THERE was drama in the media room shortly before kick-off in the Fulham vs Liverpool FC match when a consignment of cottage pie destined for the gathered hacks was clumsily dropped on to the floor.

Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish, though, would probably wish it had landed on referee Kevin Friend’s head instead.

Liverpool FC’s attempts to secure a record-equalling seventh successive away win were ultimately undone thanks in part to the official on a chilly night at Craven Cottage.

Chief grievance was the 72nd-minute red card shown to Jay Spearing, handed the unenviable task of filling the sizeable boots of the absent Lucas.

It arguably wasn’t even a foul; rather a strong challenge on Mousa Dembele that, while catching the Fulham man on the follow-through, clearly won the ball.

Liverpool, of course, benefited from a similarly pathetic dismissal two months ago when winning the Merseyside derby.

And this time they were on the receiving end as Clint Dempsey netted a soft goal five minutes from time after Pepe Reina had fumbled a Danny Murphy shot.

While not reaching the heights of recent weeks, Liverpool – and in particular Reina, who had previously made a string of fine saves – deserved better.

Referee Friend had already infuriated Liverpool by deciding a foul on Charlie Adam by Philippe Senderos was outside the penalty area, and then opting to keep the Fulham defender on the pitch despite Adam being denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Yet this defeat wasn’t entirely down to the referee. That Reina was in the running for the man-of-the-match award before his uncharacteristic aberration highlighted how Fulham contributed fully to an absorbing encounter.