Liverpool were held goalless at Anfield by a Fulham side who only just escaped relegation last season, and manager Rafael Benitez has had to step in to spare his players from some stinging criticism.
Lucas Leiva has perhaps been the most maligned, as the Kopites have begun to grow frustrated at the Brazilian's inability to recapture the form that saw him win the Bola de Ouro at Gremio in 2006.
The 21-year-old and his midfield partner, Javier Mascherano, were led a merry dance by Jimmy Bullard and Danny Murphy for much of the game, but Benitez has asked the supporters not to single out poor performers.
"We weren't passing the ball well but it wasn't Lucas, or it wasn't Javier Mascherano, it was the team," he told the club's official website.
The Spaniard also stressed that international fixtures a few days earlier contributed significantly to Liverpool's tired showing.
"When we were preparing for the game, I had a clear idea that we could not use four or five players who had played 90 minutes in midweek," he continued.
"They all would be tired at the same time, so you try to use players with fresh legs. We had Fernando Torres more or less fresh, Robbie Keane and Lucas."
Regardless, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard are likely to be recalled for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Olympique Marseille.
Label: News
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