Fulham swept aside by Sturridge hat-trick

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Fulham 1 Liverpool 3

Daniel Sturridge scored a hat-trick as Fulham’s dire end to the season continued.

The Whites took the lead when Dimitar Berbatov headed in from Sascha Riether’s right-wing cross.

But Sturridge equalised three minutes later, collecting Andre Wisdom’s long punt forward and beating Aaron Hughes before finishing superbly.

And the forward struck again just after the hour mark, slotting home after Phillipe Coutinho’s shot had ricocheted into his path.

Liverpool’s second goal came just after Fulham had a decent shout for a penalty ignored after Bryan Ruiz’s cross struck the outstretched arm of Lucas.

At the other end, Fabio Borini sent a shot against the post as the visitors continued to threaten.

Keeper Pepe Reina denied Fulham an equaliser, tipping away a shot from Berbatov and then keeping out Hughes’ header from the resulting corner.

They proved to be important stops because, with four minutes remaining, Sturridge sealed his team’s victory.

Coutinho played in the former Chelsea man, who calmly lifted the ball over keeper Mark Schwarzer to complete the first hat-trick of his career.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Richardson (Emanuelson 17), Duff, Karagounis (Riise 82), Enoh, Kacaniklic (Petric 71), Ruiz, Berbatov.
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Frimpong, Rodallega.

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