Liverpool - 4 Fulham - 0:As a final sales pitch, this was inspired. David Moores and Rick Parry welcomed Sameer al-Ansari to the directors' box on Saturday and, as the hosts pulverised Fulham in the closing stages, could afford themselves smiles of satisfaction. The chief executive of Dubai International Capital, part of a delegation from the private equity firm, witnessed first-hand the extremes offered by this team, from a first half of frustration to something approaching their bewitching best. The suitors from the Middle East, who continue to scrutinise the club's books prior to lodging a £450- million bid, will better comprehend now what will be required to take Liverpool forward.
Rafael Benitez will hope this performance reflects his team's campaign as a whole, a sloppy start followed by a riotous second half. The home side's huff and puff before the interval had yielded nothing. Fulham's rugged competence, epitomised by the busy Michael Brown and the colossal Papa Bouba Diop at his side, suggested the Londoners may emulate Portsmouth's recent draw in these parts. Then came capitulation.
Al-Ansari, sitting two rows behind the chairman with a red scarf around his neck and the screensaver on his Blackberry a Liverpool crest, basked in the side's most convincing display of the season. As a fan of 32 years, he is well aware of the potential offered by this club and their desire to re-establish themselves as the dominant force in English football. The Merseysiders remain a daunting 16 points from the summit but here was evidence, albeit against opponents who wilted alarmingly, that Benitez has assembled a side which is better than that deficit suggests.
Given the murmurings of concern among some supporters - a minority, it seems - at the prospect of their club falling into the hands of foreign owners, it was timely that the architects of a second successive 4-0 victory should be Scouse.
There had been claims for two first-half penalties when Zat Knight and Ian Pearce both appeared to block Dirk Kuyt shots with their arms, but Uriah Rennie proved more conducive at the third attempt, the Dutchman rasping a shot which Pearce handled at point-blank range. Steven Gerrard's penalty was blocked by Jan Lastuvka but the rebound was slammed into the gaping net. Only seven minutes later, the captain's corner was flicked on by Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher, alone at the far post, tapped in.
It was the centre half's first league goal in 261 appearances, stretching back to the 7-1 thrashing of Southampton in January 1999. That constitutes a club record for the longest period between goals, although the sight of two locals leading the Liverpool charge was just as appealing.
"Maybe it was symbolic," said Carragher. "The most important thing is for the club to win trophies, not just have local lads on the pitch, but if you can do both anyone would prefer that. Hopefully the investment can be a big step forward. The men at the top have the club at their heart and I am sure whatever decision they take it will be in Liverpool's best interests."
A bid from DIC is still anticipated before the turn of the year, though Benitez has already accepted the reality that it will be next summer rather than the January window when he benefits from greater clout in the transfer market. He warned that his players "can still play better", a reflection of their occasionally wayward final pass, though there were still fine goals from Luis Garcia, leaping to head in Agger's cross, and Mark Gonzalez to ensure the mood is upbeat on and off the pitch.
Fulham departed in shock. Had Jose Reina not tipped aside a snapshot from Brian McBride seven minutes in, their initial poise might even have seen them lead, yet the manner in which they crumbled was disturbing. Diop's departure was key. He will undergo a scan on a thigh injury this morning, with Pearce requiring similar examination on a groin tear.
Guardian Service
