Peter Crouch was almost gifted a goal when he followed up after Finland international Niemi had fumbled a routine catch and the England striker – starting only his second Premier League game of the season after a midweek brace against Besiktas – went on to rattle the crossbar in first half stoppage time when he rose highest at the back post to meet a Fabio Aurelio free-kick from the left.
It was a foretaste of what was to come after the interval as Liverpool surged forward almost constantly only to find Niemi, now over his earlier hiccup, in fine form between the posts.
Voronin warmed the Fulham keeper’s gloves with a volleyed effort from a Crouch nod down while Aurelio was denied from a free-kick with the rebound falling at the feet of Yossi Benayoun only for the winger to fire his shot over the bar.
The lively Voronin continued to run Fulham’s rearguard ragged and bustled through again, playing a one-two with Crouch, but again his stinging effort could not beat Niemi who tipped the ball over the bar.
Next it was Benayoun’s turn again to be thwarted when Niemi produced a spectacular flying save to deny him from the inside left channel and as the missed opportunities built up Benitez decided to play his trump card with 70 minutes on the clock.
The home supporters had been pressing for Fernando Torres’ introduction for some time but it seemed a little surprising that it was Voronin who made way for Liverpool’s record signing, seeing as he’d looked their most lively attacking threat throughout the match.
Ultimately, the former Atletico Madrid man made the breakthrough with a silky finish to what was at first glance an old-fashioned long ball move ironically mastered by Sanchez’s Wimbledon’s team-mates during the Fulham manager’s playing days.
However there was a bit more subtlety with this effort as Torres received the ball from a well-placed long pass by fellow Spaniard Pepe Reina and cut inside Fulham skipper Aaron Hughes before sneaking in a deft finish at Niemi’s near post with eight minutes remaining.
After hanging on for so long, you always felt that Fulham could collapse like a deck of cards if Liverpool could find an opening goal to match their dominance and although there was no Besiktas-style capitulation from the visitors, Liverpool still found time to score a second before referee Steve Tanner called a halt to proceedings.
On 85 minutes Carlos Bocanegra caught Peter Crouch on the edge of the area and skipper Steven Gerrard stepped up to slot home a low penalty to Niemi’s left as the keeper went the wrong way.
On this showing, providing he stays fit, it’s likely that Benitez will be forced into at least one change at St James’ Park in 12 days’ time now that his most expensive acquisition is back with a bang along with Liverpool’s title hopes.
Match Facts
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Hyypia, Carragher, Benayoun, Mascherano (Lucas 81), Gerrard, Riise (Babel 63), Voronin (Torres 70), Crouch. Subs: Martin, Finnan.
GOALS: Torres 81, Gerrard 85
FULHAM (4-4-2): Niemi, Baird, Bocanegra, Hughes, Stefanovic, Davies, Murphy, Davis, Dempsey (Kamara 69), Healy (Bouazza 60), Kuqi. Subs: Warner, Smerin, Leijer.
BOOKINGS: Murphy, Dempsey
REFEREE: Steve Tanner (Somerset)
ATT: 43,073.
NEXT MATCH: Newcastle United v Liverpool, Premier League, 12.45pm, Saturday November 24.
