At Craven Cottage. Without Gerrard and Johnson.

Its Torres and Voronin up front. How many times are we going to see such a starting line-up from Liverpool. Gerrard and Johnson missing from action. Could easily be precautionary tactics from the Spaniard. Benayoun and Mascherano were expected to be stars of this game. The weather was bright and sunny in London. And withing 3 minutes, Voronin managed to not take an excellent chance. Cant really understand how could he score in the Bundesliga. What appeared to be a straight forward header just never felt the same for the Ukrainian. In the 6th minute, we were missing Gerrard. Just outside the area, the ball fell to Mascherano and he was blocked rather comfortably. Gerrard would have been testing the keeper at least.

Torres looked so lively upfront. A complete contrast to Voronin. A scramble fell on his feet and the way he took the ball away from Fulham defenders would have been encouraging to the Liverpool faithful. Torres once again sped towards the ball from a scramble. This time he earned a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Benayoun's effort was blocked by the wall. Gerrard needed yet again. It was really the pace of the game that kept Manchester United at bay last weekend. Why did we need to drop off the accelerator when we could possibly steam roll past this London side. Kuyt and Degen combined to carve out a goal scoring chance for Torres, just missing out by a whisker. All this had happened within the first 20 minutes. Liverpool were keeping ball possession, without showing enough efforts on the Fulham goal.

Kuyt sends another cross and this time Benayoun rattles the crossbar on the 22nd minute. That was such a weighted cross, it could have come with a pigeon on top of it and Benayoun could have scooped it on his right shoulder. Kuyt at his best. Two minutes more and Fulham carved out their first chance. The ball ending up in the Liverpool net. Duff threaded the ball in front of the back four and Zamora was on hand to dispatch it. Fulham 1 - 0 Liverpool.

Am no Football Pundit, but do have some soccer sense after all these years of watching the game. I would make this blunder of suggesting something to Benitez. Sell Voronin. We don't need Michael Owen against Manchester United. But we could easily do with somebody like Carlton Cole or Geovanni. These players are worth their salt as understudy to Torres. The spaniard needed just one quick ball onto his feet to score for Liverpool. You cant keep him quite for more than that. A scramble and a looping ball out of the Fulham defense fell to the right foot. Schwarzer had no hint of what was going to be done. No control, no stopping the ball. Just a straight shot into the near post. Fulham 1 - 1 Liverpool. Torres scoops up his tenth goal of the season.

It was half time. Fulham 1 - 1 Liverpool.

Fulham sent in Nevland and Gera. Liverpool came out without any changes. Torres took the ball on the right hand side in the 48th minute. His effort to shoot was blocked. But the fear he induces in any defense with the ball at his feet is awesome. Almost 3 defenders blocking him, it sometimes looks the right option for him to pick out a fellow Red shirt. He turns the 18 yard box into a spacious zone. Unfortunately, Torres was replaced in the 61st minute. With half an hour to go, Babel came on. He is another of the lot which is yet to prove worthy of the Red shirt.

Fulham gained in confidence as their biggest tormentor was off the pitch. Zamora, Dempsey and Gera were taking their chances frequently. Benayoun, Kuyt and Voronin with all their experience were now expected to run the show for Liverpool. In the 73rd minute, all of that turned topsy turvy. Kuyt gave the ball cheaply to Konchesky on the left touchline. He ran onto the 18yard box and put a cross out to Gera. He nodded across and a deft touch from Nevland puts it into the net. Dreadful Reds defending. The back-post cannot be left unattended at any cost. Benitez somehow knows how to bring morale down. He brings off Benayoun, replacing him with Nathan Eccleston. Next minute, Degen is shown a straight red card. It looked like a yellow at most. But that's life in the Premier League.

In the 82nd minute, it was all over. Liverpool were looking like a team straight out of the streets of Delhi. Carragher could not pick out the ball and was found on the wrong side of Zamora. A straight red to him as well. With a free kick to Fulham. Why can't we just have Agger and Skrtel playing for us ? We needed a replacement and Benitez chose Kuyt this time. Zamora took off the chance from Fulham to make it 3-1. He took the ball away from Nevland who was onside. But that was not going to dampen them. They needed just 5 minutes before Nevland turned provider. Dempsey need not do anything except slide that pass into an inviting net. So he did. A two goal lead to the home side.

How many times did I mention Mascherano or Lucas in this long post ? That sums up their contribution to this game. How can we afford to sell Xabi Alonso and then bring in nothing for all that he did last season ? Even Zamora looks like a player worthy of being in the Liverpool side. He does have this habit of making a nuisance out of himself for the opposing defenders. Where is last season's hot favorite on the left - Riera ? Is he not worthy playing anymore ?

And thus it ends. Benitez doesn't hides his disappointment. Neither will the Liverpool fans. However, You Will Never Walk Alone.