New Champions Crowned Fulham 2 (Dembele 57, Sidwell 86) Liverpool 5 (Maxi 1,7,70 Kuyt 16, Suarez 75)

Liverpool boosted their challenge for a top four finish in the Premier League as Maxi Rodriguez's hat-trick fired the Reds to a 5-2 victory against Fulham on Monday.

Kenny Dalglish's side romped into a three-goal lead within the first 16 minutes at Craven Cottage, with Rodriguez scoring twice before Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer allowed Dirk Kuyt's weak shot to squirm into the net.

Moussa Dembele got one back for Fulham but Rodriguez struck again for his second hat-trick in three games and Luis Suarez bagged the fifth goal to complete the demolition.

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Steve Sidwell's late strike meant little to Fulham and Liverpool's five-star display lifted them above Tottenham in fifth place and within four points of fourth placed Manchester City in the race for the final Champions League spot.

With only two matches left, Liverpool are more likely to have to settle for Europa League qualification, but a slip by City in their game in hand against Tottenham on Tuesday will have the Anfield faithful dreaming of a return to Europe's elite club competition.

Whatever the outcome of their European charge, Dalglish has surely done enough to persuade Reds owner John W Henry to hand him the manager's job on a permanent basis.

Liverpool's record signing Andy Carroll was missing again after suffering an injury in training, but the Reds arrived in west London in fine form and took the lead in 31 seconds.

Manchester United may be about to take Liverpool's record of 18 league titles, but even Sir Alex Ferguson's team haven't scored such a fast goal this season.

Suarez broke away down the left and the Uruguayan's cross was miscued by Fulham defender Carlos Salcido towards Schwarzer.

Schwarzer could only scramble the ball away from Kuyt and into the path of Rodriguez, who fired home emphatically.

Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher couldn't have wished for a more perfect start on his 666th appearance, an astonishing total that made him the club's second highest appearance holder behind Ian Callaghan.

It got even better for Carragher when Argentine midfielder Rodriguez struck again five minutes later.

Lucas Leiva's long pass picked out a surging run from Glen Johnson on the right wing and the England defender's looping cross to the far post was met with a powerful volley from Rodriguez that flashed past Schwarzer.

Dalglish's men were pouring forward in waves and they didn't have to wait long for a third goal as Schwarzer blundered in the 16th minute.

Kuyt's low shot from the right side of the penalty area should have posed no problems for Schwarzer, yet the Australian somehow allowed the tame effort to trickle through his legs and into the net.

Schwarzer hung his head in embarrassment as Dutch forward Kuyt celebrated his ninth goal in eight matches.

After Raul Meireles was forced off early in the second half, Fulham scored in the 57th minute when substitute Bobby Zamora slipped a pass for Dembele to shoot past Jose Reina.

But Liverpool had too much firepower for Fulham and Rodriguez sealed his treble in the 71st minute.

Taking John Flanagan's pass 30 yards from goal, Rodriguez advanced unopposed before blasting an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

Liverpool hadn't finished there. Suarez capped a fine display as he jinked round Schwarzer to slot in the fifth in the 75th minute and Sidwell's superb 85th minute goal was no consolation for Fulham.

Liverpool fans, do you think you can nick the 4th Champions League spot from Manchester City or are you happy with the revival under King Kenny, let us know, email us at admin@worldwidefootball.co.uk or twitter @jamiemason76

LINE UPS


Fulham: 01-Schwarzer, 03-Salcido, 05-Hangeland, 06-Baird, 07-Sidwell, 13-Murphy, 18-Hughes, 22-Gudjohnsen, 23-Dempsey, 29-Davies, 30-Dembele SUBS USED: 08-Johnson, 24-Kakuta, 25-Zamora
Liverpool: 25-Reina, 02-Johnson, 04-Meireles, 07-Suarez, 17-Maxi, 18-Kuyt, 21-Lucas, 23-Carragher, 26-Spearing, 37-Skrtel, 38-Flanagan SUBS USED: 10-Cole, 33-Shelvey

Suarez Available For The Final

Today it has been announced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez will only have to face a one match ban for his red card against Ghana on Friday
In the 119th minute Suarez cleared the ball of his own goalline to stop Ghana from snatching a 2-1 win.  Asamoah Gyan missing the resulting penalty and it was thought he may recieve a 3 match ban for hus antics.
Uruguay went on to win the match via a penalty shoot out setting up a semi final clash against Holland and should they beat the Dutch on Tuesday then their talisman will be availavle for selection for the final.
Although Diego Forland has been getting teh headlines Suarez's contribution still makes him a vital member of the squad.  He is in lethal form for his club, Ajax, where last season he scored 35 goals in 33 games.  So far he has scored 3 goals in the World Cup finals but he will be hoping to add to his tally in the Final itself.
It is thought Palermo striker Edinson Cavani will take Suarez's place against the Dutch.

Uruguay 2 South Korea 1

Scorers: Suarez (Uru) 2 goals, Chung Yong Lee (SK)

Attendance: 30597

Luis Suarez struck twice as Uruguay beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Port Elizabeth to reach the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. The South Koreans pushed hard but Lee Chung-Yong's header in the second half was not enough with Suarez scoring both early and late on for the South Americans.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made one change to the team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in their final group match, with Diego Godin replacing Mauricio Victorino at the back. Back at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where his side beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game, Korea Republic coach Huh Jung-Moo made a notable change to his midfield, with winger Kim Jae-Sung making his first start in place of Yeom Ki-Hun.

The South Koreans got off to a bright start, with their captain Park Ji-Sung running through the middle of the park to the edge of the area only for Diego Lugano to cut out his attempted through-pass. Minutes later, they came desperately close to taking the lead, Park Chu-Young's curling free-kick from 20 yards smashing the left post as Fernando Muslera stood watching helplessly. Instead it was La Celeste who drew first blood in the eighth minute, when an unmarked Suarez, lurking on the right side of the area, turned the loose ball into an empty net after Jung Sung-Ryong had failed to deal with Diego Forlan's low cross from the left.

The Taeguk Warriors probed away, looking for holes in the stubborn Uruguay defence that had not conceded a goal in the first round. Park Ji-Sung surged down the left but saw his low cross blocked by a timely intervention, then Park Chu-Young tried his luck with an effort from 25 yards that went just wide of the left post. It was Cha Du-Ri's turn next but he saw his audacious shot from 30 yards sail just over the crossbar.

With the rain pouring down in the second half, Kim Jung-Woo almost paid for a sloppy pass across the back, with Suarez intercepting but failing to trouble Jung with a tame shot. At the other end, Lugano's attempted clearance from a Lee Jung-Soo cross fell into the path of Park Chu-Young, who fired a powerful volley over the bar. Park Ji-Sung then managed to connect with a Cha cross from the right, but Muslera did well to hold on to his header, jumping to his left.

South Korean coach Huh had no other option but to reinforce the attack, and brought striker Lee Dong-Gook on for Kim Jae-Sung on the hour mark. The Asian side finally broke through after 68 minutes, when Lugano's headed clearance from Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick fell to an unmarked Lee Chung-Yong, who headed home the equaliser from close range to finally end Muslera's lengthy unbeaten run. However, the Uruguayans fought back. Suarez saw his shot from an acute angle parried over by Jung, before the Ajax forward then miscued his header with only the keeper to beat. But the Uruguay No9 made no mistake when the ball came to his way on the edge of the box following a Forlan corner, sidestepping a white shirt and curling a spectacular shot in off the far post to make it 2-1.

The Koreans responded by bringing on another forward, Yeom Ki-Hun, for midfielder Ki, and within two minutes, Lee Dong-Gook spurned a glorious chance to equalise as the Jeonbuk Motors marksman saw his low shot half-stopped by Muslera before Lugano cleared the ball as it trickled slowly towards the net. With that, the South Koreans' final opportunity had passed as La Celeste held on to book their place in the last eight.

Mexico 0 Uruguay 1

Scorer: Suarez (Uru)

Attendance: 33425

Uruguay finished top of Group A thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mexico at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, but the defeat was ultimately sufficient for El Tri to join their conquerors in the Round of 16.

Joint-leaders Uruguay and Mexico went into their final group match safe in the knowledge that a draw would be enough for both of them to reach the knockout phase. But it was a must-win for the Mexicans if they were to avoid a likely encounter with the formidable Argentinians in the last 16. Both coaches opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with the only one notable change being veteran Mexico forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco starting for the first time in place of the injured Carlos Vela.

The stadium was filled with a large contingent of El Tri supporters hours before the kick-off, and the Mexicans soon began to find their rhythm with the the waves of 'ole' coming from the stands. However, it was the Uruguayans who had the first attack of note. Luis Suarez missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead on five minutes, when the Ajax marksman sent his shot just wide of the left post after collecting a loose ball from a defensive mistake from Hector Moreno.

Mexico fought back midway through the first half, with Andres Guardado hitting the crossbar with an audacious left-foot drive from 30 yards. Guardado and Giovani dos Santos then managed to find space on the left, but were unable to create clear-cut chances to break down one of the meanest defences in the competition. With half-time approaching, Carlos Salcido tried his luck from distance but the ball sailed well over the bar.

Just as the first half seemed to be ending goalless, La Celeste seized their opportunity on 43 minutes. Edinson Cavani broke down the right channel to send a looping cross to the far post, where Suarez headed home from close range to make it 1-0.

With South Africa leading France 2-0 at the interval in Bloemfontein, Mexico could not afford to concede more goals. But the Uruguayans surged forward right after the break, with Diego Lugano’s point-blank header off a Diego Forlan free-kick forcing a brilliant save from Oscar Perez. At the opposite end, substitute Pablo Barrera sent an inviting cross from the right, only for Francisco Rodriguez to send a glancing header just wide of Fernando Muslera’s goal.

Although Mexico put the pressure on by bringing Javier Hernandez on for Blanco after the hour mark, Uruguay's defence looked even more impenetrable as time wore on. And despite enjoying more possession of the ball, Mexico failed to find a way through as Uruguay completed a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in their FIFA World Cup™ history.