Sanchez has big rivals for Fulham job

Lawrie Sanchez, who side are now safe from the threat of relegation, knows that he may not be put in permanent charge at Fulham.

Victory over Liverpool, achieved with the only goal of the game from American import Clint Dempsey, and Charlton's failure to beat Tottenham last night means Sanchez's 32-day assignment to save Fulham from relegation has been successfully completed.

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But former Chelsea managers Ruud Gullitt and Claudio Ranieri, plus Lille coach Claude Puel, are understood to be under consideration for the job.

Sanchez said: "The target I set for myself was five points from five games and I intend to get that at Middlesbrough on Sunday."

>The former Northern Ireland boss, absent from the lap of honour made by the players after the final whistle at Craven Cottage, said: "I'm not counting myself out.

"Whoever manages here will have a fantastic club to work with.

"There are a lot of fantastic people within it, backroom staff as well as players, a great training facility, some great support and a chairman who lets you manage."

At Middlesbrough, Sanchez could be without captain Michael Brown.

The FA were set to study television footage of his alleged headbutt on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso today and a disciplinary hearing could take place on Thursday.