Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was at a loss to explain their 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

Bobby Zamora put Fulham ahead and Fernando Torres equalised in a first half in which Liverpool dominated possession.

But when Erik Nevland put Fulham ahead for the second time and Torres had been substituted there was only one winner, Clint Dempsey scoring a late clincher for the home side.

Benitez, however, was left wondering how Liverpool could have lost after enjoying so much possession.

He said: "It's hard to take the defeat, especially when we were in control of the game. The first half was one-sided. We made one mistake and we conceded a goal.

"The second half they were more offensive and we made a massive mistake when we conceded the second goal. We worked hard with nine players but it was very difficult."

Benitez could now be without Torres and Steven Gerrard for the crucial Champions League clash against Lyon on Wednesday.

The Liverpool boss said he would "have to see how Gerrard progresses" with his troublesome groin injury, while Torres is still not fully fit.

Benitez said: "We decided to play Fernando Torres against Manchester United (last Sunday) and it was a difficult decision because he was not 100 per cent fit. He needed four days to be ready and is still not 100 per cent fit.

"We decided to put him on the pitch but we had to protect him and that's why we took him out after 60 minutes. I don't want to lose an important player like Fernando for one month."