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Liverpool's hopes of a top four finish have been dealt a blow following a goalless draw with Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds dominated from start to finish but could not find that elusive winning goal and now have just four matches remaining to try and secure Champions League football for next season.
Billed as a potential dress-rehearsal for next month's Europa League final, the clash with the Cottagers came on the back of one of the best Liverpool displays of the season.
However, with such limited recovery time Rafael Benitez saw fit to make four changes from the side that demolished Benfica; Alberto Aquilani, Ryan Babel, Maxi Rodriguez and David Ngog all starting.
With the team sheet in, the pre-match talking point was simple - where was Fernando Torres?
The Spaniard was not amongst the squad of 18 for a must-win clash in the battle for fourth; a fact that meant a landmark 50th goal at Anfield would have to wait - as would any thought of extending his record of being the only Reds player in history to have netted four consecutive L4 doubles.
The goal threat of the no.9 may have been missing, but the feel-good factor created by the 4-1 success over the Eagles could not be dampened on what was a rare sun-drenched afternoon on Merseyside.
Indeed, the home side showed no signs of any Thursday night hangover in the opening exchanges as they eagerly set about closing the gap on fourth-place.
The first chance arrived on four minutes when a Steven Gerrard corner was flicked back across goal by Daniel Agger, only for Babel to miss his kick in the six yard box.
The skipper then sent a raking cross-field ball towards Ngog, who saw a looped volley on the stretch drop just shy of the far post with Mark Schwarzer scrambling.
The visitors had secured a famous away win at Wolfsburg in midweek, but aside from their European adventures, Roy Hodgson's men have endured a difficult time on the road this campaign, winning just once at Portsmouth.
Matched against the Reds' imperious home from, in which they had won their previous eight, it was somewhat predictable to see Benitez's charges laying siege to the Fulham goal.
The ever willing Ngog fizzed a shot from distance well wide before the Reds were presented with a 14th minute free-kick opportunity that Aquilani flashed into the wall.
All the action was taking place in front of the Kop and another two opportunities went begging within seconds of each other on 22 minutes, leaving the home support scratching their heads at the 0-0 scoreline.
A stunning move saw Babel carry the ball past two Fulham defenders before feeding the overlapping Glen Johnson on the right. The England full-back clipped a first-time cross on the run to the far post, where Gerrard challenged for it, allowing Aquilani to latch on to the loose ball and send a clever overhead effort into the grateful arms of Schwarzer.
And before Fulham had regained their composure, an angled pass over the top eluded Ngog, but found the clever run of Maxi. However, the Argentine saw his shot across goal beaten out by the visiting stopper.
On the half hour mark Javier Mascherano got in on the act, crashing a 30 yard drive that arrowed towards the left hand corner before a superb intervention from Schwarzer at full stretch.
There was no shortage of creativity on Liverpool's part as they continued to knock on the door, but Aquilani's trademark rabona flick was plucked off the head of Ngog by the impressive Schwarzer.
Agger then crashed a 35 yarder over the top to conclude an enjoyable but frustrating first 45 for the Anfield faithful.
The scene was set for a second-half onslaught and Liverpool did not disappoint, with Aquilani stinging the fingertips of Schwarzer before guiding another long range strike inches past the post within a minute of the restart.
The mercurial Babel then skipped Jonathan Greening's challenge and struck a low effort that Schwarzer did well to turn away at his near post.
The Fulham rearguard had been creaking all afternoon, but as the hour mark came and went, time became the biggest threat to the Reds' hopes of taking the three points.
Perhaps sensing that the hosts needed some fresh impetus, Benitez brought on Dirk Kuyt in place of Aquilani, reverting to a 4-4-2 formation that saw the Dutchman take his place alongside Ngog in attack.
It failed to inspire a breakthrough though, and the boss' next move was to call for Yossi Benayoun, the hero of last season's late win at Craven Cottage. The Israeli replaced Babel and the home side continued to press.
A short corner on 77 minutes almost provided the answer to the questions Liverpool had been asking all afternoon, but Sotirios Kyrgiakos headed over the top from Kuyt's clever turn and cross.
It was looking like a case of now or never in terms of fourth place and the last throw of the dice arrived in the shape of teenage star, Dani Pacheco - a revelation in the reserves' bid for the title this term.
The Spanish whizz kid had made a significant contribution with an assist when he appeared as a substitute in the 1-0 Europa League win over Unirea Urziceni back in February, and how the majority of the 42, 331 inside Anfield hoped he could do it again.
Unfortunately for the Reds, it wasn't to be though, and despite failing to trouble Pepe Reina until the last seconds in one of the most one-sided matches of the season, Fulham held on for the most unlikely of draws.
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Fullmatch Video : Liverpool 0 - 0 Fulham
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