Liverpool improved its chances of finishing fifth in the Premier League and earning a spot in next season's Europa League, winning 5-2 at Fulham on Monday night as Maxi Rodriguez scored three goals.
Rodriguez scored 32 seconds in, added another goal in the seventh minute and completed the hat trick with a stunning long-range shot in the 70th. Dirk Kuyt's 16th-minute goal extended his scoring streak to five games, and Luis Suarez had a goal in the 75th.
Moussa Dembele scored for Fulham in the 57th and Steve Sidwell in the 86th.
Liverpool (17-12-7), whose record of 18 league titles is likely to be surpassed by Manchester United this weekend, trails fourth-place Manchester City (18-9-8) by four points and is two points ahead of sixth-place Tottenham (14-7-14), which plays at Manchester City on Tuesday. After that match, all teams will have two league games left.
Jamie Carragher made his 666th appearance for Liverpool, moving past Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes into second place on the club career list behind Ian Callaghan's 857.
