In form Liverpool travel to West London on Monday night to take on Fulham knowing that a win could see them move into the Premier League top four
Victory is never guaranteed against the Cottagers though with Martin Jol’s side putting in a dogged performance to claim a point from London rivals Arsenal last week. Fulham were at their stringent best against the Gunners as they came within a whisker of leaving the Emirates Stadium with all three points. Jol has found it difficult to get his team performing on the domestic front with his players saving their best performances for the Europa League. However after a break from European action Fulham have looked revitalised and credible draws away at Arsenal and Sunderland has boosted morale in the dressing room. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer rolled back the years last Saturday putting in an unbelievable display in North London whilst veterans Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora also put in star performances. The trio were fantastic for Jol’s side using their experience to quell the threat of a Gunners side who have been in red hot form of late. Zamora, in particular, put in a tireless shift up front taking a few knocks holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Even more pleasing for the Cottagers will be the performance of summer signing Bryan Ruiz who showed flashes of his brilliance as he continues his adaption to the English game. With high flying Liverpool descending onto the Thames on Monday night Jol will be expecting his side to improve a home record that has boasted only one win in six attempts.
Beating the Reds will be a tough task with Kenny Dalglish’s side looking strong on their travels after winning four of their six games away from Anfield. A summer of spending is slowly but surely starting to pay dividends with the Merseysiders sitting just three points outside of the top four with a relatively simple festive schedule coming up. Liverpool will take on Blackburn, Wigan, Aston Villa, and QPR over Christmas and Dalglish will be expecting his new men to make a real push for the Champions League places over the next month. Their current form is not to be sniffed at either with the nine games since their 4-0 defeat to Tottenham yielding four wins and four draws and their performance against league leaders Manchester City will have raised the confidence levels at Anfield. Their display against the champions elect was arguably their finest of the season with summer signings Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jose Enrique all putting in excellent shifts against arguably the top flights best team. That performance against City coupled with the win over Chelsea a fortnight ago will have lifted the mood in the stands after supporters become distressed after they were held at home by promoted sides Swansea and Norwich. A win against Fulham on Monday night will go a long way to solidifying their top four challenge and the omens are certainly in their favour with the Reds having won six times in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.
Fulham – 15th
Last Five: Drew 1-1 v Arsenal (A), Drew 0-0 v Sunderland (A), Lost 3-1 v Tottenham (H), Won 2-0 v Wigan (A), Lost 3-1 v Everton (A)
Potential Starting X11: 1. M. Schwarzer 6. C. Baird 18. A. Hughes 5. B. Hangeland 3. J. Riise 11. B. Ruiz 13. D. Murphy [C] 20. D. Etuhu 23. C. Dempsey 30. M. Dembele 25. B. Zamora*
Injury News: Damien Duff and Steve Sidwell will both miss the visit of Liverpool whilst defender Stephen Kelly is also struggling to be fit with a groin injury.
Key Player: Bobby Zamora
Despite not weighing in with a glut of goals the England striker has once again displayed his importance to the Fulham attack with his intelligent link up play in the final third making him a real asset. The way he held up the ball against Arsenal and brought his teammates into play showed he can cut it against the best in the Premier League and Fulham will need his strength in the final third to break through a tough Liverpool defence.
Match Fact: Fulham and Liverpool have met 20 times since the Cottagers were promoted to the Premier League in 2001 but have only beaten the Reds four times in that period.
Liverpool – 6th
Last Five: Drew 1-1 v Manchester City, Won 2-1 v Chelsea (A), Drew 0-0 v Swansea (H), Won 2-0 v West Brom (A), Drew 1-1 v Norwich (H)
Potential Starting X11: 25. P. Reina [C] 2. G. Johnson 5. D. Agger 37. M. Skrtel 3. J. Enrique 11. M. Rodriguez 26. C. Adam 14. J. Henderson 18. D. Kuyt 7. L. Suarez* 39. C. Bellamy
Injury News: Dalglish will be without key midfielder Lucas with a knee injury ruling the Brazilian out of the trip to West London whilst captain Steven Gerrard also remains out
Key Player: Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan striker has been rather quiet over the past couple of weeks but Fulham should not take his presence lightly with his ability to strike at any moment making him a danger to any side. Suarez has forged a reputation as being a menacing, ankle biting front man that never gives defenders a second on the ball and his high tempo pressuring is key to Liverpool’s attacking philosophy. He’ll be expected strike fear into the Fulham back four and irritate them for the whole 90 minutes on Monday night.
Match Fact: Liverpool enjoy their trips to Craven Cottage winning six of their 10 meetings with Fulham on the Thames since their first Premier League encounter a decade ago.
Last Time at Craven Cottage
Premier League 9 May 2011
Fulham 2-5 Liverpool
Dembele, 67 Sidwell, 86
Rodriguez, 1, 7, 70 Kuyt, 16 Suarez, 75
Attendance: 25,693
Referee: Lee Mason
PREDICTION
Fulham’s form over the last few weeks hasn’t been the best although performances do suggest that they are capable of picking up results against any team in the league. Their battling display against Arsenal will have filled the dressing room with confidence and given the Cottagers belief that they can take something away from their encounter with Liverpool. The Reds have been in superb form of late and know a win will push them closer to the top four. Their form on the road has been superb with four wins from six meaning they’ll be the favourites going into the game at Craven Cottage.
Score: 1-3
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