Fulham 2 Liverpool 5: Maxi hits three as Reds claim pole position in Euro hunt

By Dominic King for the Daily Mail
Updated: 03:29 EST, 10 May 2011

They may be about to be knocked off their perch but the fight back has begun. A 19th league title might be heading Manchester United's way but, on the banks of the Thames, Liverpool thrillingly showed they are on the move again.

In ruthlessly sweeping Fulham aside at Craven Cottage, thanks to a hat-trick from Maxi Rodriguez and goals from Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez, the visitors made themselves favourites to clinch the final Europa League spot.

But, more than anything, a message was sent to Sir Alex Ferguson that they are ready to go head-to-head with United again.

Three and easy: Maxi celebrates his hat-trick at Craven Cottage

Red hot: Maxi hits his second goal in the opening seven minutes, with the Argentine netting seven goals in the last three games

The transformation in Liverpool's fortunes under Kenny Dalglish has been remarkable and, with the right investment, the fairytale can continue.

This is a big summer. Seeing United erode their status as England's most successful club has hurt and nobody will relish the task of rectifying the situation more than Dalglish - only the club's American owners know why he has not yet been given the permanent contract he deserves.

When he returned as manager on January 9, Liverpool were in the bottom half and bereft of confidence. Look at them now.

Lightning start: Maxi Rodriguez (third left) hit the quickest goal of this Barclays Premier League season after just 31 seconds

That's my boy! Maxi celebrates with boss Dalglish

So good has their form been, Dalglish has accumulated more points in the same period than his old adversary Ferguson.

'Anyone who wins the title is usually the best team,' said Dalglish. 'I don't think Manchester United are any different. We have always had respect for Manchester United and if they do win the title, we will offer them congratulations. They have set the standards and we will try our best to get there.'

On an evening when Jamie Carragher moved second in the list of all-time Liverpool appearances - this being his 666th game - it was Fulham who were condemned to hell as an awful defensive display gave Dalglish's side a helping hand.

Fine form: Dirk Kuyt (centre) continued his scoring run, firing in his fifth goal in five games

This had threatened to be the most demanding assignment for the visitors in the run-in, given that Fulham had taken 10 points from the last 15, had won six out of their last seven at home and conceded only to Blackburn in that time.

But such is the confidence in this Liverpool side at the moment, they made a quite remarkable start that effectively settled the game within 16 minutes.

'It was a fantastic result and performance,' said Dalglish. 'Fulham have got a great record here and you always expect a difficult game at Craven Cottage. To score five goals is beyond our expectations. We are delighted.'

Referee Lee Mason had only just blown his whistle when Lucas sent Suarez storming down the left.

His centre was cut out by Carlos Salcido but the Mexican cleared only to Maxi, who swept home from close range to register the fastest goal of the Barclays Premier League season with just 31 seconds on the clock, five quicker than Javier Hernandez's strike for Manchester United against Chelsea the day before. Better would follow.

Proud moment: Jamie Carragher dons a Liverpool shirt for the 666th time, moving him to second on the club's all-time appearance list

Fit of pique: Referee Lee Mason had little choice but to book Pepe Reina after the furious Spanish keeper booted the ball out of Craven Cottage following Fulham's goal

Another raking pass from Lucas sent Glen Johnson away to cross from the right. Maxi was again the recipient, volleying past Mark Schwarzer from eight yards. Amazingly, it then got even better for the visitors and much worse for Fulham.

Kuyt was allowed to stroll in behind Salcido and hit a shot that Schwarzer should have gathered comfortably. Instead, he allowed the Dutchman's daisy-cutter to squirm through his fingers and could only look on in horror as the ball trickled across the line.

He may have been slightly embarrassed as he turned to celebrate but Kuyt has typified Liverpool's renaissance under Dalglish and this strike meant he became the first player since John Aldridge in 1989 to score in five consecutive League games for the club.

Moments before Kuyt struck, the visitors could have had a penalty when Suarez tumbled after a coming together with Brede Hangeland but Mason saw it differently.

Fulham were better in the second half and Moussa Dembele pulled one back but that was the signal for Liverpool to turn it on again, with Maxi taking his tally to seven in three games before the superb Suarez got in on the act.

Not even Steve Sidwell's late consolation could keep the smile off Dalglish's face or quell the chants of the exultant away supporters in the Putney End which, perhaps, reverberated all the way to Manchester.

In command: Since taking over the helm at Liverpool, Kenny Dalglish (second right) has seen his side take 33 points out of a possible 48

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