Hull City secured a vital 1-0 victory against Liverpool at the KC Stadium to open up a three-point cushion over the relegation spots.
Michael Dawson’s superb header in the first-half was enough to lift Hull above Aston Villa to 15th in the table, whilst they secured consecutive victories at home against the Reds.
Mario Balotelli had the first real chance of the game as he won an attacking free-kick for the visitors but his effort deflected wide of the mark from the following set-piece. Hull then had a decent chance to open the scoring when Dame N’Doye, the hero at the weekend, headed Sone Aluko’s cross towards goal but it was well saved from Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool then found some rhythm as Philippe Coutinho forced a save from Steve Harper, before Balotelli attempted an extravagant back-hell that was straight at the goalkeeper.
The hosts then created decent chances as the almost caught Brendan Rodgers’ side as Robbie Brady’s cross found Jake Livermore but he saw his header clawed away by the recovering Mignolet. From their next decent chance, they opened the scoring.
37 minutes were on the clock when Tom Huddlestone’s cross found the head of Michael Dawson, who evaded his marker with a great run to head into the net- lifting the roof inside the stadium, who knew how valuable a victory would be.
Jordan Henderson took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second-half in an attempt to salvage the game, as he saw a stinging volley from the edge of the box tipped behind by Harper, before the keeper once again thwarted him by saving another effort from distance.
Adam Lallana was the next player to get a chance for the visitors but his curling effort went wide of the post and despite a late barrage of pressure, they could not break down a resilient and organised Hull City defence.
The result all but ends Liverpool’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League, as they trail Manchester United in fourth spot by seven points with four games to go
