13.04.2003 - Owen/Heskey on target as Reds beat Fulham
A goal in each half, scored by Emile Heskey and Michael Owen, was enough to see Liverpool to a third successive home win in the league, and keep the pressure on the teams above them fighting for a place in next season's Champions League.
Liverpool were in fine form and could have won by an even greater margin had it not been for an excellent dispaly by Fulham 'keeper Maik Taylor, who produced a string of top saves to deny Liverpool's forwards, with Milan Baros in particular finding it difficult to beat Taylor.
After an early goal scored by Michael Owen was ruled out due to a raised flag for offside, it was eventually Emile Heskey who opened the scoring, with a close range volley by the big striker following a flick on at the edge of the area by Smicer.
Fulham were rarely in the game and after a scuffed shot by Owen had been saved by Taylor, Owen found himself presented with another chance within a further 60 seconds thanks to Vladimir Smicer's defence splitting pass and this time Owen made no mistake, sliding the ball coolly past Taylor from 15 yards out.
Louis Saha was unlucky not to put his name on the scoresheet late in the game after curling a shot onto the bar from the corner of the penalty area, while Milan Baros forced one last save out of Taylor in injury time when he raced onto a ball played behind the Fulham defence by Cheyrou, though Maik Taylor stood up well and made the save to keep the score down to just 2-0.
Liverpool remain in sixth place in the table after both Everton and Chelsea recorded wins, but with the Reds still to play both teams in their final five matches, the race for the fourth Champions League spot looks set to go to the final game of the season.
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