Liverpool vs Fulham – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our midweek Premier League predictions, we take a look at Fulham’s visit to Anfield. Liverpool are making a late charge for Europe but haven’t beaten Fulham in 3 attempts – 4th time lucky? Free betting tips and more with our Liverpool vs Fulham prediction.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Liverpool:

Might Not Play: Konate, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota

Will Not Play: Ramsay, Bajcetic, Keita, Firmino

Fulham:

Might Not Play: Kurzawa, Willian

Will Not Play: Ream, Pereira, Mitrovic

Liverpool vs Fulham Lineups (Predicted)

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Fabinho, Jones, Henderson; Nunez, Gakpo, Salah

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Robinson, Adarabioyo, Diop, Tete; Palhinha, Reed; Solomon, Cairney, Wilson; Vinicius

Liverpool vs Fulham Analysis

Liverpool Must Go For It From The Start

After the dramatic last-minute winner against Spurs, we expect Liverpool to be motivated for this game and attack from the start – they know they still have a good chance of getting European football. The back four will play a high line to compress the space and allow Liverpool to play on the front foot. Therefore, Alisson, Van Dijk and Konate (or Matip) must start high and distribute the ball well into midfield. Liverpool have averaged much more possession than Fulham this season – hence, they will control the ball, especially at Anfield.

When the ball comes into midfield positions, the responsibility will be on Fabinho, Jones and Henderson to try to play the ball around the Fulham midfielders and be press-resistant. Fabinho must also cover space as Fulham counter. We alluded to Alexander-Arnold’s new role in the previous preview – coming inverted allows him to affect the game in more dangerous central areas of the pitch. Indeed, we saw him come inside a little to create the first goal for Jones against Spurs with a typically beautiful cross. However, while it also allows him to be an extra body in midfield on the opposition counter, sometimes the right-hand side can be vacated, as we saw for Kane’s goal where Van Dijk had to come across and slipped, being beaten by Perisic.

Therefore, Liverpool must be wary of emptying the right-hand channel and being countered in that position, even if they are less susceptible to direct balls down the middle. In attack, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz, Jota and Nunez will be their usual selves – dribbling, probing and being energetic, never giving the opposition defence peace. They must try to create in wide areas and link up well to break Fulham down and get shots on goal. Liverpool have an excellent chance of winning here if the Liverpool forwards are on it with their dribbling, passing and shooting.

Fulham Will Likely Sit Back And Counter After Being Competitive Against Man City

As stated, Fulham have averaged much less possession than Liverpool this season and are generally a counter-attacking team that are dangerous on transitions. We don’t see this pattern changing here. Fulham will sit deeper in a low to mid block and try to keep their defensive and midfield lines tight to minimise gaps where Liverpool can play. They also know Liverpool’s threat out wide, so Silva will look to Tete and Robinson to strike the balance of when to go forward or defend. They’ll need help from Wilson and Solomon (or Decordova-Reid) in these wide positions.

Palhinha and Reed will work hard in midfield and come across to help. The midfielders must be brave on the ball in the face of an intense Liverpool press. The losses of Ream and Pereira for the remainder of the season are a blow, and Diop and Cairney will likely come in for them. Diop had lost his place, and Cairney hasn’t really played this season. Regardless, Cairney must try to connect the midfield with the attack and find space between the Liverpool lines to get the ball wide to the flank players. The centre-backs must be ready to head out everything Liverpool deliver (and Leno must be ready to claim high balls too).

Being disciplined defensively and counter-attacking at speed when Liverpool lose the ball is Fulham’s best game plan here. They must use their wingers’ and full-backs’ pace and trickery to get into positions where they can deliver crosses or win corners and free kicks. The speed and invention of Solomon, Wilson, Decordova-Reid and James will be crucial if Fulham are to get anything from this match, as will the physicality and finishing of Vinicius in the forward position. He is still deputising for the suspended Mitrovic. He must take any chances that come his way, as he likely won’t get many.

Our Prediction

When Liverpool went 3-0 up against Spurs early in the first half at the weekend, it seemed like Spurs were on course for another hammering. More pertinently, for this preview, Liverpool were on course for a good win and the building blocks of an excellent climax to the season. Klopp might argue that a last-minute winner fosters team spirit and helps momentum. However, Liverpool might have the fact that Spurs came from 3-0 down (at Anfield, no less) in the back of their minds approaching this match.

Fulham are very safe this season and will likely finish somewhere in mid-table. They cannot be relegated, and they cannot realistically qualify for Europe. Therefore, they’re that team stuck in limbo at the end of the season – they don’t have much to play for other than professional pride. However, that pride will carry them through the remainder of the season. We expect them to turn up at Anfield and give it a real go, buoyed by how competitive they were against Man City in terms of scoreline. They have a chance if they can defend well and activate their counter-attack.

We will go for a narrow Liverpool win, however. We debated calling it a two-goal win, but we will go for just one. We think Fulham can be defensively diligent enough to ship only one or two goals in this game. However, with Liverpool being at Anfield and fighting for what is probably a Europa League spot now, they have more to play for and will likely win this match.

Liverpool 2-1 Fulham

Liverpool vs Fulham Betting Tip – Both Teams to Score Odds: