Fulham vs Liverpool: Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

Date: 12th February Venue: Craven Cottage Kick off: 8:00pm Liverpool travel to Fulham as Brendan Rodgers' team look to cement their place in the top four of the Premier League. Team News Fulham are expected to still be without club-record signing Kostas Mitroglou as he continues to struggle with a knee problem. Centre-back Fernando Amorebieta is also absent for Rene Meulensteen's side due to injury. Liverpool were boosted this week by Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson both returning to full training, but they are unlikely to start. In addition, Rodgers will have to cope without Jose Enrique, Mamadou Sakho and Lucas Leiva as they remain sidelined. Key Stats Fulham are struggling for form in the Premier League and have won only three of their last 16 games at home. The Cottagers also have the leakiest defence in the division, having conceded 55 goals so far. In contrast, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league outings and sit second in the form table. The Merseysiders have won their last three fixtures against Fulham, scoring 11 goals in the process. Likely Line-Ups Fulham €“ Stekelenburg; Riether, Burn, Heitinga, Riise; Sidwell, Kvist, Tunnicliffe, Richardson, Holtby and Bent. Liverpool €“ Mignolet; Flanagan, Toure, Skrtel, Cissokho; Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Sturridge and Suarez. Match PreviewBoth these sides come into this Premier League clash off arguably their best results of the season. Liverpool were in scintillating form on Saturday as they dismantled Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield. The attacking combination of Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge tore the Gunners apart within the opening 20 minutes. If Fulham are to stand any chance of coming away with points against the Merseysiders, they must find a way to contain the quartet. As for Meulensteen's side, the Cottagers' last-gasp draw at Manchester United will have given the squad renewed confidence. After a heroic and dogged defensive display, it appeared Fulham were set to leave Old Trafford empty-handed. However, Darren Bent's injury-time header snatched a point and keeps the club's hopes of survival alive. The main worry for Fulham against Liverpool will be their defence, which is statistically the worst in the league. They may have defended valiantly against United but the Cottagers simply cannot allow Rodgers' team to have that many attempts on goal. With Liverpool in such fine goal-scoring form, it is hard to look past them extended their winning ways. Prediction: 1-3 source - bbc football
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Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.