Fulham exposed by Liverpool class, but insist Jol is still safe

FULHAM insist Martin Jol’s position remains safe despite the club slipping to the brink of the relegation zone. Jol has seen Fulham beaten in five of their past seven league and cup games, the culmination of that run being Saturday’s dismal performance at Anfield. Jol’s demeanour afterwards bordered on the defeatist but there is no threat to his job as a trip to Liverpool does not offer a realistic gauge of Fulham’s health. Fulham face Swansea and West Ham later this month, though, and should they slip in those games, questions will surely be asked. ‘Not long ago we played (and beat) Crystal Palace but then, four days later against Southampton, it was different,’ said Jol. ‘Liverpool have lots of quality, but I expected us to be aggressive, tougher.’ Fulham may have been poor but it would be wrong to overlook how well Liverpool played and Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers said: ‘I feel for Martin. He shouldn’t be judged on playing against Liverpool at Anfield.’ John W Henry, Liverpool’s owner, took to Twitter to describe Luis Suarez, who scored two, and Daniel Sturridge as ‘the most dangerous tandem in football’, while the performances of Steven Gerrard — he had a hand in all four goals — and Jordan Henderson were of the highest class. Gerrard could be rested for England’s friendly against Chile on Friday because of a hip problem that forced him off against Fulham, while Sturridge injured a foot and may not play against Chile or Germany. SUPER STAT: Martin Skrtel scored his first Liverpool goal since December 22 last year. The opponents? Fulham. LIVERPOOL (4-3-1-2): Mignolet 7; Johnson 8, Skrtel 7, Agger 7, Cissokho 6 (Enrique 60min, 6); Henderson 8, Gerrard 9 (Allen 66, 6), Lucas 7; Coutinho 7; Sturridge 6 (Moses 76), Suarez 9. Subs not used: Jones, Luis Alberto, Sakho, Sterling. FULHAM (4-4-2): Stekelenburg 7; Zverotic 5, Senderos 5, Amorebieta 4, Richardson 5; Dejagah 5, Sidwell 5, Parker 5, Kacaniklic 4 (Ruiz 46, 4); Berbatov 4 (Karagounis 83), Kasami 5. Subs not used: Stockdale, Hughes, Taarabt, Boateng, Bent. Booked: Parker. Referee: Mike Jones 7. Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.