LIVERPOOL SPUTTERS IN SCORELESS DRAW WITH FULHAM

Liverpool has struggled to score goals for much of the Premier League season, and it was more of the same on Sunday.  Despite an overwhelming time of possession and shots on goal advantage, Liverpool was unable to put a ball past Fulham goalie Mark Schwarzer and had to settle for a scoreless home draw.  Liverpool played without their best scoring threat, striker Fernando Torres, who missed the game due to a knee injury.

For those that bet on soccer the possibility of a draw must always be a consideration, and this result provided them with a +350 payback.  Liverpool had been installed as a -300 home favorite for the game, with takeback on Fulham a whopping +1100.  Liverpool has struggled away from Anfield this season both in European action and Premier League play, but have been very good at home.  They entered this contest with an impressive 12 wins against 2 losses and 2 draws on their home pitch.

In NHL hockey, you’ll frequently see a hot goaltender steal a game for his team.  In soccer, it’s a much less common occurrence but that’s essentially what Fulham goalie Mark Schwarzer did.  Liverpool held a 65% to 35% time of possession advantage and a lopsided 26-3 shots advantage, but couldn’t beat Fulham’s crafty netminder.  Schwarzer’s excellence notwithstanding, Liverpool clearly missed the finishing ability of the injured Torres.

The result all but ended Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the Premiership top four, and team manager Rafael Benitez admitted as much in his postgame comments:

“It is not in our hands, it depends on the other teams and the difference is too much now, maybe. We have to keep going because it is always important to do your best and try to finish as high as possible. We will try to win the rest of the games and try to win the Europa League. It will now be very difficult, we have to be realistic. As a manager you have to believe and support your team. We have to keep going.''

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was pleased with his team’s effort and particularly the play of goalie Schwarzer:

''There is no doubt Liverpool dominated the game and we were forced on to the back foot but at the same time we stood our corner very well and fought very hard. On the occasions when they got good strikes in Mark Schwarzer was equal to it. It is another excellent clean sheet. I have got to be very satisfied with what the team has done because Liverpool are a very difficult team to take points off home or away.''

Liverpool will be off until Monday, April 19th when they’ll begin a tough stretch of three games in five days.  They’ll play West Ham United at home on the 19th before heading to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid in Europa League play on Thursday.  They’ll return to England in time for a Saturday away game at Burnley.