Fulham 1 Liverpool 0: Jol grateful for stroke of luck to deny Liverpool

Dempsey stabbed home a long-range 85th-minute shot by Danny Murphy that had bounced off the arms of Jose Reina, to secure only Fulham’s third Premier League win of the season.

However, a sense of grievance cloaked Liverpool’s night after they were denied a strong claim for a penalty and a legitimate goal from Luis Suarez was disallowed for offside, before Jay Spearing was shown a straight red card.

Philippe Senderos hacked down Charlie Adam with referee Kevin Friend claiming the tackle was executed just outside the area in what was a desperately tight call.

Worse was to come when Suarez produced a brilliant finish after jinking his way clear, only for a flag to be raised even though the Uruguay striker was onside.

The final insult was delivered in the 72nd minute when Spearing, making his first Premier League start of the season, was shown a straight red card.

Spearing, who had replaced knee-injury victim Lucas Leiva in the starting line-up, caught Mousa Dembele with a sliding challenge, but only after cleanly winning the ball in what was a harsh call.

The result denied Liverpool a record-equalling seventh successive away win in all competitions as they endured their first defeat in 12 games, despite dominateing long spells of the game.

Afterwards, goalscorer Dempsey admitted the sending-off of Liverpool’s Spearing was crucial to the final result.

“We had more space (after the sending off), more time on the ball and we were able to open them up,” said Dempsey.

“We’ve not been able to score enough goals, but we got one tonight and it’s an important win.

“You’ve always got to take a chance. Danny did a good job getting the shot off and you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes you get lucky and it falls to you.

“Any points right now are big because the table is so tight.”

Fulham manager Martin Jol added: “Clint is a good player.

“He scored 13 goals in the league last year and tonight it was a much-needed goal and a much-needed win.

“We dropped points at home against Everton when we were the better team – we were pretty unlucky. Tonight we had the rub of the green. We weren’t the better team but it was even.

On the disputed red card, the Dutchman added: “I think it was a bad tackle.

“His ankle was there and I think it was a sending-off.”