Verdict: Sadio Mane to score
Best odds: 1
Bookmaker: 888sport
Fulham are set to welcome Liverpool to the Craven Cottage on Sunday in the 12th round of the 2020/21 Premier League season. The game is equally important for both sides – the three points out there to be won are of great worth, but obviously for reasons quite different between the two sides.
Fulham
Having squeezed through the Championship play-offs to gain Premier League promotion this summer, by beating Brentford in the final, Scott Parker’s team did not get off to a great start this term. It took them over a month and five matches to earn their first point, courtesy of a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, but unlike the Blades, they went on to win six more since then through a hard-fought triumph over West Bromwich Albion and a shocking one away to Leicester City on the last day of November.
In the Carabao Cup, the Cottagers edged past Ipswitch Town and Sheffield Wednesday, only to suffer the revenge of Brentford in the round of 16.
Overall, Fulham’s last-six record stands at two wins and four defeats, and they sit in 17th place in the table, a single point above Burnley and West Brom who are in the relegation zone along with Sheffield United.
Team News
This match will likely come too soon for right-back Kenny Tete and centre-back Terence Kongolo, both of whom are on the way back from injuries and have reportedly started training again.
Other than that, Parker will have the full squad at his disposal.
Liverpool
The quest to defend the first Premier League title in 30 years, or rather to attack the next one as manager Jurgen Klopp puts it, has so far been full of ups and downs. They managed to hold previous champions Manchester City at the Etihad to a 1-1 draw, to outplay (but not beat) Everton in a Merseyside Derby in a moment when the Blues were topping the table, and to absolutely destroy the likes of Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, they also proved capable of losing 7-2 against Aston Villa, and an inability to kill games off has unnecessarily cost them a few points.
Nonetheless, Liverpool go to Craven Cottage second only to Tottenham Hotspur, and that on goal-difference with both them and Jose Mourinho’s team on 24 points, despite the patchy form and severe, long-term injuries to some of their regular starters. They will also be going on the back of a 1-1 draw away to Midtjylland in the Champions League, with the top spot in their group, including Atalanta and Ajax as well, already secure.
Liverpool won three of their last six matches in all competitions, drawing two and losing one.
Team News
Defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out and probably won’t play again this season, though the pictures of the Netherlands captain working hard at the club’s new AXA training centre recently shown may offer some hope to Klopp and the supporters of seeing him in action sooner than was expected following his knee surgery.
Working harder than ever.. pic.twitter.com/ooh7kOSxnn
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) December 4, 2020
Midfielders James Milner and Thiago Alcantara, as well as winger Xherdan Shaqiri, remain out too.
All the others should be in contention at the moment, including goalkeeper Alisson Becker – back in training after a hamstring issue, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who hasn’t played at all this term. Klopp has revealed, however, that left-back Kostas Tsimikas and forward Diogo Jota picked up minor knocks in Denmark midweek and will be monitored closely.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that Liverpool are strong favourites to return to Merseyside with the full prize. If they play as well as they can, Fulham will be no match for them. And even if they don’t, they must win games like this one if they hope to retain the title at the end of the season.
Having started on the bench against Midtjylland, Sadio Mane will most likely be very keen to make his mark at Craven Cottage.
Verdict: Sadio Mane to score
Best odds: 1
Bookmaker: 888sport
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