‘The game was gone in the first 15 minutes’ – Mark Hughes bemoans Fulham’s costly start against Liverpool

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Fulham manager Mark Hughes admitted early errors from his side cost them dearly against Liverpool as the Reds ran out 5-2 winners.

Opening minute Salcido against own post from a Luis Suarez cross but Maxi Rodriguez was on hand to put the loose ball away, and minutes later the Argentine doubled his tally before a terrible error from Mark Schwarzer gifted Dirk Kuyt and third goal.

And Hughes bemoaned the terrible start from his side.

“Consecutive errors led to goals,” the Fulham boss told reporters. “On too many occasions we were giving away unforced errors, and giving the ball away in the wrong part of the pitch.

“The game was gone in the first 15 minutes, it wasn’t something we’d expected the way we’ve played in recent months.”

And Hughes revealed he was just glad to get his side in at half time with the score at 3-0 and try and repair the damage.

“We were desperate to get in at half time and make it clear to the players it wasn’t acceptable and we needed to rectify it,” he continued.

“We’re not the type of team to shore up and go for damage limitation.

“We’ve been fantastic for the majority of the season, we were all taken aback by how the game panned out, today we just need to learn from it.”

And despite scoring two second half goals Hughes acknowledge they were never in with a chance of rescuing the game.

“They were two good goals,” he admitted. “But we never had a foot in the game. They didn’t make a difference.”

Fulham’s tormentor in-chief was striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan had a hand in the opening goal, scored the final goal and was involved in everything good that Liverpool did and Hughes admitted he was impressed with the forward.

“He’s a talented player,” he added. “He’s an exceptional player, always in pockets of space which in fairness we allowed him.

“If we dictate him then its ok, but he dictated us today.”