Liverpool’s hopes of finishing fourth suffered a hammer blow after they were held by Fulham.

Fulham put on a sterling defending performance and held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday.

This result meant that Liverpool lost further ground on fourth-placed Manchester City in their quest for Champions League football next season.

Fernando Torres, who was a doubt for this game, missed out, giving way for Frenchamn David N’Gog.

Liverpool dominated possession throughout the game, and should have gone in front three minutes after kick-off. Steven Gerrard’s corner was headed back across the face of goal by Daniel Agger at the far post, and Ryan Babel was on hand, but he failed to make contact.

N’Gog then sprayed his stretching volley wide after being picked out by Gerrard.

Mark Schwarzer then pulled off a splendid save to deny Argentine Javier Mascherano, by tipping away the midfielder’s 30-yard volley.

The away side was lucky to go into the break with 11 men on the field, after former West Brom midfielder Jonathon Greening escaped a second booking after blocking Glen Johnson.

Alberto Aquilani had a flurry of long-range efforts on goal early on in the second half, but the Italian wasn’t able to give his team the breakthrough.

Benitez was looking for ideas and he threw Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt into the midst midway into the second period.

The Londoners were working extremely hard, and Damien Duff was winning his one-on-one battles with Johnson down the right flank.

Gerrard had a shot of his own by Aaron Hughes as Liverpool went in search of a late winner.

Kuyt then crossed for Sotirios Kyrgiakos but the centre-half headed over the bar.

Benitez then made his final switch, bringing on 19-year old Daniel Pacheco for N’Gog.

But it was all in vain, as Fulham held on for a well-deserved point. A chorus of boos from the Liverpool supporters rang around Anfield at the final whistle.

After the game, Benitez said for the first time this season that it was unlikely that they would finish in fourth place. The Spaniard said, “We have to keep going but they have to make mistakes, two or three teams, but the difference is maybe too much now.”

Jamie Carragher said, “Until we are certainly out of it we will have to keep going for a top four place. But we have made it a lot difficult for ourselves and nobody will be expecting top four from us. We will see where we go. It might put more pressure on the teams expecting top four and maybe that might work in our favor.”

This draw ended a run of 9 straight wins at home for the Reds. For Fulham, meanwhile, it is another impressive result against the top four this season, after already having beaten Manchester United 3-0 at Craven Cottage and having pushed Chelsea right to the limit at Stamford Bridge.