Gone In Sixty Seconds And Six Days

AND IT'S NOT EVEN NOVEMBER: Bobby Zamora slots past Jose Reina at Craven Cottage on Saturday. It would appear that Liverpool's goose is cooked as far as the title race is concerned - with more than six months left in the season. / Getty Images

IT'S A GIVEN: Shay Given dives full length to keep out James McFadden's penalty at St Andrew's on Sunday. The game ended scoreless. /Getty Images

Following their thrilling victory over Manchester United at Anfield last Sunday, we were led to believe that Liverpool’s season had turned the corner and there was nothing but blue skies ahead for Rafa Benitez and his merry band of Merseysiders.

With that victory the Reds brought to an end one of their worst periods in recent years. Hard to believe then, that just six days on, they have been put to the sword again twice, at Arsenal in midweek and again on Saturday to a wonderful Fulhamside.

Under-pressure Rafael Benitez endured another day to forget as nine-man Liverpool crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers are a different proposition this season under Roy Hodgson and goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey earned Fulham the points.

The former West Ham striker was on hand to slide home from close range following a clever pass from Damien Duff, although Fernando Torres equalized with a stunning twenty-yard volley just before the break.

But the Spaniard was substituted in the second half and Fulham’s own replacement, Nevland, restored the home team’s lead with an audacious header through a crowd of players. Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher both saw red within three minutes for professional fouls before American international Dempsey rubbed salt in the Reds’ wounds with a sublime finish in front of an exposed Jose Reina.

It would appear then, particularly with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United steaming ahead at the top of the Premier League, and Manchester City set to join them following games in hand, that Rafa Benitez’s side may have trouble breaking the Fantastic Four this season, let along winning the Premier League.

Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Lyon in midweek, and the prospect of seven defeats in their last eight outings.

Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League, ahead of Manchester United’s late contest with Blackburn, thanks to a second 4-0 win of the week over Bolton.

Carlo Ancelotti's side did not have things all their own way at the Reebok Stadium but they took a turn for the better just before half-time through Frank Lampard's penalty after Jlloyd Samuel saw red for his challenge on Didier Drogba. The Ivorian was clearly impeded from behind, but went down all too easily under the challenge.

Deco netted the second on the hour mark and Zat Knight scored an own goal before Drogba completed the scoring with a fine finish in injury time.

Phil Brown is reportedly battling to hold on to his job at Hull but luck was certainly not on the Tigers' side as they went down 2-0 to Burnley.

Graham Alexander scored with a debatable penalty and Geovanni then saw a brilliant free-kick controversially chalked off before picking up two yellow cards in a matter of minutes.

Alexander struck from long range to make the points safe and and Brown's mood would not have been improved by fellow strugglers West Ham and Portsmouth both picking up points.

Goals in quick succession from Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole put the Hammers two up at Sunderland but an Andy Reid free-kick reduced the deficit to 2-1 at the break.

The visitors were also a man to the good after Kenwyne Jones saw red for pushing Herita Ilunga in the face but Kieran Richardson salvaged a point and the numbers were evened up when Radoslav Kovac was sent off late on.

Pompey, seeking only their second victory of the season and first at home, were convincing 4-0 winners against Wigan thanks to Aruna Dindane's hat-trick and one from Frederic Piquionne.

John Carew needed little over a minute to make his mark after coming on as a half-time substitute for Aston Villa at Everton.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov put the Toffees ahead on the stroke of half-time but Carew netted a swift reply to earn Villa a 1-1 draw. Both teams finished with 10 men after Bilyaletdinov and Carlos Cuellar saw red late on in separate incidents.

Wolves defender Jody Craddock scored twice as Mick McCarthy's side came from behind to draw 2-2 at in-form Stoke.

A George Elokobi own goal and Matthew Etherington's strike put the Potters two ahead at the break but a brace from Craddock at the start of the second half earned the visitors a point.

James McFadden saw his second-half penalty saved by Shay Given as Birmingham were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Manchester City at St Andrews on Sunday.

City were indebted to their keeper not only for his spot-kick heroics but also a string of other superb saves to deny McFadden, Lee Bowyer and Christian Benitez as the big-spending Eastlands outfit struggled to find their best form.

Birmingham's Barry Ferguson became the ninth player sent off in the Premier League this weekend when he collected a