Sturridge hat-trick stuns Fulham

LIVERPOOL hitman Danny Sturridge scored a hat-trick at Craven Cottage to keep Fulham sweating over the lingering threat of relegation.

Sturridge (pictured in his Chelsea days) bagged three for the Reds as they turned the tables on the Cottagers after Dimitar Berbatov had opened the scoring.

Whites hit the magic 40-point mark four weeks ago and mathematically still needed another two points to be sure of safety heading into this one, although a healthy goal difference meant relegation is extremely unlikely in any case.

They came away with nothing and will now hope Arsenal can beat Wigan on Tuesday night, confirming the Lactics' demotion to the Championship and securing Premier League football at the Cottage for another season with a game to spare.

Martin Jol made it clear that last week's performance against already-relegated Reading was simply not acceptable and the Whites boss rung the changes for the visit of the Reds.

Alex Kacaniklic, Kieran Richardson and Aaron Hughes all came into the side at the expense of Phillipe Senderos, John Arne Riise and on-loan AC Milan star Urby Emanuelson.

There was more action in the stands than on the field early on as the travelling Liverpool fans lit a flare at the Putney end and red smoke cloaked the pitch before kick-off.

Jol was forced into a rethink on 15 minutes as a groggy looking Richardson was forced off and Emanuelson came off the bench to slot in at left-back.

Another firework set off by the Liverpool fans seemed to wake up the Fulham players. Kacaniklic set off on a mazy run down the right and Berbatov was a whisker away from getting on the end of his low cross.

Eyong Enoh then tried his luck from distance, unleashing a dipping 30-yard volley that had Pepe Reina worried after veteran Giorgos Karagounis had done well to find him with an outstretched right boot.

Reina made the save from Enoh, but there was nothing he could do about Fulham's next attack as Sascha Reither whipped in a ball from the right hand side and Berbatov was waiting in the middle to head home the opener.

The lead didn't last long. Three minutes to be precise as former Chelsea man Sturridge beat the offside trap before leaving Hughes on his backside and blasting past Mark Schwarzer to level the scoreline.

Brendan Rodgers moved to bolster his backline with experience at the interval, swapping Andre Wisdom for Jose Enrique, although the Reds defence was soon on the back-foot as Kaclniklic again danced his way towards goal and sent a shot just wide of the post.

Whites continued to press and should have been rewarded for their efforts with a penalty on the hour mark. Lucas Leiva clearly handled Bryan Ruiz's cross inside the area but it was missed by both the linesman and referee Mark Halsey.

The Craven Cottage faithful were fuming at the officials, and things were to get worse for the home supporters as within moments their side found themselves trailing. Phillipe Coutinho's scuffed shot fell kindly for Sturridge and the frontman calmly found the bottom corner.

Sturridge nearly had his hat-trick as he led a Liverpool breakaway, however Schwarzer made the save to keep the hosts in with a shout as the Reds goalscorer apologised to two of his team-mates who had been left unmarked in the box.

Reina had to be on top form to keep Fulham out late on, first saving from Berbatov and then producing a fingertip stop to keep out Aaron Hughes' header

Substitute Fabio Borini clattered the post late on before Sturridge completed his hat-trick with a lob over Schwarzer to ensure all three points went to the Merseyside club.

Fulham end their Premier League season with a trip to Michael Laudrup's Swansea City on the final day next weekend.

WHITES: Schwarzer, Hangeland, Riether, Hughes, Richardson (Emanuelson, 15), Duff, Karagounis (Riise, 82), Kacaniklic (Petric, 71), Enoh, Ruiz, Berbatov.

Subs (not used): Etheridge, Senderos, Frimpong, Rodallega.

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