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Victorious Fulham pull level on points with Liverpool

Martin Skrtel sees his deflection fly beyond Doni © Getty Images

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Liverpool 0-1 Fulham | Stoke 1-1 Everton

Fulham upset a weakened Liverpool side's preparations for this week's FA Cup final with a 1-0 Premier League victory at Anfield on Tuesday, as Everton were forced to settle for a draw away to Stoke.

Martin Skrtel's first half own goal was the difference in the game on Merseyside, as the Slovakian defender could only watch in horror as Danny Murphy's cross ricocheted off him and beyond Alexander Doni in goal after only five minutes.

The Cottagers' previous 30 visits had failed to produce a victory and Merseyside, in general, has been an unhappy hunting ground.

But all that changed courtesy of Skrtel's fifth-minute own goal and a severely-weakened Reds line-up as manager Kenny Dalglish made nine changes to protect his major stars in the pursuit of a second domestic trophy of the season on Saturday.

Liverpool were without the likes of top scorer Luis Suarez, captain Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Craig Bellamy and goalkeeper Jose Reina. But the absent players only enhanced their reputations as their team suffered back-to-back home defeats - having lost to West Brom last time out - and a fourth loss at home.

They have now dropped an astonishing 30 points at Anfield in the current campaign, having won just five times in 18 matches.

The result moved the Cottagers level on points with Kenny Dalglish's side, as few players on display for the home side really pressed their claims for inclusion in Saturday's showpiece final.

Peter Crouch's own goal had given Everton the lead © PA Photos

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Everton, meanwhile, were the beneficiaries of a fortuitous own goal as Stoke's Peter Crouch's inopportune touch gave them the lead at the end of the opening 45 minutes - but Cameron Jerome (who came on in place of Crouch) equalised just moments after his introduction to grab a share of the points for Tony Pulis's side.

The Toffees had gone in front in the 44th minute thanks to an own goal from the hosts' former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, whose unfortunate last touch sent the ball over the line after Tony Hibbert has delivered a cross into the box.

But Jerome levelled in the 69th minute, making a forward burst and holding off two defenders before firing past Tim Howard.

While seventh-placed Everton will be disappointed not to make off with all three points, they have extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven games and, perhaps even more satisfyingly, their lead in the table over Merseyside rivals Liverpool to three points with two games remaining.

Stoke, meanwhile, are up a place to 13th, two points away from the top half in which they are aiming to finish for the first time since their promotion to the division in 2008.

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