Fulham FC
Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC
Liverpool eyeing another victory though Fulham have shown improvement of late
Liverpool to win 3-0
Fulham have been able to pick themselves up and gain some confidence in recent weeks as they have risen outside of the bottom three, albeit by just a point at this stage.
Two victories in the previous five matches represents decent form for a struggling newly-promoted side, and having been rooted to the bottom of the table for four of the previous 10 games, manager Scott Parker will have seen signs of encouragement.
Unfortunately from their point of view, matches against Liverpool are not those where they are expected to take anything and could actually find themselves back in the bottom three if sides below them gather points this weekend.
Liverpool themselves are on a strong run of form.
They haven’t quite exploded out of the blocks as they did last season – they currently have 24 points vs. 31 at this stage last year – but, other than Tottenham, they’ve still been the best side in the league.
They have suffered from plenty of injury and Covid-related absences, but look ready to continue their form here.
Form Guide (all comps): WLLWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Two wins in five has given them some confidence
Scoring more goals than the teams below them
Reasons to be fearful:
Facing Man City last week and now Liverpool is tough
Could slip back into the bottom three this weekend
When your luck is down, the last thing a club like Fulham needs is to face Manchester City and Liverpool in consecutive weeks.
Sure, everyone must play everyone at some point, but to have some breathing space in between arguably the two strongest teams in Europe would have been preferred.
Nevertheless, Fulham have shown in recent weeks that they can put up more of a fight. Before their defeat to City, they had scored six goals in their previous four matches, including two victories.
Liverpool are likely to have one eye on their titanic midweek clash with Spurs, so may rest one or two players here.
The odds are heavier stacked against Fulham, but if they put up a top performance, they could spring an unlikely surprise
Star Man – Ademola Lookman
Has shown great self-belief to come back from THAT penalty miss earlier in the season to be one of Fulham’s better players over the past couple of weeks.
Form Guide (all comps): LDWWD
Reasons to be cheerful
Thrashed a tough Wolves side 4-0 last weekend, showing their strength
Won their last six meetings with Fulham
Reasons to be fearful
Relatively poor away form of late
Could have one eye on Spurs midweek
For a team as brilliant as Liverpool, their away form has not quite been up to scratch of late.
They have only won three of their last 11 away fixtures, losing four of them, proving that not all is rosy on their travels away from Anfield currently.
Klopp will seek to put that right, starting in what should be a fairly comfortable win for the Reds given the form of the two sides.
The Liverpool manager may try and change things around with midweek in mind – Tottenham represent the biggest clash of the season so far and he will want his strongest team fresh for that one.
Klopp is likely to be able to welcome back Alisson in goal, though Mo Salah played 90 minutes in midweek, so could be rested here.
Star Man – Sadio Mane
On a relative dry spell without a league goal in six matches. However, he is so important to the way which they defend from the front, and will end his goal drought sooner rather than later.
Liverpool are clear favourites for victory
Mane to end his mini goal drought
Klopp to rest a few players before midweek
Manager Klopp will definitely have one eye on the Spurs game in midweek, but that should not affect the match here against Fulham.
His side are one who will look to get the job done, regardless of who starts and who is rested.
Welcoming Alisson back in goal will be a huge boost, not just in defence but for the whole team.
Liverpool to win 3-0
