Fulham vs. Liverpool - Match Preview
Liverpool travel to West London for tonight’s game against Fulham, an area of the country where they have been successful in recent times.
Liverpool travel to West London for tonights game against Fulham, an area of the country where they have been successful in recent times. Having beaten the Cottagers neighbours, Chelsea, on their own turf twice in two weeks, the Reds also go into this fixture having won 2-5 in this same game last season. It was seven months ago on 6th May that Maxi Rodriguez scored his second hat-trick in two games at Craven Cottage. Many millions of pounds and a busy summer transfer market later and Kenny Dalglish has put his own stamp on a new look Liverpool FC. A win tonight away to Fulham will take them above Newcastle and Arsenal into 5th place, depending on goal difference. Fulham, who have only won two games out of 13 this season, sit dangerously close to the relegation zone, only two points clear. A rare win tonight for the home side would launch them into 13th place with 15 points, one point behind QPR, who they demolished 6-0 in their only home win of the season. Their other win in the league was a 0-2 victory away to bottom side Wigan. Martin Jol, who took over from Mark Hughes in the summer, is yet to make a positive difference to Fulham. Fans gained some encouragement from a 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, however spirits were damaged in their last fixture against FC Twente in the Europa League, when they lost to a last minute winner. Jol takes his slow starting team into tonights game against a Liverpool team who are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions. The untimely injury to Lucas Leiva, who had been silencing critics and fast becoming one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, was a bitter pill to swallow for Dalglish and the Liverpool faithful. Lucas will miss the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the 0-2 win against Chelsea. In the recent league win against Chelsea, Lucas was awarded man of the match and rightly so, with 100% of his tackles won and a 92% pass completion rate. Jonjo Shelvey, who had scored six goals in his short time loaned out to Championship side Blackpool, was called back to provide cover for the injured Lucas and the Brazilians absence could mean a start tonight for Jay Spearing. The on-form Luis Suarez today tweeted that a win tonight will be dedicated to his injured teammate. The home side are likely to be without their creative winger, Damian Duff, who has suffered a repeat of his calf injury, whilst Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele are both in contention for a start. Liverpool remain without their influential captain, Steven Gerrard and the recent injury blow to Lucas means theyre a bit light in midfield, however, Kenny Dalglish insists the team has proficient cover for the position. Having failed to score in six of their last eight games against Liverpool, Fulham have a big task ahead of them tonight, if they are to pick up what will be only their third win of the season. Ex-Reds Danny Murphy and John-Arne Risse will be relishing a start against their former employers, and the prospect of getting one over on their old friends could spur them on. Predicted Lineups:Fulham: 1 Schwarzer, 3 JA Risse, 5 Hangeland, 6 Baird, 14 Senderos, 13 Murphy, 20 Etuhu, 23 Dempsey, 11 Ruiz, 25 Zamora, 30 Dembele Subs: 38 Etheridge, 18 Hughes, 28 Briggs, 10 Kasami, 15 Gecov, 21 Frei, 8 Johnson Liverpool: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 37 Skrtel, 5 Agger, 3 Enrique, 11 Maxi, 20 Spearing, 26 Adam, 19 Downing, 7 Suarez, 39 Bellamy Subs: 32 Doni, 23 Carragher, 34 Kelly, 16 Coates, 14 Henderson, 18 Kuyt, 9 Carroll Fulham vs. Liverpool is live on Sky Sports 1/HD1, Monday 5th December 2011.