A second-string Liverpool side stamped their authority on fourth place with a 2-0 win over Fulham, who are now clinging to their Premier League status by a thread.

With one eye firmly on next week's Champions League semi-final with Chelsea, Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez decided to rest several of his star players, but even a heavily weakened team proved too strong for struggling Fulham.

The result leaves Roy Hodgson's side deep in the relegation mire and, following Bolton's win at Middlesbrough, the Cottagers finish the weekend five points adrift of safety with just three games remaining.

There was better news for Liverpool, whose grip on the final Champions League spot is all but mathematically sure with Everton - who slipped up against Chelsea in midweek - now trailing by eight points in fifth.

Benitez's selection policy was brave, considering the expected backlash if his side had failed to win all three points, but the Spaniard was vindicated when goals from two of those deputising for first choice players settled the match.

Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch were on target either side of half time as Liverpool warmed up nicely for Tuesday's big match at Anfield.

Fulham started brightly and during the opening exchanges the hosts hardly looked like a side who are under so much pressure down in the drop zone.

But Pennant's strike on 17 minutes - a marvellous first time hit as he ran onto Lucas Leiva's through pass - took the wind out of the Cottager's sails and the hosts struggled to get back into the game after that.

The goal - just Pennant's second of the season - instilled confidence in the much-changed Liverpool side, who started to play the ball around with more confidence.

And with the slicker passing play came goalscoring chances - their advantage was very nearly doubled after 27 minutes, Aaron Hughes heading John Arne Riise's sliding back post effort off the line after a lovely passing move from Liverpool sliced open the Fulham defence.

Liverpool continued to play on the front foot for the remainder of the opening period with Andriy Voronin, given a rare start in an injury-affected debut season with Liverpool, going closest when he fired over the bar on 34 minutes.

Fulham's best chance to restore parity came on 37 minutes, but Brian McBride fluffed his lines when a long Casey Keller punt foxed Sami Hyypia and fell to the American in front of goal.

After the break, Liverpool continued to attack the Fulham goal, but the visitors had to wait until the 70th minute before they could fully relax. Pennant acted as provider this time, slipping the ball to Crouch whose first touch took him into the penalty area before a low shot beat Kasey Keller.

It was perhaps a little harsh on Fulham, who had just begun to creep back into the game, but when a side is in relegation trouble, rarely is luck on their side.

And that was further proved late in the game when goalkeeper Jose Reina made good stops to deny both former Liverpool favourite Danny Murphy and substitute Erik Nevland.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport