Liverpool did enough to win the game, says Dalglish

The Liverpool manager felt Suarez goal could have stood and Adam could have won a penalty in defeat at Fulham.

Kenny Dalglish bemoaned an evening of bad luck after his side's 1-0 defeat at Fulham.

Clint Dempsey's goal five minutes from time proved the difference for Fulham against Liverpool at Craven Cottage in a match that ebbed and flowed throughout. After an even first period, Liverpool looked rejuvenated and dominated proceedings until Jay Spearing was controversially sent off in the 72nd minute.

"It could have gone either way but I don't think we were going to get anything tonight, were we? The goal Luis [Suarez] scored [that was ruled offside] could have gone either way," Dalglish said. "Charlie [Adam] could have got a penalty when he was pulled down on the edge of the box."

He added: "The goalie could perhaps not have saved the one he pushed onto the bar before Fulham went down and scored, but they did so [that is it]. Tonight wasn't as well as we've been playing, but it was enough to have won the game.

"We never got [the luck] but we have just got to brush ourselves off and get on with it. We've got to get ourselves into work on Wednesday morning and get ready for QPR on Saturday."

While disappointed with the result, Dalglish was philosophical about Spearing's red card. The 23-year-old, making his first Premier League start of the season, was handed a straight red for apparently following through with a kick after cleanly winning a tackle with Mousa Dembele.

"I think you need to ask them (the referees) what the interpretation is," Dalglish said. "It is frustrating because nobody tells us what the level of acceptance is. Jay had no other thought on his mind other than to win the ball and he did win it. I am not a referee. Sometimes they have been given, sometimes they haven't."

Suarez's former Ajax manager Martin Jol was a relieved man after the match, having seen Fulham win for just the third time this season.

"It was a much-needed good win," he said. "If you win 1-0 and keep a clean sheet that is always good.

"We have had a lot of clean sheets and good results away from home, but at home we have dropped points. To do that against Liverpool would have been awful because we needed the points. We had a game last Thursday, they didn't, so the last 15 minutes were tough but I think the sending off helped us."