Liverpool have moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Chelsea after a late penalty from Steven Gerrard earned them a 3-2 victory away at Fulham.
A comical own goal from Kolo Toure had given Fulham the advantage before Daniel Sturridge continued his hot streak in front of goal shortly before half time.
Kieran Richardson fired home from close range to regain the lead for the home side, only for late goals from Coutinho and Gerrard to complete a thrilling win for the Merseyside outfit.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at Craven Cottage.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match in the Premier League between Fulham and Liverpool.
A couple of days ago, it appeared as though this match would be postponed because of a potential tube strike, before that threat was aborted yesterday. Given the brutal conditions that are hitting the country at the moment, I half-expected to see this match put back to a later date for a different reason, but I can tell you that we are good to go in West London this evening.
One Premier League game has already fallen victim in the North-West - Manchester City vs. Sunderland - while the fixture in Staffordshire between Stoke City and Sunderland has seen the kickoff delayed by 15 minutes. However, we should have no problems in getting underway at the scheduled time of 8pm.
Tonight's fixture comes after both teams recorded superb results at the weekend. Liverpool would have been confident of making home advantage count against Arsenal, but they wouldn't have expected to dismantle the Gunners by a 5-1 socreline. As for Fulham, they held a half-time advantage against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and although they let that slip, they were delighted to score a last-time equaliser for a share of the spoils.
BREAKING NEWS! The match at Goodison Park between Everton and Crystal Palace has been postponed because of the adverse weather conditions. So that's wasted journeys for both Sunderland and Palace supporters. Will a third postponement follow at the Britannia Stadium?
The team news is in from Craven Cottage. Full details to follow.
FULHAM XI: Stekelenburg; Riether, Heitinga, Burn, Riise; Tunnicliffe, Sidwell, Kvist, Richardson; Holtby; Bent
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Flanagan, Toure, Skrtel, Cissokho; Sterling, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Suarez, Sturridge
Fulham head coach Rene Meulensteen has made just one change to the starting lineup from the weekend, replacing Muamer Tankovic with Darren Bent. As for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers goes with the same team that dominated Arsenal at Anfield.
FULHAM SUBSTITUTES: Stockdale, Hangeland, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Duff, Cole, Parker
LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Jones, Agger, Kelly, Allen, Moses, Teixeira and Aspas
Despite their positive result at the weekend, Liverpool will be encouraged by Fulham's shocking record at Craven Cottage. They have managed just three wins and a draw in West London during their league campaign, conceding 25 goals in the process. They are really going to be up against it to stop the likes of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge finding the back of the net tonight.
Liverpool have only won four games on the road but the fact that they have netted 25 times in 12 games suggests that the Fulham backline will come under pressure throughout the 90 minutes. Daniel Sturridge has also found the back in his last six matches, and he will be eager to continue that streak tonight.
There have been no more announcements coming from the Britannia Stadium, so that should mean that we have four commentaries for you from the Premier League this evening. As well as this game, you can take your pick from the rest below.
Arsenal vs. Manchester United
Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke City vs. Swansea City
PREDICTION! Providing that the weather doesn't play a part, I can't see past a Liverpool win this evening. Fulham will be in confident mood after the weekend, but they could have a few tired legs in their ranks and that could play into the hands of a blistering Liverpool attack. Liverpool to win 3-0 winners.
The postponement at Manchester City means that Liverpool could get to within one point of the free-scoring Citizens by the end of the night. Who said it was a three-horse race? Probably Jose Mourinho...
The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch at Craven Cottage. It's a full house for this game, too. Bravo to both sets of supporters for coming out in such abysmal weather.
Phil Dowd is tonight's referee, and he has got us underway.
CHANCE! It's a wonderful start from Fulham, who instantly force Simon Mignolet into a save. The ball was clipped over the defence for Darren Bent, who controlled well before flicking the ball to Ryan Tunnicliffe, but the midfielder's effort was tipped behind.
Liverpool mounted a break down the right, but Fulham hit straight back to force Aly Cissokho to nick the ball off the foot of the awaiting Darren Bent.
Liverpool are really struggling to get a hold of the ball at the moment. Fulham has rocketed out of the blocks to put the Reds under pressure.
GOAL! Fulham 1-0 Liverpool (Toure own goal)
Kolo Toure has just added the latest entry to the list of comical own goals. Kieran Richardson got in behind the Liverpool defence but his cross was disappointing. However, Toure's attempted clearance spooned off his boot and past the bewildered Simon Mignolet.
As you can imagine, Brendan Rodgers is none too impressed. After Toure's error at West Bromwich Albion a couple of weeks ago, the Ivorian could find himself out of the team on Sunday.
SAVE! Maarten Stekelenburg has just pulled off an excellent stop to deny Luis Suarez at the near post. The striker had jinked his way past a couple of defenders before getting a shot in on goal, but the Dutch stopper was able to tip the ball wide.
Liverpool have looked a bit more threatening over the past five minutes, and Suarez managed to get an effort on goal for the second time in the space of a few minutes, but this time, it wasn't threatening the back of the net.
Fulham are dropping deeper and deeper. They need to revert back to how they started this game. Darren Bent migt have the legs on the Liverpool defence, but it doesn't help if he is all by himself in attack.
The home side have a bit more joy going forward, but Liverpool are quick to snuff out the danger. Liverpool are looking to get their attacking three - Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling - behind the Fulham defence, but it's tough when Fulham are barely shifting from 25 yards out.
Steve Sidwell has just gone straight through Luis Suarez, but it was a fair enough tackle. I'm not surprised that Suarez came off a little worse for wear, but he's back up.
Daniel Sturridge tries his luck from 25 yards, but his effort is straight at the goalkeeper.
We have moved passed the half-hour mark at Craven Cottage, and we remain at 1-0. It's not a bad game, but the clear-cut chances have dried up.
CHANCE! Kieran Richardson looked like a player reborn on Sunday against Manchester United, and it is continuing tonight. He accelerates past Jon Flanagan before crossing the ball towards Darren Bent, but the striker can only nod the ball over.
CHANCE! Another good opportunity for Fulham. Lewis Holtby plays a neat one-two before advancing into the penalty area, but he can only proceed to drag a shot wide of the post. He should have done better.
GOAL! Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (Sturridge)
Cracking pass. Cracking goal. Steven Gerrard played a sublime ball without the outside of his boot from the halfway line to find Daniel Sturridge and the striker did the rest with a composed finish off the post.
SHOT! That wasn't far away! Steven Gerrard drills a first-time effort from 25 yards towards goal that just missed the top corner. Fulham need half time...they have two minutes of added-on time to survive.
HALF TIME: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
The whistle goes for half time, and we are level at Craven Cottage. Fulham have dominated for short spells, but Liverpool have had the majority of the ball and looked to be growing in confidence as that half came to a conclusion.
Liverpool had a massive 66% of possession during that first half. They also lead the shot count by 10 attempts to six, but Fulham have won double the amount of corners than that of the visitors.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City lead Newcastle United and Swansea City respectively, while it remains goalless between Arsenal and Manchester United.
We are back underway at Craven Cottage.
Both sides have started the second half well, but neither can manage a shot on goal. It will be interesting to see how much ambition that Fulham show in this half, because the moment that they step out, Liverpool are looking for that through ball behind their defence.
BOOKING! Sascha Riether has gone into the book for pulling down Luis Suarez. I'm not too sure it was a yellow card, but there you go. Suarez's free kick from the left evades everyone and goes wide.
SHOT! Luis Suarez is continuing to look a big threat, and he comes a couple of yards away from giving Liverpool the lead. He chested down a dinked delivery into the box before volleying marginally wide of the far post from 12 yards.
BOOKING! Coutinho is the next man to go into Phil Dowd's book after clipping the heels of Kieran Richardson.
Liverpool are really knocking on the door now. A low cross is fired into the middle by Jon Flanagan, but Steven Gerrard's shot is half-blocked. Daniel Sturridge then attempts an individual effort on goal, but it's deflected wide for a corner.
WOODWORK! So close from Luis Suarez! The Uruguayan wne tdirect towards the Fulham defence before firing a right-footed effort that struck the post and bounced clear.
GOAL! Fulham 2-1 Liverpool (Richardson)
Unbelievable! I don't know how, but Liverpool are behind at Craven Cottage. A cross was whipped in from the right, and after two Liverpool defenders got in the way of each other, the ball rebounded to Kieran Richardson who fired home from three yards!
Now then, what do Liverpool have left? They have done everything but score, so I wouldn't expect a change in approach, but maybe a change in personnel? They have Victor Moses and Iago Aspas has potential options.
The desire of Luis Suarez has been admirable, but he just can't find a way to score. Understandably, as soon as he receives the ball, he is being crowded out.
GOAL! Fulham 2-2 Liverpool (Coutinho)
The Brazilian has played well this evening, and he gets his reward with a fantastic strike to bring his side level. He weaved his way inside before driving the ball, via the aid of a deflection, into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
OUCH! Luis Suarez has dived in to try to reach the ball in the penalty area and clattered straight into Maarten Stelekenburg. The goalkeeper remained on the floor for a few seconds, but he is now receiving treatment. However, he is being forced off the pitch, with David Stockdale entering the action.
Just over 10 minutes remain at Craven Cottage. I've got a feeling that there is another goal in this one...
Fulham are very much in this for a point now. Well, that's the way that it seems anyway. There's a bank of six players across their 18-yard box with the midfielders attempting to chase the ball down if it breaks. Liverpool have had 76% of possession during the second half.
SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Brendan Rodgers. Raheem Sterling has left the action to be replaced by Joao Teixeira.
CLOSE! Luis Suarez does well down the right before cutting the ball back to Coutinho, who strikes the ball first time only to see it evade the far post by a couple of inches. The pressure continues...
SHOT! Joao Teixeira isn't lacking in confidence! The youngster lets fly from 20 yards, but his curling effort drifted over the crossbar.
Fulham win a free kick on the left touchline. What can they do from here? Lewis Holtby crosses to the penalty spot, but the ball is easily cleared by Liverpool.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
GOAL! Fulham 2-3 Liverpool (Gerrard)
Liverpool strike late through a Steven Gerrard penalty, but what was Sascha Riether doing?! He dived in to challenge Daniel Sturridge when he didn't need to, and the referee has given the foul. It could be argued that Sturridge went down a little easily though. Nevertheless, Gerrard struck the ball to the right of the goalkeeper and Liverpool are ahead.
Fulham have a late chance through Lewis Holtby, but his deflected shot can't be retrieved by Darren Bent. This is a tough defeat to take for the Cottagers.
FULL TIME: Fulham 2-3 Liverpool
The full-time whistle goes at Craven Cottage and Liverpool will return to Merseyside with a 3-2 win. They deserve the three points for their attacking intent throughout the 90 minutes, but you have to feel sorry for Fulham.
That result takes Liverpool to within one point of Manchester City in third, and four of Chelsea at the top. Things could get interesting over the next couple of months!
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but please stick around for all of the reaction from tonight's four games in the Premier League. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
