It would be fair to say that Rafael Benitez endured a difficult start to life as manager of Liverpool.

The Spaniard was appointed to the Anfield helm in 2004, but while matches on Merseyside had proved to be relatively straightforward for the Reds, they had collected just one point from a possible 12 on the road by the time that they travelled to Fulham on this very day.

The hosting Cottagers had won half of their four home encounters under the guidance of Chris Coleman, but by the half-hour mark of this clash, it appeared that they were heading for their third victory of the campaign at Craven Cottage.

Luis Boa Morte had struggled for goals during the previous weeks, but the Portuguese attacker broke the deadlock with 24 minutes on the clock. American striker Brian McBride drilled the ball across the face of the Liverpool goal and Boa Morte was on hand to score from close range.

The same duo combined again four minutes later when McBride threaded a pass through for the former Arsenal winger, who fired the ball underneath the advancing Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to give the home side a 2-0 half-time lead.

His side's deficiencies during the opening 45 minutes prompted Benitez to replace Salif Diao with Xabi Alonso at the break and the Spaniard would go on to play a key role as the visitors battled back after the restart.

Just three minutes into the second half the arrears were reduced, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Milan Baros's shot appeared to be heading wide of the target, but the ball looped up off Fulham defender Zat Knight and into the net.

Then, with 67 minutes played, Benitez's side were level. Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar showed good reflexes to keep out a header from Luis Garcia, but Baros was on hand to bundle in the rebound from close range.

It appeared that Liverpool's comeback had been halted when Spanish defender Josemi was handed his marching orders for a second bookable offence, but they went 3-2 in front thanks to Alonso, who curled in a free kick with 20 minutes left to play.

As Fulham pushed forward in search of an equaliser in stoppage time, midfielder Igor Biscan sealed the points for Liverpool when he fired into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.

Fulham: Van der Sar; Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Green; Malbranque, Pembridge, Diop, Boa Morte; McBride, Radzinski (John 75)

Liverpool: Kirkland; Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore; Luis Garcia (Warnock 88), Diao (Alonso 45), Hamann, Riise; Baros (Biscan 90), Cisse