‘Fulham won’t affect FA Cup confidence’

LIVERPOOL - Agence France-Presse

An early own goal from Martin Skrtel condemned Liverpool to another home loss

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists his team will still enter the FA Cup Final with Chelsea on May 5 in confident mood despite a dispiriting 1-0 home loss to Fulham in their last game before the Wembley showpiece. 

An early own goal from Martin Skrtel condemned Liverpool to another home loss in a season which has seen them set records for futility in terms of their league form at Anfield.

With Dalglish opting to rest Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard with Chelsea in mind, it was hardly ideal preparation for Liverpool’s second domestic cup final of the season.

But the Scotsman insisted that the defeat would have no bearing on the outcome on Saturday as his team attempts to add the FA Cup to the League Cup they won earlier this year.

“If we had won this game 4-0 it wouldn’t have made any difference for Saturday,” said Dalglish. “It won’t affect the Cup Final but it’s disappointing and doesn’t mean to say it makes it right.

“The attitude and desire was not there. I have to take part of the blame because I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to get minutes on the pitch and a chance to push their case. I wanted to give people an opportunity to get minutes on the pitch, but the attitude was very poor and that’s nothing like us. 

“There were a lot more negatives.”