Scroll Down for Full Team: Despite their best efforts to postpone the game, Fulham will come up against Liverpool's lethal strike force tonight, and after Chelsea's slip-up against West Brom, a win would take the Reds to within four points of the top of the table. That is a massive incentive for LFC to deliver another top class performance, but will Brendan Rodgers' team suffer another big-win hangover?
Recent history suggests that this is a definite possibility, but surely the confidence and momentum achieved by hammering Arsenal 5-1 will be enough to propel the Reds to victory?
The club has to start capitalising from its rivals' slip-ups at some point, and there's no better time to start doing that than tonight.
The injury situation is still the same: Agger, Sakho, Johnson, Enrique et al are all still out, and given the current form of the team, it's a foregone conclusion that Rodgers will pick the same team for fourth game in a row:
---------------- Mignolet
Flanagan ---- Toure --- Skrtel ---- Cissokho
----------- Gerrard -- Hendo
-------------- Coutinho
Suarez --------------------- Sterling
-------------- Sturridge
Predicting a 1-1 draw (understandable given LFC's recent form after big victories), Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson praised his old team's ability to 'suffocate the opposition' with constant pressing, but suggested Fulham could go defensive and stifle the match. He told the BBC:
"Meulensteen has to decide how to approach this game after getting a very good draw at Old Trafford. The Cottagers are at home but I don't think Meulensteen will go gung-ho - two points from those two games would be a very decent return"
Fulham are bottom of the table. Bottom! Even if they're fighting for their lives, there's no real excuse for failing to achieve a win. Surely Rodgers and the players have learned from the West Brom/Villa games by now...?
BBC pundit Robbie Savage also believes Fulham will be more defensive this evening. He noted:
"The Cottagers will have to adopt a similar approach to Sunday, however, and stay tight and defend in numbers. If they go at Liverpool, they will get ripped apart"
My prediction: 3-1 to LFC.
Author: Jaimie K
Recent history suggests that this is a definite possibility, but surely the confidence and momentum achieved by hammering Arsenal 5-1 will be enough to propel the Reds to victory?
The club has to start capitalising from its rivals' slip-ups at some point, and there's no better time to start doing that than tonight.
The injury situation is still the same: Agger, Sakho, Johnson, Enrique et al are all still out, and given the current form of the team, it's a foregone conclusion that Rodgers will pick the same team for fourth game in a row:
---------------- Mignolet
Flanagan ---- Toure --- Skrtel ---- Cissokho
----------- Gerrard -- Hendo
-------------- Coutinho
Suarez --------------------- Sterling
-------------- Sturridge
Predicting a 1-1 draw (understandable given LFC's recent form after big victories), Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson praised his old team's ability to 'suffocate the opposition' with constant pressing, but suggested Fulham could go defensive and stifle the match. He told the BBC:
"Meulensteen has to decide how to approach this game after getting a very good draw at Old Trafford. The Cottagers are at home but I don't think Meulensteen will go gung-ho - two points from those two games would be a very decent return"
Fulham are bottom of the table. Bottom! Even if they're fighting for their lives, there's no real excuse for failing to achieve a win. Surely Rodgers and the players have learned from the West Brom/Villa games by now...?
BBC pundit Robbie Savage also believes Fulham will be more defensive this evening. He noted:
"The Cottagers will have to adopt a similar approach to Sunday, however, and stay tight and defend in numbers. If they go at Liverpool, they will get ripped apart"
My prediction: 3-1 to LFC.
Author: Jaimie K
West Brom and Villa were totally different propositions to Fulham. West Brom is a hard fixture away, and only Man City have won at the Hawthorns, luckily in my opinion, of the current top 7. Villa aren't bad at all away and they did well tactically in that game. I don't see anything to be worried about in Fulham's record though, and our record against them in the last three games adds up to 11-1.
ReplyDeleteI do see some potential dangers in their playing staff though, players who can get results if they click or are on form. It's horrible in London today and I think this might not be conducive to a great performance from LFC, but I'd still anticipate a solid win. Great opportunity to close the gap on Chelsea.
Can you please stop posting Lawrensen's predictions? They're really depressing!
ReplyDeleteI'm confident that we will win!
ReplyDeleteknowing us, a high.....then a low.
ReplyDeleteBurn the cottage down.
ReplyDeleteI think lawro predicted more draws and defeats rather than wins for us this season! Says it all. As for the game everybody knows it will be dangerous, but if we cant beat the 20th team in table, how can we pretend to go in cl? Plus they had a day less to prepare, lfc a day more, should go and smash them if we re a little serious in this cause. Entered in a period where you cant afford to lose more points, I think we have to win like 9-10 out of 13 to reach the cl spot, if we want the title must win them all!
ReplyDeleteThree points is a must! We'll need a lot of width as I can't see Fulham having a go. Play Suarez up top in this one with Sturridge and Sterling attacking from the flanks. With Coutinho finding gaps, it should be enough, I hope!! I know Brendan is playing it safe by saying there'll be no title this season, but if we keep asking the questions, then City,Arsenal and Chelsea will have to answer and to be honest I thought Chelsea were a cert for three points last night! On paper theses two games coming up should be six points, Fulham are bottom of the league and Swansea are terrible away from home, so come on you reds...!!
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a completely different game than Arsenal. I cannot see us getting much joy from corners as Fulham look to have really improved their earlier aerial frailties under Mulensteen. I dont' think we will be getting much joy from through balls into space like we did with the gunners, as there will be no space. I fully expect Fulham to play with 10 men behind the ball for the vast majority of the game, surrendering possesion as they did against Utd.
ReplyDeleteUtd had one gameplan on Sunday, get it wide and get it into the box. This was playing right into Fulhams hands. I think the key to this game will be to patiently build attacks, dragging their defence(as they will have 9 defenders for all intents and purposes) out of position and try to create an opening. Also i think we could pose a major threat with free kicks from around the edge of the area. The one thing i don't see is this being a high scoring game. I think we could get two goals and that will win it for us.
As for the big game hang-over, if the incentive of a win possibly putting us within five points of top is not enough to illicit the same energy and desire as saturdays game, then there is something seriously wrong.
I'm going for a 2-0 win, but think it will be a war of attrition. Don't expect much champagne football.
Yeah the weather is definitely going to suit their 10 men behind the ball approach. I do expect it to be a frustrating and hard game to watch, but we should have enough to wear them down and come away with the win.
ReplyDeleteI do think they have improved defensively under the new manager. Just hope there are no defensive calamities to make what is going to be a tough evening even tougher.
i hope stekelenburg will not have the match of his life today....i think its gonna be 2-0 for us if they sit back, but if they attack us..4-1.
ReplyDelete2-0 to the home side. Suarez tears his hamstring in the first 5 minutes and Gerrard sent off for a foul inside the box, gifting Fulham their first goal and leaving his team playing increasingly desperate but ineffective counter attack football. Sturridge limps off with 5 minutes to go after getting mowed down in a tackle that doesn't even get a yellow card. Rodgers praises his team for showing "character" and he "can't fault their effort". Liverpool fans around the world implode with frustration.
ReplyDeleteI would take a 0-1 scrap. Don't think the scoreline will reflect our CL hopes, its the ability to get the winning goal against what is going to be a team of 9 defenders and 1 attacker outfield.
ReplyDeleteAre you available for the pre-match inspirational team talk by any chance?
ReplyDelete9-10 wins would give us 27-30 points. It won't take 77-80 points to get fourth. Second maybe. If we keep averaging 2 points a game we will get Champo. All the top 7 teams have to play each other at some point. There is only so many points to go around and we Spurs and Chelsea have the most of those games at home. Spurs playing 3 of the top 7 everyone else 4. Spurs were dreadful against Everton and a better set of strikers (Everyone of the top 7 they still have to play) will make them pay. United are too far off and Everton will suffer from lack of strikers until their two big lads come in from injury which may just help us in some ways as they will have their better team to play our rivals.
ReplyDeleteWidth won't do it. If we get wide they would love it like they did against United. If they get at us we will pick them apart. If they sit tight and compact they might get something out of the game. Crossing the ball in won't be the answer. This will need good movement and intricate passing. Either that or Suarez free kick.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fully agree.
ReplyDeleteTeams that have played well against Liverpool have followed a simple blue-print: press hard on the ball and don't give any space to control the game. Fulham can't do that and yet also stay compact in defence with 10 men in their own half. They have to choose one or the other. If they choose the same approach they went with against United they'll give Liverpool the perfect platform. Imagine Gerrard having time and space on the ball, Coutinho being allowed to take up good positions to pick his passes ... it's entirely the wrong way to play a Liverpool side with attacking options all over the park. Fulham have to come prepared to press hard and play a high tempo game otherwise Liverpool will eventually crack them open.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool will win. Hands down.
ReplyDeletesurely they have to rely on defense and sporadic counterattacks, any point for them is more important than us wanting for CL spot, its survival for them...i'd gladly take a scrappy 1-0 win (a suarez special maybe)...but if the're gonna have a go at us like Ar5ena1 did and with our current form...the papers tomorrow will change their name to F0Lh9M
ReplyDeleteIf they defend deep, they immediately take Sterling out of the game. That said, it could allow us to push Coutinho up the pitch and he'll find a way through for Suarez and Sturridge. We have to come through the middle because we do not have the strikers to compete with them in the air. 2-0.
ReplyDeleteFulham is getting smashed, 4-0 or 5-0. So what they've come off with a draw at OT, that is a testemant to MU's level more than it is theirs. They haven't improved since the last time we played, they won't have Mitroglou, they are the last placed team, and are crapping their pants and the prospect of facing Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteForm is just to good lately, everyone is in top shape evn Kolo bounced back and is providing assists and good defensive play.
The only one who has had a dip in form is Suarez, which compared to regular humans leaves him on top form. He's still managed 2 assists, half a dozen chances created, and a few wicked chances to score which were unfortunate not to go in. I have a feeling he'll bounce back with 2 or 3 - if the park the bus, no worries, wonder goals from 40 yards!
A proper hiding tonight!
Hopefully a victory will be coupled with a few bonus results from rivals. MU vs. Arsenal any result is good, especially a MU win. Newcastle can take Tottenham. And call me crazy, but Sunderland will put up a good fight against Man City who seem lost without Fernandinho and Aguero - Sunderland won last time, and they have an upcoming League Cup Final, this will set the tone.
BTW if you give any weight to what bookies think, odds for the title went from 26/1 to 11/1 in the space of a week.
Whilst they did a good job of nullifying Utd, this will be a different story. Utd are a team low on confidence, and with players who aren't really performing that well. Suarez and Sturridge are lethal at the moment. I can't see them containing them for 90 minutes.
ReplyDeleteTurns out I'm going to the match so I won't even be watching in the warm. Ugh. Instead I'll be sitting coldly and quietly among the Fulham fans trying not to go crazy when Gerrard slides wind-assisted through the mud and slime like an Aircraft Carrier to bundle home a late winner. Woop!
ReplyDeleteAnd never accurate..
ReplyDeleteBrand new Liverpool out there..
ReplyDeleteStart Moses, bring fresh Sterling with 30 minutes to go.. Even if Moses is worst playyer ever, he should get his chance in this game and Sterling needs the bench. Plus he droped too many chances to score or pass for goal, even when he plays great.
ReplyDeleteLawrenson couldn't pick his nose
ReplyDeleteTime Lawro was put out to pasture, it's like listening to verbal Mogadon when he puts his gob into gear.
ReplyDeleteIts F0LH4M!!!
ReplyDeleteStirling has arguably been our most consistent and improved player over the last ten games. There's no way he deserves to be dropped. He should have squared the ball a couple of times against Arsenal but we were 5-1 up and he was on a hat trick.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't deprive him of game time when he's on such a hot streak, especially for a player who won't be at the club next season.
I agree with Eric that them defending deep takes him out of the game. Plus 19 year old just cant start every game. Look at Januzaj, he contributes a lot and already is a great player, but still sits on the bench a lot. Ofcourse, Wellbeck is much better than Moses, but vs Fulham we must have room for experiment..
ReplyDeleteWe won after Totenham game..
ReplyDeleteI don't think dropping deep will nullify him, there's more to his game than pace this year.
ReplyDeleteI agree it was the right thing to do last year by dropping him for the second half of the season, as you could see his performances had dropped, and fatigue was setting in. But simply to drop him because he is 19 is not a valid reason, especially when he is playing the the best football of his life. I dont understand what your example of Januzaj is?
He has started most of utds games this season, has been their best player. they left him on the bench on Sunday and couldnt score a goal until he came on, and when he did again he impressed.
Every teenager is different, and as for me i would be starting Stirling for every game as long as he shows this kind of form.
Put on bench to avoid fatigue, plus if he gets injured or sent off, who will start instead. We cant afford not having somebody with game time to jump in if needed. And it will be needed. Januzaj is much better player and started less games.
ReplyDelete??
ReplyDeleteIt will be a bloodbath. Gee you guys grow a pair LFC will tear them up. Prediction 0-4
ReplyDelete