Reds go goal crazy

After all the recent talk of a goal-scoring crisis on Merseyside, Rafa Benitez's side finally found their touch in front of the net, with a comprehensive win that will go some way to ease the concerns surrounding their struggling strike-force.

With Liverpool's band of four strikers managing only a single strike since the turn of the year, three of them finally found the net as the tension lifted at Anfield.

A special cheer was reserved for Fowler as he scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt since rejoining the club in the transfer window from Manchester City, a strike that will probably make him the happiest man in Liverpool, at least for a day or two.

With a vital trip to Newcastle coming up at the weekend, and Manchester United starting to get away from them in the race for second place in the Premiership, this game could provide a much needed springboard for the Reds as try to get over the disappointment of the Champions League exit at the hands of Benfica.

Despite dominating proceedings early on, Liverpool found chances difficult to come by and had to wait until the tenth minute for their first real opportunity.

Fernando Morientes was put clear of the chasing Fulham defence, having timed his run perfectly, but his weak finish was easily saved by Tony Warner.

However, the Anfield faithful only had to wait a further six minutes for their team to open their account for the evening, courtesy of their favourite son.

Robbie Fowler finally started to repay the faith shown in him by Rafa Benitez as he tucked a Luis Garcia glanced header into the net from close range, a classic poachers goal for the man so desperate to regain his goal-touch.

The Reds continued to impress with their midfield in particular functioning well. Oddly enough Steven Gerrard was being employed in a more withdrawn role with Dietmar Hamann being given license to roam forwards. Something that England fans may well be happy to see working so well.

But Fulham didn't wait long to strike back and managed to find the net with their first meaningful attack of the match.

On 25 minutes Liverpool lost the ball in midfield, and with Djimi Traore out of position, Collins John had all the space in the world to run into and tuck a low finish into the net, stunning the home fans still enjoying Fowler's first goal of the year.

With the game becoming embroiled in a midfield battle the game hanging in the balance, Fulham's Brown unfortunately turned the game in the favour of the hosts.

The former Tottenham midfielder couldn't get out of the way of a Harry Kewell cross and could only bundle the ball into his own net, giving Liverpool a lead they never really looked like relinquishing.

The play continued to be largely shapeless as the match stumbled into the second period, with only a Garcia curled effort and a Zat Knight header that both hit the woodwork served up to puncture the tedium.

However, the final twenty minutes would provide the meat of the day's entertainment.

First of all Morientes took advantage of some uncertain defending to blast home from close range, before Crouch came off the bench to flick a Steven Gerrard cross into the net with his first touch of the game.

The final moments saw a first goal of the season for Warnock as he rammed home from the edge of the box at the Kop End to really give the legions of home fans something to be happy about.

With the win, Liverpool have now closed the gap to United in second place to just two points, although they have played two games more than the Red Devils and will need Sir Alex Ferguson's men to slip up in order to make the race for second place interesting.

Meanwhile, Chris Coleman will need to rally his troops if they are to get to the magical 40 point mark that normally guarantees Premiership survival, although their eight point advantage over Birmingham City should see them through.

Premiership standings