A stoppage time penalty sees Liverpool continue title challenge with 3-2 win over Fulham

A STOPPAGE-TIME penalty from Steven Gerrard sees Liverpool escape with a 3-2 win over Fulham as their title bid continues.

LIVERPOOL keeps up its pursuit of the Premier League top three after captain Steven Gerrard scored a dramatic stoppage time winner in a 3-2 win at Fulham.

Kolo Toure has gifted Fulham the opening goal of the game with a comical own goal before Daniel Sturridge levelled before the break.

Then a mistake from Martin Skrtel allowed Kieran Richardson to put the Cottagers ahead once more, but back came the visitors thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Philippe Coutinho.

As the match entered stoppage time Sascha Riether brought down Daniel Sturridge for a stone wall penalty which was duly dispatched by Gerrard.

News_Rich_Media: Highlights of Liverpool's 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The match was threatened earlier in the week by a proposed strike on the London Underground - and Brendan Rodgers’ six-match unbeaten league run looked in serious danger of ending on several occasions in west London.

Rene Meulensteen’s side produced a performance that belied their position at the bottom of the Premier League.

EPL RESULTS AND TABLE - LIVERPOOL FOUR POINTS OFF CHELSEA

STALEMATE BETWEEN ARSENAL AND MANCHESTER UNITED

ADEBAYOR STARS AGAIN AS SPURS THUMP NEWCASTLE

GAMES CALLED OFF AT ETIHAD AND GOODISON

News_Image_File: Kolo Toure made another blunder for Liverpool.

News_Rich_Media: Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge reflects on his side's 3-2 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, in which the Reds twice came form a goal down to level the clash before slotting a late penalty winner.

It was a fine win but one in which Liverpool failed to get anywhere near the heady heights reached in Saturday’s 5-1 mauling of Arsenal, falling behind after just eight minutes.

Horror start

Toure, guilty of gifting West Brom a 1-1 draw 10 days ago, could only watch on in horror when he sliced a Richardson cross into his own goal.

Fulham continued to impress but were undone as half-time approached by a wonderful first-time Gerrard through ball, which found Sturridge to net his eighth goal since returning from injury.

While Liverpool were somewhat fortunate to go in level at half-time, they began the second half with renewed vigour and Luis Suarez rattled the far post as the Whites looked increasingly unsteady.

News_Image_File: It was a moment Kolo Toure would rather forget.

Fortunately for them, Martin Skrtel was looking even more shaky and his defensive mistake allowed Manchester United academy graduate Richardson to net from close range.

The lead did not last long, though, as Coutinho sent a fine shot past Maarten Stekelenburg via a slight deflection off former Everton defender John Heitinga.

Fulham looked good value to follow up their thrilling 2-2 draw at Manchester United with another point, only for Sascha Riether to foul Sturridge, allowing Gerrard to fire home a stoppage-time winner from the spot.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/287543/report