Liverpool's midweek win over Fulham felt just as important as their five goal demolition of title rivals Arsenal on Saturday. When Steven Gerrard confidently dispatched the winning penalty in the 90th minute, the ecstasy it caused amongst the visiting fans emphasised just how crucial these three points were. Against Arsenal, Brendan Rodgers' side had showcased their attacking prowess, blitzing the opposition defence and killing the game off in the first half. It is no surprise that if all the Premier League matches this season had finished at half time, according to the statistics, Liverpool would be top. However on a wet and windy night at Craven Cottage, Rodgers' team demonstrated their other traits - mainly their character. Despite trailing on two occasions, Liverpool remained composed and got the victory their performance deserved. Fulham on the other hand, will be disappointed. Having gone ahead twice, Rene Meulensteen would have been hopeful his team could hold out for a pivotal three points, but once again their defensive frailties let them down. Sascha Riether's clumsy tackle, which gave Liverpool their last minute penalty, sums up the problems the Cottagers have at the back. They did brilliantly to score four goals against Manchester United and Liverpool, but all that becomes insignificant if you cannot defend. In what may turn out to be a crucial night for both clubs, What Culture looks back over the 90 minutes and examines what we can learn from the encounter.
Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.
