball into his own net.

Liverpool lived on their nerves in a frantic finale, as Meireles cleared off the line and Demeble went close – but Dalglish and his men are slowly but surely moving on.

Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/225516/Pantsil-present-gives-Kenny-Dalglish-a-liftPantsil-present-gives-Kenny-Dalglish-a-lift#ixzz1CErHkBLg

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http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/173848/Liverpool-1-Fulham-0-Kop-catch-Fulham-with-pants-down/

LIVERPOOL 1 FULHAM 0: KOP CATCH FULHAM WITH PANTS DOWN


27th January 2011

By Kevin Francis

LIVERPOOL 1 -- FULHAM 0

JOHN PANTSIL was left red-faced last night as Fulham's miserable Anfield record  continued.

Liverpool's non-stop attacking approach finally paid off in the 52nd minute of a game where they were always on top.

Dirk Kuyt slipped the ball to Fernando Torres, whose shot hit a post and bounced back into a crowded six-yard box.

Fulham defender Pantsil made a hash of his attempted clearance and the ball rolled over the line for an own-goal.

It was nothing more than Liverpool deserved after putting Fulham on the ropes for much of the game.

Liverpool should have been ahead much earlier as their play further illustrated their rejuvenated form.

Before that own-goal, Liverpool fans had earlier roared with delight when Torres found the back after only six minutes – but their joy was short-lived.

He pounced on to a great pass from Raul Meireles and slotted the ball home but linesman Mike McDonough ruled the effort offside.

Torres must have been wishing Sian Massey was still running the line.

At least she got it right on Saturday when she decided Meireles was onside as he ran through for Liverpool's opener at Wolves in their 3-0 victory to give Kenny Dalglish his first win since returning as manager.

Fulham keeper Dave Stockdale, who hadn't been on the losing side in any of his eight games for Fulham, had to be at his best to prevent another Miereles goal.

Meireles produced a fine 10th-minute header from a right-wing Martin Kelly cross that seemed destined to find the net.

But Kelly dived brilliantly to his right and pushed the ball clear for a perfect, full-stretch stop.

Stockdale was in action again two minutes later as Liverpßool began to slip into their stride.

Another Kelly cross found Torres but he mis-kicked and the ball eventually landed at the feet of Steven Gerrard.

He hammered in a low right-foot effort but Stockdale was in the right position and produced another fine save.

After 25 minutes of a game in which he was the busiest player on the pitch he had to rescue Fulham again.

This time it was the turn of England full-back Glen Johnson to test him with a cracking effort from 25 yards.

The rising, right-foot shot looked to be heading for the net until Stockdale punched the ball over the bar.

With the Liverpool emphasis on adventurous play, it wasn't surprising that Fulham's attacking options were limited.

But, whenever the opportunity arose, they looked dangerous, with Andy Johnson particularly menacing up front.


They gave Liverpool two scares inside a minute as they surged upfield in search of a shock opening goal.

First, a low left-foot effort from Clint Dempsey was stopped on the line by Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the 29th minute.


Then, just seconds later, Reina had to pounce to stop a fierce Moussa Dembele shot from crossing the line. Liverpool again looked much more impressive than they did when Roy Hodgson was in charge.


Skipper Gerrard, back in the side after serving a three-match suspension for his red card at Manchester United, was a typically inspirational figure in the middle of the park.


His pinpoint passing and enthusiasm for the game helped to put even more bite into the Liverpool play.


They dominated Fulham for long periods, with Torres a constant threat up front with his eagerness to sniff out scoring opportunities.


Johnson, adapting well to his left-back role, provided Torres with plenty of crosses and wasn't afraid to have a crack himself.

One dangerous cross early in the second half looked as though it could cause problems.


But Kuyt, another Liverpool livewire, just couldn't control the ball.

Fulham had one of the smallest contingents of travelling supporters seen in the Premier League.


Fewer than 500 fans made the trip but at least the measly following wasn't as bad as the record Premier League low of 90 at Everton last season.

Those Fulham fans had arrived at Anfield hoping for a change in their team's woeful record at the Merseyside ground. Fulham had not win any of their previous 29 visits with one of those defeats being a whopping 10-0 thrashing 25 years ago.

And Dalglish, attempting to breath new life into Liverpool following the exit of Hodgson, was also manager on that occasion.


Last night he was a happy man again although his side finished the game desperately defending that slender lead.


FULHAM boss Mark Hughes is ready to end Paul Konchesky's Liverpool nightmare and offer him a return to Craven Cottage.

Hughes is ready to offer Konchesky a loan move for the remainder of the season.

The 29-year-old has endured a difficult time at Anfield since his £4m move in the summer and has yet to start a game under Dalglish.

Konchesky's move back to the club where he played 122 games will allow 19-year-old defender Matthew Briggs to join Nottingham Forest on loan.

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http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LiverpoolReactionMH.aspx


Manager's View

Thursday 27th January 2011



Mark Hughes spoke of his disappointment on Wednesday evening as he and his side left Anfield with nothing to show from a very positive display against Liverpool.

The Whites dictated play for large periods of the game, and on another night could have scored several goals, but the home side rode their luck to capitalise on one defensive lapse and claim a 1-0 victory.

"Sides come here and consider themselves lucky to get anything out of a game, but in the end [tonight] it was the complete opposite," reflected the Fulham boss. "As an away side, to come here and really take the game to Liverpool, but not get anything out of it is really disappointing, obviously, because we deserved something.

"I think, apart from a spell just after half-time when we invited a little bit of pressure and unfortunately conceded a goal, we were by far the dominant team, but we didn't make that dominance count unfortunately – that pretty much sums it up."

And Hughes is defiant that despite this setback, his is a team on the up, and refused to attach too much significance to one defeat.

"It was one of those things," he mused. "There were consecutive errors prior to the moment it became an own goal that we could have nipped in the bud, but unfortunately we didn't.

"But it doesn't dent our confidence because we're playing well at the moment and I think everybody here tonight saw that we're a good side. We know where we're going, we're growing stronger as a team, and we'll get even better."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LiverpoolReactionMH.aspx#ixzz1CEx0YMD4

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Liverpool Photo Special


A selection of some of the best images taken from Fulham's Barclays Premier League encounter at Anfield against Liverpool.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LiverpoolPhotoSpecial.aspx

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Taking the Positives

Thursday 27th January 2011



Danny Murphy summed up the mood in the Fulham dressing room as 'flat' on Wednesday evening after his side reaped no rewards for their considerable efforts at Anfield.

The Whites lost out 1-0 in a closely contested encounter, but were left wondering what might have been had they capitalised on just a couple of the many goalscoring opportunities they forged throughout the 90 minutes.

"It is disappointing," he assessed. "It's been three or four times now on the road that we've lost by a single goal against good sides – at Arsenal, at Tottenham, and again tonight.

"I thought in the second half especially we had some great chances and the lads are really flattened right now, which says a lot when you come to somewhere like Anfield.

"Liverpool started the match strongly, and they started the second-half in the same fashion, which you expect when you come here, but other than those two periods, I thought we were the better side."

And the Fulham skipper explained that he and his team-mates were finding it hard to even focus on some of the many positives to come from their performance.

"Playing the way we did was a positive, but it's hard to take the positives when you're losing games. It is pleasing to come to places like this and give them a game, but you can't be pleased when you've lost.

"It's all well and good analysing where we went wrong and what we did right, but the fact is we gave a silly goal away, which was disappointing for John of course, because nobody wants to score own goals.

"Sometimes it's easier if you get beaten by a 25-yard screamer that flies into the top corner.
"It's another defeat and we should be disappointed with that because we need to put more points on the board and fast, but at least since the West Ham game on Boxing Day we've kept our level of performance quite high and I think that the fans who travelled up here tonight will go home happy with the way we conducted ourselves.

"For long spells of the game I thought our football was great, and Mousa looks to be back to his best already. He's a little bit down that he didn't do better with a couple of chances he had, but his overall contribution was brilliant. He caused them all sorts of football, so it's another positive that he's back to fitness and there's competition for places.

"Talking to one or two of their players after the game they said we were unlucky – which is easy to say when you've won of course, but I think they meant it.

"It's always a difficult place to come, even though they have been struggling for a bit of form this season, but we were playing against almost a full strength side other than them missing Jamie Carragher so, as I say, those are the few positives we can take from zero points."


Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/January/LiverpoolReactionDM.aspx#ixzz1CExtUVXQ

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Liverpool 1 - 0 Fulham


Fulham succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Anfield on Wednesday night, despite a spirited showing that forced Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina into a string of impressive saves.

Earlier in the day the Club had confirmed the signing of Gael Kakuta on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, but it was the in-form Andrew Johnson and Clint Dempsey who led the line for the Whites as Mark Hughes kept faith with the same starting XI that had defeated Stoke City the previous Saturday.

The home side were boosted by the return of their inspirational skipper, Steven Gerrard, but there was no place in Liverpool's matchday squad for former Fulham full-back Paul Konchesky.

The star performers during the first-half were David Stockdale and Reina who were the main reasons that the game remained goalless after 45 minutes. Stockdale, in particular, produced two breathtaking fingertip stops that earned applause from both sets of supporters.

Fulham started the game confidently, zipping the ball around at pace. In fact, Mark Hughes' side created the first opening of the game after four minutes when Aaron Hughes met Danny Murphy's set piece from out wide with a glancing header that flew just past the far post.

Fernando Torres slipped the ball past Stockdale into the back of the net a minute later but thankfully the Spanish international was adjudged offside. Dirk Kuyt then fired towards goal from inside the area, but once again the linesman's flag was raised.

The pressure was building on Fulham as the 10 minute mark approached and Stockdale pulled off a superb fingertip save low to his right to deny Meireles' glancing header from eight yards. It was a stunning save from the young goalkeeper who once again impressed in Mark Schwarzer's absence.

Stockdale was on hand again two minutes later to deny Gerrard's precise strike from the edge of the area. Liverpool's supply line was coming from the flanks, with Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson overlapping deep into Fulham's half to create the openings.

Johnson fashioned his own opportunity after 25 minutes that forced Stockdale into another stunning fingertip stop. The England defender let rip from 25 yards down the left flank and the ball was heading into the roof of the net with venom, before Stockdale touched it over the crossbar.

Fulham then almost took the lead twice in the space of a minute as the half hour approached. First Dempsey fired a vicious drive from the left hand side of the area that forced Reina to save at the near post.

And Reina came to Liverpool's rescue again just seconds later when Andy Johnson crossed from the left flank to Dembele in the centre. Unfortunately the Belgium international's strike fell straight into the 'keepers path.

Opportunities were few and far between as half-time approached. Fulham looked more than comfortable soaking up the home side's pressure and Dempsey and Dembele's strikes had proved there was space to be exploited during the second period.

There were no changes for either side at the start of the second half when once again Liverpool looked to gain ground down their right flank, through Kuyt, but Fulham remained resolute and well organised. However, the home side's endeavours earned them a slice of luck after 52 minutes and a 1-0 lead.

The goal was created by Fernando Torres who, after collecting the ball on the edge of Fulham's area, found space to fire off a low right-footed drive towards goal. A crucial deflection took the ball past Stockdale and onto the near post, and as it skimmed across goal, the ball took an unfortunate deflection off John Pantsil into the back of the net.

Dempsey looked to fire Fulham back into the match with two strikes before the hour mark, the first of which, a fine volley from 16 yards, forced Reina into his third big save of the night.

After 62 minutes Mark Hughes made his first change of the match, introducing Zoltan Gera for Damien Duff on the right of midfield.

Three minutes later Fulham earned a free-kick 25 yards from goal and Danny Murphy's set-piece was almost inch perfect. His right-footed curling shot missed the far post by a whisker as Reina stood stranded.

After 66 minutes Gerrard and Pantsil stood toe-to-toe following a string of challenges down Fulham's right-hand touchline. The right-back was booked seconds later as the action moved further up the flank.

Fulham battled hard for a way back into the game as the match entered the final 20 minutes, and they looked ever more likely to earn a share of the points as the minutes ticked away. Their desire and willingness to put bodies on the line certainly raised the atmosphere inside Anfield.

With 18 minutes remaining, Dempsey created the time and space for himself on the edge of Liverpool's area to let rip with a right-footed drive towards the far post, but unfortunately the ball soared agonisingly over the bar.

Remarkably, Liverpool then managed to deny Brede Hangeland twice in succession from corners taken by Murphy. The defender's first effort was tipped around the post by Reina before his second was cleared off the line. Fulham deserved to be on level terms as the game entered the final 10 minutes of play and the home crowd were breathing several sighs of relief.

Fulham were all over Liverpool in the final few minutes, camped in the home side's half, and in the 86th minute Dempsey beat his marker in the area to head Murphy's free-kick towards goal. However, once again Reina scrambled the ball away to safety.

During the three minutes of added time, Fulham continued to press, but luck was not on their side.

All in all, it was a spirited performance by Hughes' team who deserved at least a point for their endeavours.

The Whites now turn their attentions to FA Cup action on Sunday when they take on Spurs at the Cottage (KO 4.30pm).



Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/MatchAndTeam/MatchCentre/Matches/1011/Premiership/LiverpoolAway.aspx#ixzz1CEyI85k9

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http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/27012011/63/injured-carroll-sent-sweden.html


Injured Carroll sent to Sweden

Thu, 27 Jan 10:36:10 2011


Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is to fly to Sweden to consult a specialist over his troublesome thigh injury.

The 22-year-old, whose 11 goals to date this season fuelled the Magpies' solid first half of the season, has missed the last five games with a tear in the muscle but was taken on the club's training break to Portugal.

Manager Alan Pardew had hoped to have him back for the Barclays Premier League trip to Fulham on February 2 but the club is now to seek the help of a renowned Swedish specialist in an effort to get to the bottom of the problem.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle from the club's Portugal training camp, Pardew said: "We brought him to Portugal to start running and the disappointing news is he hasn't.

"His injury is in the muscle just above the tendon where it joins the knee, so it's not an area that gets great circulation, so therefore it doesn't heal quickly. We have had a consultation this week to send him to someone who's the world's best tendon repair expert.

"You get these experts in different fields and this guy is in the Arctic end of Sweden and he is flying out there on Friday and we are hoping we can turn him around quickly. But now I have to say that Fulham is definitely out and maybe even Arsenal."