By Sam McGuire
The season up to now
Arne Slot’s begin to life as Liverpool supervisor has been close to good.
The Reds have received 11 of their 14 Premier League video games and at present have a 4 level lead on the prime with a sport in hand. The Merseysiders have a 100% file within the Champions League following their 1-0 win over Girona on Wednesday. They’re additionally into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Performances have been somewhat sluggish over current outings although. A heavy schedule, mixed with accidents to plenty of gamers, have left Liverpool wanting somewhat leggy. They weren’t at their greatest within the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United and struggled early on in opposition to LaLiga facet Girona in midweek.
They will’t afford one other uninspiring exhibiting on Sunday. Not in opposition to a workforce like Fulham.
The Cottagers are tenth within the Premier League desk however they’re simply 4 factors behind fourth-placed Manchester Metropolis.
Marco Silva’s facet held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw final trip and have pissed off large sides this season. They drew with Spurs and had Manchester Metropolis on the ropes in a 3-2 loss. Fulham really had an xG haul of two.3 on the Etihad and, on one other day, possible shock the reigning champions in a shock upset.
They’re one or two optimistic outcomes away from being real challengers for a European spot. In the event that they decide up a optimistic end result at Anfield, momentum could possibly be on their facet heading into the busy festive interval.
Earlier Encounters
Fulham have claimed victory in opposition to the Reds in simply one in every of their earlier 14 encounters. That win arrived throughout Liverpool’s forgettable run in 2020/21, when Jürgen Klopp was having to navigate his approach by means of the worst harm disaster of his managerial profession.
Liverpool have received 10 of those 14 conferences. They’ve received 4 of the final 5 throughout all competitions in opposition to the Cottagers however it’s price noting that they’ve solely saved one clear sheet in these video games. Fulham all the time trigger the Reds some issues. Anticipate them to do the identical on Saturday.
Present kind
Over the previous 5 matches within the English top-flight, Liverpool have the joint-best file together with Chelsea, with 13 factors from 15 on provide. The Reds have scored 12 and conceded six in these matches, with their impervious begin to the marketing campaign slowing down somewhat. They’re now giving up targets.
Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless tough to defeat. The truth is, their final loss got here again in September.
Fulham’s kind has been respectable over the previous 5 league video games. They rank sixth with eight factors over this era and so they have misplaced only one match.
The Harm scenario
Liverpool are with out Ibrahima Konaté, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas. Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa may return to the matchday squad although which might be a fine addition for an assault solely reliant on Mohamed Salah for his or her targets on the minute.
Alisson made his first look since October within the 1-0 win over Girona and put in a Man of the Match efficiency for the Reds. That may be a large enhance for Slot.
Fulham are with out plenty of key gamers. Calvin Bassey and Joachim Andersen, the membership’s first alternative centre-back pairing, are each lacking. The previous is suspended whereas the latter has a calf difficulty. Tom Cairney is suspended whereas Harrison Reed and Reiss Nelson each miss out by means of harm.
Prediction
It received’t be fairly however we predict one other Liverpool win is on the playing cards. With the cavalry probably returning for the Reds, they’ve a number of methods to win matches and their attacking depth would be the distinction on the day.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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