Liverpool play Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday as they look to hunt down Everton and claim sixth position in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers’ side drew 0-0 with their Merseyside rivals at Anfield last Sunday, and currently sit five points adrift of Everton with just two games remaining.
They will be without captain Steven Gerrard for the last two games of the season, the England skipper is due to have surgery on a recurring shoulder injury.
Daniel Agger will also sit out the remainder of the campaign as he looks to cure a long-standing back injury, while Luis Suarez continues to serve a ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic.
Midfielder Steward Downing says he hopes to remain at Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s fixture. The England international was told he could find a new club in January, but injuries allowed Downing a run in the team and he has gone on to impress Rodgers with some enterprising displays.
“That’s football for you,” Downing said.
“Me and the manager have always had open conversations and I found it difficult at the start of the season because I didn’t play, it wasn’t that I wasn’t playing well.
“Once I got in the team and had a run of games my form picked up and I think the team got better and better and we’ve had some good results, especially after Christmas.”
Fulham, who sit in 12th position, will be looking to come back strong after a disappointing 4-2 defeat against already relegated Reading last Saturday.
A Hal Robson-Kanu brace as well as efforts from Adam Le Fondre and Jem Karacan did the damage for Fulham, despite two strikes from Bryan Ruiz.
Steve Sidwell will serve the third of his four-match suspension after being red carded against Arsenal in April, while Mladen Petric will also be missing with a knock.
The reverse fixture in December finished in a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Liverpool with Martin Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing and Suarez all getting on the scoresheet.
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