Fernando Torres came off the bench to grab a vital goal nine minutes before full time to propel Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday.

Liverpool started the game with an unchanged squad for the first time in over 10 months as manager Rafa Benitez decided to stick with the team that had thrashed Besiktas 8-0 in the Champions League fixture in the midweek. However with the team struggling to break down a stubborn Fulham defense, Benitez sent in Torres and the Spanish striker obliged with a brilliant goal in the 81st minute before Gerrard doubled the lead four minutes later through a penalty kick.

Fulham managed to keep quiet the much vaunted Liverpool attack as the hosts were frustrated time and again by a solid Fulham defense. Antti Niemi spent a largely undisturbed half in the Fulham goal with Sami Hyppia being the only Liverpool player to place his shot on the target, but Niemi made a comfortable save to deny the defender.

Peter Crouch came the closest to put Liverpool in the lead but his looping header went out after smashing against the cross bar. Liverpool pressed forward in the second half and Voronin got a great chance to put his team ahead seconds after the restart but his shot was saved easily by Niemi.

Yossi Benayoun very nearly put Liverpool ahead midway through the second half when he successfully chipped Niemi but the 35-year old raced backwards before tipping the ball wide of the post. Torres replaced Voronin in the 70th minute and the Spanish striker put Liverpool in the lead when he latched on to Reina's long kick before racing past Hughes and slotting the ball into the net.

Four minutes later Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Crouch was fouled in the area by Bocanegra and Steven Gerrard coolly converted to put the result beyond Fulham's reach.