Liverpool Vs Fulham

Liverpool will return to Premier League action after their Merseyside derby against Everton was postponed due to Storm Darragh. The match, initially scheduled for the weekend, was the only fixture in the top flight to be affected by the storm, meaning Liverpool's match did not go ahead as planned. Despite not playing, the weekend still proved to be beneficial for Jürgen Klopp's side. The Reds saw their closest title rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City, drop points, giving them an advantage in the race for the top of the table.

Liverpool’s delayed fixture means they will have a game in hand over their competitors for the next couple of months. This could prove to be a crucial opportunity, as both Arsenal and Manchester City faltered in their respective matches. Manchester City, in particular, have been in a state of crisis, which has left their title hopes hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, Chelsea has emerged as one of the closest contenders for the title, currently sitting just four points behind Liverpool after their thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. With City’s struggles, Chelsea appears to be the most immediate threat to Liverpool's supremacy at the top.

Liverpool's failure to claim all three points in their recent 2-2 draw against Newcastle United has raised some questions, especially considering it was their first drop of points in 21 games under Klopp’s management. However, the setback against Newcastle did not have a major negative impact on the standings, as Arsenal and Manchester City both failed to secure victories in their respective matches. This meant that Liverpool’s setback was somewhat mitigated, allowing them to maintain their position at the summit of the Premier League.

Despite the small setback, Klopp's side has continued to impress, particularly in their midweek Champions League encounter against Girona. In that match, Mohamed Salah’s penalty secured a narrow 1-0 victory, keeping their perfect record in the competition intact after six games. The team's success in Europe has bolstered their confidence, and now, with their return to Anfield, they look set to continue their strong form domestically.

Liverpool’s home form has been a source of strength, especially after their defeat to Nottingham Forest in September, which remains the only time they have dropped points in their last 13 matches at Anfield. Klopp’s men have been able to overcome defensive frailties in recent weeks, compensating for them with clinical attacking play. The team has scored two or more goals in seven consecutive Premier League matches, marking their best such streak in over three years. This attacking form gives them a chance to break their own Premier League goalscoring record for a calendar year, with four games remaining in 2024. They currently stand just 12 goals shy of the record 88 they set in 2019.

Saturday’s encounter at Anfield will see Liverpool face Fulham, a team they had considerable success against in the previous season. In their two league meetings last season, Liverpool won both matches comfortably, scoring a total of seven goals in the process. This extended their strong record against Fulham to nine wins in their last 12 Premier League meetings. However, Fulham did cause Liverpool some trouble in their encounters last year. The Cottagers led 3-2 with just 10 minutes left at Anfield, only to lose 4-3 in a dramatic contest. In addition, Fulham took the lead in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, though Liverpool ultimately came back to win the tie.

Marco Silva’s Fulham side has given Liverpool a run for their money in recent years, despite failing to beat them in front of a crowd at Anfield. Fulham’s solitary win over Liverpool came in 2021, during a period when Liverpool were in the midst of an unusual slump in form. That victory, however, came before Silva took charge, and under his management, Fulham have struggled to get the better of the Reds. In fact, Silva has won only one of his 11 meetings with Liverpool as a manager, and his tenure at Everton ended with a 5-2 defeat at Anfield in 2019, which ultimately led to his sacking.

Despite Fulham’s struggles against Liverpool, they have had a solid campaign this season, which was further highlighted last weekend when they held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. That result was crucial for Liverpool’s title hopes, as it kept Arsenal from gaining ground on the leaders. The match also saw a VAR review deny Arsenal a late winner, as Bukayo Saka’s goal was ruled offside. This result took Fulham to 23 points after 15 games, marking their second-best tally in Premier League history, just two points shy of their total from the 2003-04 season, when they finished ninth.

Despite their strong points tally and solid performances in recent matches, Fulham still sit in 10th place in the Premier League. However, the tight nature of the league's upper half means that Fulham are only four points behind Manchester City in the race for the top four. They have been in good form lately, losing just one of their last seven matches, which gives them hope of making a push for European qualification in the second half of the season.

Fulham’s solid form, coupled with Liverpool’s attacking firepower and their dominance at Anfield, makes for an intriguing encounter on Saturday. While the Reds are clearly the stronger side, Fulham have shown in the past that they are capable of testing Liverpool, and they will be determined to put up a strong fight against the league leaders. Marco Silva’s side will be hoping to cause an upset, and with the recent form of both teams, it is bound to be an exciting contest.

Liverpool will be fully aware that any slip-ups at home could give their rivals a chance to close the gap. With Chelsea’s recent form and Manchester City’s resilience, Klopp’s men cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal. A win for Liverpool would further solidify their position at the top of the Premier League, while a positive result for Fulham could push them into the conversation for European places, depending on how the rest of the weekend’s fixtures play out.

In conclusion, Liverpool’s postponed Merseyside derby has given them a brief respite, but they are now back in action against Fulham, a team they have enjoyed success against in recent seasons. While Fulham has caused Liverpool problems in their meetings, especially last season, the Reds will be confident of getting all three points at Anfield. With their excellent attacking form and home record, Liverpool will be looking to continue their momentum in the Premier League title race. Meanwhile, Fulham will be aiming to continue their strong form and potentially claim a scalp by taking something from the game at Anfield. The stage is set for what promises to be an exciting clash between two teams in contrasting positions in the Premier League.