Before the match the home fans bade an emotional farewell to Johnny Haynes. 

Fulham began the match without a single Englishman in the starting eleven, the only Brit was Barnsley-born Welshman Mark Crossley in goal. He was replaced by an Englishman after 63 minutes, as Tony Warner took his place between the sticks.

The Liverpudlian made three fine saves as he faced his old club.

Jamie Carragher was Liverpool captain in the absence of Steven Gerrard, and he played well at centre-back. However, none of the Reds players got close enough to Claus Jensen as he lifted a beautiful ball over the defence to put Collins John through to open the scoring.

Peter Crouch came on for the final quarter of an hour as Liverpool chased the game, and the rangy striker did a good job as a target man using his height and close control to good effect.

But with the visitors going all out for an equaliser, it was Fulham who scored at the death; Luis Boa Morte smashing the ball into the roof of the net after linking well with Steed Malbranque at the end of a classic counter-attack.

Things got worse for England and Liverpool as Gerrard suffered another injury setback.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez said: "Gerrard was almost fit. Two days ago he was training, but yesterday he felt something again."