Sunday Fulham Stuff (11/11/18)...

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Results

Saturday
Cardiff	2 - 1	Brighton
Huddersfield	1 - 1	West Ham
Leicester	0 - 0	Burnley
Newcastle	2 - 1	Bournemouth
Southampton	1 - 1	Watford
Palace	0 - 1	Spurs

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"It's probably the first time" – Klopp handed rare boost vs. Fulham

Jurgen Klopp will have every possible midfield option at his disposal in Sunday's clash with Fulham at Anfield.

Liverpool resume their unbeaten start to the Premier League season against the 20th-placed Cottagers in what will be the final game before the international break.

The contest beckons as a valuable chance to mount a response to Tuesday's dismal performance and 2-0 defeat away to Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.

In their bid to do so, the Reds will be boosted by the return of both Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita following their respective injury layoffs.

Their availability will gift Klopp welcomed midfield flexibility, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the only senior absentee as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's good to have them back, it's probably the first time that all midfield players apart from Ox are available."

"That's then another thing to do, making decisions, who starts with who, stuff like that. It's all about then fitness level, form, shape, whatever and then we will see."

Summer signing Fabinho could be in line for another appearance after remaining an unused substitute in the defeat to Belgrade.

The Brazilian struggled in last weekend's draw with Arsenal at the Emirates and will be relishing another opportunity to continue his adjustment to English football.

Whilst Keita offers the potential to inject a much-needed attacking spark into Liverpool's midfield, Henderson could prove key in rediscovering some urgency on the ball as a means of speeding up his side's transition between the lines.

The skipper was dearly missed in the last two outings, with the value of his intensity and willingness to take responsibility on the ball shining through.

Fresh options means the midweek trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and Adam Lallana is likely to be split up, with the latter having looked off the pace.

Xherdan Shaqiri can also be deemed a midfield option for Klopp having impressed when deployed as a central playmaker this season.



https://www.empireofthekop.com/2018/11/10/its-probably-the-first-time-klopp-handed-rare-boost-vs-fulham/

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For Club And Country

The Woodland Trust and Football Remembers join forces to commemorate footballers involved in the First World War

Fulham Football Club are honoured to come together with over 60 clubs from across the professional game to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War.

In partnership with the Woodland Trust and National Football Museum's 'For Club and Country project' The Premier League, English Football League, Professional Footballers' Association and Football Association are planting trees to create a living legacy to the footballers who served and died 100 years ago in the First World War as part of the national, Football Remembers campaign.

Players became so much more than just heroes on the football pitch. Some of the more unlikely heroes of the First World War were the footballers of the time, who bravely joined up and went off to war. As they left the hallowed turf of professional football pitches for the trenches of the front line football and families were changed forever.

Almost every team in the league today sent players to the front between 1914 and 1918 and many never returned.  Those that did were never the same again.  The Woodland Trust project For Club and Country also remembers the women, who single-handedly kept the national game alive during the conflict, playing in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters.

England and West Ham legend, Sir Trevor Brooking, CBE said: "The Woodland Trust's For Club and Country project is the perfect way to commemorate football's important role in the First World War. By planting trees for players who bravely fought for their country we are creating something beautiful and long lasting for future generations."

On Thursday 8th November, Fulham Football Club planted trees at its Motspur Park Training Ground to remember their players who sadly lost their lives in the First World War; William Borland, John Flanagan, William Maughan, Leonard James Moon, Horace Robotham, Robert Stuart, Edward Thompson, Walter Tull, Frederick Waterson and Frederick Wheatcroft.

Club Captain Tom Cairney was joined by team-mates Marcus Bettinelli, Ryan Sessegnon and Kevin McDonald to help the Fulham grounds staff plant the trees. Speaking on Thursday, Cairney said: "This initiative is a great way to create a lasting reminder of the men who played for Fulham and sadly lost their lives in the First World War. We will never forget the sacrifice they and so many others made for us and are proud to work alongside the Woodland Trust and National Football Museum."

For Club and Country aims to plant 100 additional trees for each of the clubs that were professional when war broke out in 1914, at a newly created national woodland memorial at the Woodland Trust's flagship Centenary Wood at Langley Vale in Epsom.

Supporters of clubs across the Premier League and English Football League are being encouraged to join their club heroes by planting trees to create a lasting living legacy across football. Supporters can find out more about their club's history and football's involvement in the war by visiting www.forclubandcountry.org.uk/fulham   



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/november/10/for-club-and-country

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Mission Impossible Is Achievable Some Believe

The Premier League table, currently, doesn't make for good reading.

Eleven games into our first season back in top-flight football and Fulham are bottom of the table, despite revamping the squad in the summer and in doing so spending an absolute fortune.

This Sunday, Fulham return to Premier League action with a trip to the north-west to take on Liverpool.

If the Fulham support were looking for a fixture that would produce a result and give then hope that better times are around the corner, then a trip to Anfield isn't one they'd willingly choose.

Despite a surprise loss in the Champions League group stages in midweek, Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League this season and are looking as if they can finally win the Premier League.

Ahead of the game, we used our poll facility to gauge how you believe this fixture will end.

The results, now the poll is closed, don't make for surprising reading.

A huge 66% of those who voted are of the opinion that it'll be another disappointing day for Fulham with Liverpool winning.

However, 23% haven't given up hope and are of the opinion that Fulham can pull off the shock result of the season and win, whilst a further 11% reckon Slavisa Jokanovic's side will frustrate their hosts and return south with a point.

Personally, I reckon a point would be a fantastic result but a win, well, it'd be like winning the pools.

COYW's



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/mission-impossible-is-achievable-some-believe/

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Please Say It Ain't So Fulham

Back in May, those who control Fulham Football Club, did their best to celebrate the ushering in of a new era, our return to the Premier League, by providing the funds for several additions to be made to the club.

Unfortunately, the summer transfer business the club conducted, when it comes to new arrivals, hasn't provided the impetus the club hoped for, with the club rooted to the foot of the Premier League table.

There are some who believe that the squad that took us to promotion should have been given the chance to flourish in the Premier League, but hindsight is, as they say, a wonderful thing.

But, with the January transfer window fast approaching, it remains to be seen if Fulham will bring in anyone else to boost our chances of retaining our Premier League status.

However, I'm not sure this possible arrival will be greeted with the enthusiasm normally associated with an acquisition when his name is revealed.

It appears that having been loaned to the Serie A side, AC Milan, the Chelsea midfielder, Tiemoue Bakayoko, is set for a return to London.

The AC Milan manager, the former Glasgow Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, don't rate the player and has only given him two starts in Serie A.

Throw into the mixer the fact Bakayoko was out of the picture, down the road at Stamford Bridge under the managerial acumen of Antonio Conte, and you start to ponder as to why Fulham if the speculation is correct, would even consider adding the player to the squad.

Hopefully, although it sounds cruel, I hope this is a move that doesn't happen.

COYW's



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/please-say-it-aint-so-fulham/

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Liverpool v Fulham - Match Preview

Liverpool take on Fulham this Sunday at 12:00pm at Anfield.

Last time out for Liverpool

Liverpool travelled to Serbia to take on Red Star Belgrade in Group C of the Champions League and suffered a shock 2-0 defeat, leaving them with a tough challenge to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

The Reds do, however, still remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season.

Last time out for Fulham

The Cottagers lost 1-0 away to Huddersfield through a Fosu-Mensah own goal, and now sit rock bottom of the Premier League with just one win all season.

Injury concerns

Liverpool are largely injury-free again, with Jordan Henderson remaining the only short-term doubt for the Fulham clash as he returns from a hamstring injury. Naby Keita should also be fit to play and may get some more game time against the Premier League's bottom club. Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have slight issues but should be fit to play, though Klopp may choose to give Nathanial Clyne more much-needed match minutes.

Joe Bryan is the only absentee for Fulham, ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Key players

Liverpool performed abysmally against Red Star during the week and need to recover fast. It's hard to pick a key player from those who took part in Serbia, but I believe Xherdan Shaqiri could prove pivotal on Sunday as he returns after being left out for the Champions League match. The Swiss winger always seems to impact a game when he comes off the bench or makes the starting XI, and I think Klopp will choose to restore him to the initial lineup this weekend.

With Liverpool's defence shaken from the Red Star defeat, now may be the time for Aleksandar Mitrovic to take his chance against the Reds. The Serbian has five Premier League goals to his name this season and probably represents Fulham's main threat at Anfield.

Predicted starting XI for Liverpool

I expect Klopp to make a few key changes to the starting XI on Sunday.

Alisson had a relatively poor game in midweek by his standards and was culpable for Red Star's second goal, but he will of course start between the sticks.

Assuming he's recovered from illness, I think we'll see Dejan Lovren start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre of defence, flanked by Andy Robertson and Nathaniel Clyne (making an early call on that one).

If Henderson's fit I believe he'll start, but assuming he just makes the bench, I'm going to go with Fabinho (perfect game for him, I think), Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino up front. Salah desperately needs to rediscover his form from last year, and facing a side that's leaking goals could be perfect for him right now.

Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana will drop to the bench again after a poor showing against Red Star.

Predicted starting XI: Alisson, Robertson, Van Djik, Lovren, Clyne, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Salah, Mane, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Keita, Henderson, Lallana, Sturridge.

Score prediction: Liverpool 2 – 0 Fulham (Salah, Shaqiri).



http://www.footymad.com/liverpool/feat/ed12/liverpool_v_fulham__match_preview_919482/index.shtml

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Fulham should beat their London rivals to sign this 31-time capped Turkish powerhouse

Fulham should beat Crystal Palace to sign Ozan Tufan from Fenerbahce



According to Football London, Crystal Palace and Fulham are interested in signing Fenerbahce midfielder Ozan Tufan.

The 23-year-old midfielder moved to Fenerbahce from Bursaspor back in 2015 and has made a total of 56 appearances for the Turkish giants, scoring six goals. However, he has fallen out of favour at his current club due to some new recruits.

Tufan has represented Turkey at all youth levels and has 31 international caps for the senior team. He was a part of the Turkish squad that participated in the 2016 Euro Cup.

Blessed with a sound technique, Ozan Tufan is one of the most versatile young talents in Turkey and can play in a number of roles in the midfield. Primarily a holding midfielder by trade, the 23-year-old has the ability to fill in the role of a box-to-box midfielder and can also play at right-back and on the right-wing.

Standing at just a shade over 6ft, Tufan is not the most physically dominating central midfielder but he makes up for his lack of physicality with his superior game-reading ability and tactical awareness. He contributes equally to both the attack and the defence and excels with his work rate in the central areas of the park.

Tufan is comfortable with the ball at his feet and excels with his neat passing and excellent distribution skills. Although he is not the tallest man on the pitch, he is a good reader of aerial balls and times his jumps to perfection to beat the opposition in the air.

The Turkish international is particularly nimble-footed for a central midfielder which also allows him to play as a winger down the right. Operating as a winger, he links the play with short passes and spots the runs of his teammates from the wide areas.

The 23-year-old averaged 2 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 clearances and 1.6 shots per game last term in the Turkish top-flight. Furthermore, he is a good shooter from outside the penalty area and has the ability to find the top corner with curling right-footed efforts.

As things stand, he would be a good addition for both Fulham and Crystal Palace. The Eagles have Max Meyer, who is a tactically versatile creative midfielder but Fulham are in dire need of a creative box-to-box midfielder who can contribute equally on both ends of the pitch.

Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald have been poor this season. Even though they have contributed to the defence at times, their contribution to the attack has been minimal. Jean Michael Seri came in with a huge reputation and produced a few good performances but the Ivorian's impact has faded away.

The Cottagers must avoid the drop despite spending heavily in the summer. Having conceded 28 goals so far, the Cottagers have the worst defensive record in the Premier League and the signs are ominous for Slavisa Jokanovic's men.

It is high time for Fulham to pursue their interest in this 23-year-old Turkish international as he has all the attributes to add substance and creativity to their midfield.



http://www.mediareferee.com/2018/11/10/fulham-should-beat-their-london-rivals-to-sign-this-31-time-capped-turkish-powerhouse/

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Opposition Review | Fulham

On Sunday afternoon Liverpool faces bottom of the league Fulham in what will be a big game for both sides.

Current Form

Both sides are not doing too well at the minute will Liverpool just coming off the back of a defeat to Red Star in the Champions League and Fulham sit bottom of the league having not won a game since they beat Burnley back in August.

In their last game Fulham faced Huddersfield away from home in a battle between the bottom teams, Huddersfield came out on top thanks to a Fosu-Mensah own goal in the 29th minute.

Looking at the graphic above you can see that the game was not one-sided but you could say that Fulham where probably the better side considering they have the most amount of possession and the highest number of passes. However, they did have fewer shots on goal which is surprising considering they did have most of the possession.

That is where it goes wrong for Fulham, they have plenty of the ball but can not seem to create enough opportunities for their forward line meaning they can't score goals.

They have an attacking line of Andre Schurrle, ex Chelsea player, World Cup winner with Germany, is well respected in the footballing world and has played for some great teams and yet he has ended up playing for a struggling Fulham. They then have Vietto who I don't really know much about so can't judge him but he is only on loan from Atletico Madrid so he must have some talent in order for Fulham to want to take him on loan. Then they have former Newcastle striker Mitrovic up front, was loved by Newcastle fans and is a goalscorer, he has proven that in his time at Fulham but if he does not have the right players behind him then there is not much more he can do.

Record Against Liverpool

Their most recent game against Liverpool came back on the 2013/14 season thanks to a 90th minute winner by Steven Gerrard from the penalty spot. Fulham actually went ahead in that game twice after a Kolo Toure own goal and a Kieran Richardson strike.

In the last 29 games, Fulham have only won seven, drawing four and losing eighteen. So not the best record.

The Manager – Slavisa Jokanovic

The Serbian took over Fulham in December 2015 and has helped them get back into the Premier League which is a tough thing to do considering the level of several Championship clubs nowadays. However, he can not seem to get into the swing of things in the Premier League and must be under a lot of pressure from the club and the fans in order to get a result.

Five defeats on the bounce is not good for any manager but having only picked up five points so far this season and sitting at the bottom of the table with a tough run of fixtures with Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United being amongst the teams they play in their next five.

Jokanoiv has never faced Liverpool or Jurgen Klopp in a competitive match so this will be a first for him meaning we have no idea what he is like and he has no idea what we are like. He will have done his research once the game commences and will no doubt look to expose our weaknesses but Klopp will be doing the same to him so it will be an interesting game.



https://theredmentv.com/opposition-review-fulham/

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Football, Fulham and the Great War

Sunday marks 100 years since Armistice Day, and at 11am Britain will fall silent to pay its respects. The war affected everything, including football and even our own beloved Fulham Football Club. Ben Jarman takes a look at the Great War's impact.

A century ago, 6 million soldiers gave their lives to secure the liberty of others in a war that changed the World forever. World War One is the bloodiest battle of modern history, a conflict that encapsulated all four corners of the globe and mobilised over 20 million men. One that accelerated the progression of humanity to levels that had never been dreamed of before 1914 – advancement in technology, medicine but most devastatingly the weapons that countries employed to kill or fatally harm their fellow man. The Great War was a battle that was to be defined by extremes, a devastating cauldron of dehumanising violence that leaves the imagination unable to process the reality of the situation.

To mark the centenary of Armistice Day, Fulhamish recorded a special podcast with historians Morgan Phillips and Ian McMullen to understand how World War One affected Fulham, the link is at the bottom of this article.

Initial predictions that the Great War, as it was then known, would be over by Christmas were quickly put to rest as the Western Front became bogged down in stalemate. The Football Association had mirrored the initial predictions of the Government by proceeding with the 1914-15 season, something that their cricketing brethren had decided against on the outbreak of war. At the time of declaration, there was an estimated 5,000 professional footballers registered from teams across the United Kingdom. By Christmas 2,000 of them had enlisted to aid the war effort both at home and across fronts that spanned France, Malta, Greece and in to Northern Africa.

As the tides turned against the Allies and their illusions of a quick and painless war evaporated in front of their very eyes in a suffocating cloud of thick mustard gas, a hail of bullets and bayonet charges, football quickly became a mechanism by which to converse with large numbers of society. During the early 1900's Fulham was a small club that "survived", much like today. Backed by local businesspeople and averaging gates of around 10,000 before the war, as detailed by historian Morgan Phillips as part of Fulhamish's special commemorative podcast. During the war, however, Craven Cottage was to be used as a rallying point to muster players and spectators alike to enlist and join the effort. Football has always had an influence in modern society, and coupled with the growth of the national game at the start of the century, acted as a large platform to convey popular opinion. For example, the Harlem Globetrotters of that time, Newcastle United, averaging above 50,000 per official records which provided a huge canvas for influence.

One of the most famous war-time stories centres around football, and the famous match between Allied and German troops on Christmas Day 1914. It is well documented that both sides reached a cease-fire during the Holiest of days to set aside their differences for well-contested matches along the front lines. These skirmishes resulted in the trading of goods; chocolate, tankards, smokes and, in rare cases, weapons such as knives. This fairy-tale use of football wasn't the only time that troops had the opportunity to use the beautiful game as a way of relaxing and utilising their down time between shift rotations. Officers soon realised that keeping troop morale up was vital to the war effort, and deep behind the front-lines huge matches would last for hours on end to keep soldiers fit and happy.

Football, however, wasn't always a joyous story. Those at home who had not enlisted to fight, but had continue to play professionally through exhibition matches and regional tournaments arranged by the FA after 1915 were subjected to a barrage of abuse. Morgan touches upon this briefly in the podcast, but footballers were often seen as a cowards and often accused of dodging responsibility by large sections of society who believed it was their job to protect King and Country. Football Association Executive Secretary, Frederick Wall implied that a leading footballer, Jimmy Hogan, was a traitor for continuing to play whilst the country was at war. Wall was also famous for distributing large numbers of posters throughout the country encouraging the enlistment of "Good Sportsmen" and to aid other good sportsmen in fighting against the Germans.

The devastation of conflict runs deep, even to this day. There are towns, villages and cities along the French/Belgian border that have official populations of 0 which result from a combination of unexploded arsenal, shelling and unrelenting killing/raping of their inhabitants. Football was also affected hugely as a result of the war; it is estimated that 3,000 footballers were killed with teams, such as Bradford Park Avenue, losing as many as 9 senior players from their squads. Fulham lost 8 senior players in total. The Swiss National Football team suffered such devastation that matches were abandoned until 1920.

The Football Battalion, as Morgan introduces in the podcast, was a 600 strong division made entirely from footballers that fought during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Over 500 were killed in action.  Today, memorials stand across the battlefields to remember those who gave their liberty to protect ours. One stands in Delville Wood, on the Somme, to commemorate the footballers who gave their lives during the First World War.

Eight Fulham players gave their lives during the bloodiest of battles. We will remember them.

To mark the centenary of Armistace Day, Fulhamish has teamed up with renowned artist Paine Profitt to commission some limited Fulhamish Remembrance Prints – available to buy here. This glossy A3 poster commemorates those Fulham players who lost their lives in World War One. ALL profits from the prints will go to charity. In addition to the print, Fulhamish also recorded a special commemorative podcast alongside club historian Morgan Phillips and Ian McMullen of Football and the First World War – available here:



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-11-10-football-fulham-and-the-great-war/

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Spencer-Adams hits brace as Arsenal U18s thrash Fulham in Premier League Cup

Arsenal U18s beat Fulham 4-0 today in the Premier League Cup.

Defender Bayli Spencer-Adams scored a brace, while Folarin Balogun and Josh Martin were also on the scoresheet. Winger Ben Cottrell produced an impressive performance and provided an assist.

Arsenal's victory was all the more impressive given that they were deprived of the services of Sam Greenwood and Yunus Musah, who are on international duty with England U17s.

The young Gunners drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion in their first Premier League Cup game and host Everton next month.



https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/spencer-adams-hits-brace-as-arsenal-u18s-thrash-fulham-in-premier-league-cup/

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Fulham Boss Channels Inner-Steven Gerrard With Decimation Of 'Childish' Players

With the weight of 19 Premier League teams upon him, Fulham's Slavisa Jokanovic channeled his inner-Steven Gerrard for this weekend's pre-match press conference.

Suitably enough, it is Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool that Fulham have to contend with early on Sunday afternoon - not that Jokanovic is necessarily concerned.

Having impressively made their way into the Premier League at the expense of Aston Villa in last season's Championship play-off final, the London club quite simply haven't taken to life in the top flight.

After 11 games, Fulham have amassed only 5; a derisory total that retains some semblance of usage thanks to the equally paltry returns Huddersfield, Newcastle United and Southampton have managed.

Trying to identify what was the matter with his under-performing side, Jokanovic indicated that he is now beyond the point of introspective thought.

"[The players] need to change the body language. They are professional," Jokanovic argued.

Moving toward an approach recently adopted by Steven Gerrard at Rangers, it wasn't long before the Fulham coach started dealing with the specifics.

"I don't defend a corner, I don't press any players. I don't run into the space. I am working for them so they can do this and be available for this kind of situation.

"After the Huddersfield game, I told them, 'Listen, I am great, I'm a fantastic coach.' I did a fantastic job with my staff and the analysts because everything we expected, we found it during the game.

Crucially, Jokanovic claimed that his players simply "are not showing enough effort or ambition and we must change this."

In startling resemblance to Gerrard's most recent evisceration of his players, Jokanovic stated; "If we are confused, scared and play like kids, it's not easy for any team."

Confident he is still the man to guide Fulham beyond this disastrous start, Jokanovic will have a job on his hands against Gerrard's old club Liverpool tomorrow.



https://www.balls.ie/football/slavisa-jokanovic-stephen-gerrard-400598

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Barnsley 4 Notts County 0: Woodrow shines in FA Cup win


Barnsley's Cauley Woodrow celebrates after scoring the opener. Picture: Dean Atkins

Cauley Woodrow made a third Barnsley 'debut' inside eight days and scored his first goal for the club as they moved into the second round.

Having made a first League One appearance off the bench, followed by an EFL Trophy start, the on-loan Fulham striker, plagued by injury this season, played off Kieffer Moore in the FA Cup against County and he struck in the 48th minute against Harry Kewell's visitors.

Left-back Zeki Fryers, one of 10 changes for the midweek EFL Trophy tie against Everton Under-21s, had done enough to keep his place and he netted the second soon after Woodrow's opener.

Brad Potts and Moore ensured there would be no comeback by netting in the 77th and 81st minutes in front of a 5,878 all-pay crowd.

Barnsley had selected a much stronger line-up for the game's premier knockout competition while League Two strugglers County were unchanged from the side which earned a goalless home draw against Oldham in midweek.

Early on, Moore volleyed wide for Barnsley but Nathan Thomas sidefooted off target from 14 yards after being set up by Enzio Boldewijn following a swift counter-attack.

Ross Fitzsimons claimed a downward header from Moore, who followed up by back-heeling the ball into the are for Woodrow to race on and force a good save from the goalkeeper.

An overhead shot from County's Jamie Turley flew wide and Moore skied a shot from 10 yards as the half ended goalless.

Barnsley soon went ahead after the break, Cameron McGeehan's through ball seeming to be helped on by Elliott Ward, allowing Woodrow to race in at the far post and get beyond Jamie Turley to volley home.

It was 2-0 five minutes later in the 53rd when the Reds moved the ball from left to right and a low cross from Brad Potts was sidefooted home from inside the area by Fryers.

Thiam's fierce drive forced a save from Fitzsimons as the Reds looked for a third before Woodrow and Dimitri Cavare gave way to Mike Bahre and Jacob Brown.

Kion Etete and Dan Jones replaced Kristian Dennis and Thomas for the visitors.

A stretching Potts went close to converting Moore's low cross before the pair combined again and this time Potts tapped home from inside the six-yard area.

It could easily have been 4-0 as Bahre exchanged passes with Potts on the counter before seeing his left-footer pushed aside for a corner.

The Reds would not be denied and when a corner was cleared back to Thiam he chipped the ball back across for an unmarked Moore to dive forward and head home inside the six-yard area.

Moore's rasping drive went close to making it 5-0 and his close-range effort was also turned onto the woodwork as Barnsley finished in command.



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/barnsley-fc/barnsley-4-notts-county-0-woodrow-shines-in-fa-cup-win-1-9437941

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Kevin McDonald and Charlie Mulgew join list of Scotland call-offs in further blow for Alex McLeish

Stephen O'Donnell will also miss next week's Nations League clashes.

Charlie Mulgrew and Kevin McDonald have joined the growing list of Scotland drop-outs ahead of next week's Nations League crunch.

The call-offs a further blow for Alex McLeish with Kilmarnock right-back Stephen O'Donnell also ruled out through injury.

He missed Killie's 1-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle with a "severe hamstring injury".

Mulgrew was absent in Blackburn Rovers' draw with Rotherham while McDonald has been ruled out with a hamstring injury ahead of Fulham's clash with Liverpool.

The latest withdrawals leave McLeish with just five defenders his squad - three of whom are left-backs, although Graeme Shinnie plays more regularly in midfield for Aberdeen.

Scotland face Albania and Israel in a bid to top Nations League Group C but trail the latter by three points following defeat in Haifa in October.

McLeish is without first-choice strikers Leigh Griffiths and Steven Naismith while the likes of James McArthur, Matt Ritchie, Robert Snodgrass and Tom Cairney have all made themselves unavailable for the crucial double-header.

Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin dropped out through injury earlier this week and was replaced by Kilmarnock's Jamie MacDonald.

MacDonald joined O'Donnell in missing the victory in Edinburgh but is still set to join McLeish's squad next week.



https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-mcdonald-charlie-mulgew-join-13570024

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O'Riley hat-trick seals PL Cup win for Fulham

Matt O'Riley's hat-trick helped Fulham go top of Group C as they beat Colchester United 5-0

A hat-trick from Matt O'Riley helped Fulham record a 5-0 Premier League Cup win over Colchester United at Craven Cottage.

Cameron Thompson opened the scoring for the hosts after 10 minutes, before Nicolas Santos-Clase made it two inside half an hour.

O'Riley, pictured, then netted either side of half-time before completing an impressive hat-trick with 16 minutes remaining.

Fulham are on six points, three points clear of Reading at the top of Group G. Colchester are bottom after two defeats.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/901776

[WhiteJC]

 
Wrong kind of 'duff' decisions cost Fulham... while Liverpool's defeat against Red Star Belgrade showed just how important Roberto Firmino is to Jurgen Klopp's team

    Fulham are paying the price for neglecting crucial parts of the transfer market
    The Whites wouldn't have dreamed of signing a Damien Duff over the summer
    Duff, however, showed a huge amount of know-how while at Craven Cottage
    Liverpool's defeat in Serbia also outlined the importance of Roberto Firmino

I was already 30 when I joined Fulham and still ended up making more league starts for them than any other club. It clicked because Roy Hodgson built a team of good footballers with Premier League knowhow.

One of the important signings was Damien Duff. He was also 30 when he joined from Newcastle, not a financial investment but talented and experienced. His contribution was invaluable, not least helping the younger lads in the team develop and we reached the Europa League final in his first season.

The sad irony is that Fulham wouldn't have dreamed of signing a Damien Duff last summer. Too old, no re-sale value. And that recruitment policy is costing them, £100million spent and bottom of the table – too many players learning together and nobody to help them.


Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham are paying the price for neglecting key parts of the transfer market

It's a great shame because Fulham is close to my heart. I was honoured to be Roy's captain, his voice on the pitch because we spoke the same football language, and even after I retired as a player, they involved me in the process of appointing a new manager, though they ultimately gave it to the interim, Kit Symons.

So it's frustrating for me to see the current structure the club is adopting and I fear for them at Liverpool on Sunday unless Slavisa Jokanovic has a tactical rethink. If they play open, with the centre halves split and full backs pushed up high, they will get destroyed on the turnover, as they were against Arsenal when they lost 5-1.

Jokanovic isn't blameless but a failed recruitment policy has been the single biggest problem.

In my opinion, if you spend the money Fulham did, you can bring in a better selection than they managed last summer even in an era of inflated transfer fees. A manager who won promotion via the play-offs needs players in the Premier League who have been there, seen it, done it.


Fulham wouldn't have dreamed of signing a Damien Duff last summer despite his knowhow

Fulham signed a mixture of newcomers, like Jean-Michael Seri and Luciano Vietto, or unproven, such as Calum Chambers and Aleksandar Mitrovic. They will either need time to adapt or aren't good enough in any case. Who is there going to get the best out of Ryan Sessegnon as Gary McAllister did with a young Steven Gerrard at Liverpool?

I accept Andre Schurrle had some experience at Chelsea and he's probably been the most effective signing so far but the others need to stand up and be counted. The injury to Alfie Mawson has been unlucky but even he got relegated last season.

Fulham aren't the only club taking age into account when making transfers. I know Liverpool put the block on Brendan Rodgers buying Ashley Williams from Swansea a few years ago when he was in his prime. But when Liverpool buy younger, they are still able to recruit players like Sadio Mane who are tried and tested at this level.

That said, Jokanovic now has to work with what he's got and it means being more pragmatic. Cardiff scored four goals in their first eight games – and then scored four against Fulham in 90 minutes. That tells you everything about Fulham's defence.


The likes of Luciano Vietto (right) have struggled to make an impact so far at Fulham

It doesn't have to be like that. You can still organise regardless of quality as Chris Hughton has got the maximum out of his squad at Brighton.

Fulham try to play what they'd see as the right way but there is nothing wrong with having a balance. There is a reason they can't play out as well this season as they did in The Championship. Their opponents now are better, smarter and know when to press. Fulham will have less of the ball than they did last season, that makes you physically tireder. When you add on individuals freezing and making basic individual errors, you can see why they are struggling.

Ultimately, the manager usually carries the can. But as long as Fulham's remit from the top is to prioritise value for money on every signing, it won't work. You need a mix. In January they need to go out and sign a few Damien Duffs.

Jurgen Klopp should try to write off the Red Star Belgrade defeat as a one-off despite saying they lost their 'mojo'. Sometimes, you just have a bad day, you can't change the momentum and Europe is hard at the best of times.

Think about being unbeaten in the Premier League and the massive progress that has been made in 18 months. Klopp feels if Liverpool don't win the title, it'll be regarded from the outside as a bad season. That's the level of expectancy he's created and maybe the midweek loss in Serbia acts as a kick up the backside. We will see against Fulham at Anfield on Sunday.

One thing we learned, if we didn't know it already, is how important Roberto Firmino is to this Liverpool team. He was rested on the bench and by the time he came on at half-time, Liverpool were already 2-0 down. He has done brilliantly at the club and impressed me immensely.

Firmino is technically very good but what he relies on to be at the very top of his game is being physically right because his output is enormous. He is the trigger for all the pressing and his workrate is phenomenal.

If for some reason he is having a dip, maybe because of tiredness, maybe a couple of aches and pains, you notice it. Some players can get away with it because they move the ball, Firmino is hard yards all over the place when he's at it.

To me, he hasn't looked quite as sharp this season, and maybe that explains why Klopp didn't start him in midweek, to give him that little break. Funnily enough, Romelu Lukaku is a similar type I that when he drops physically, it affects his performances. When he's at it, he's unstoppable.

The good thing is that restoring top physical condition is the easiest thing to work on. It'll only be temporary for Firmino and we saw in Belgrade, Liverpool are always a better team with him in it.

I was delighted to see Bournemouth's Callum Wilson called up by England, fully deserved for his form this season. There is no reason for two of Sunday's combatants at Anfield, Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Sessegnon, to fret about being left out.

Everyone knows Sturridge's quality including Gareth Southgate. He doesn't need to have him in the squad to know if he ever needs a top-class finisher who has scored goals at every level, Sturridge will be able to step in.

To call him up for friendlies and Nations League games might not be the best thing given how his body needs to be managed.

Sessegnon, the jewel in Fulham's crown, is still only 18. What he's achieved for someone his age is incredible. He'll be learning enough just by playing in the Premier League every week. He shouldn't worry about an international call-up yet. There is plenty of time and it will happen.


Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon is yet to receive a call-up for the England squad



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6375781/DANNY-MURPHY-Duff-decisions-costing-Fulham-Firmino-importance-Liverpool-shown-Serbia.html

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Game against lowly Fulham comes at a perfect time for Liverpool FC

Reds need a pick-me-up after shock midweek defeat in Europe

Jurgen Klopp welcomes the Premier League's leakiest defence to Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool aim to regain top spot against struggling Fulham.

Victory against the Cottagers may only see a temporary return to the top with Chelsea and Manchester City in action later that day against Everton and Manchester United, respectively - but the game still represents a presentable opportunity to end a disappointing week on a high.

The shock 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade was a big blow to the Reds' Champions League aspirations, but fate firmly remains in their hands on the continent and Klopp's side have still managed to pick up a superb 27 from the 33 points on offer so far.

So it isn't all doom and gloom around Anfield right now, and the game against lowly Fulham has come at a perfect time for the Reds.

Many will be expecting that impressive points tally to rise to 30 when Slavisa Jokanovic's porous side pitches up at Anfield, and there will be a number of sub-plots to keep an eye on on Sunday lunchtime, too.

Baby Keita
Gifted Guinean Naby Keita has so far endured a fairly low-key start to life as a £50million Liverpool midfielder.

The all-action Keita has shown flashes of class at times, but has spent the last month sidelined with a hamstring problem.

The former RB Leipzig man returned to the fold this week though in Belgrade and could be let off the leash against the Londoners at Anfield.

Klopp's midfield has looked lethargic and bereft of creativity at times over the past couple of games and Keita's inclusion could go along way towards solving that this weekend.

Ryan Sessegnon
Teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon inevitably saw his name linked with a transfer to Liverpool in the summer 0f 2017 after starring in the Championship at left-back for the Cottagers.

Then just 17, Sessegnon was seen by some as the long-term solution to a left-back problem that had plagued the Reds for some time.

However, Liverpool eventually wiped away their left-sided defensive issues when they plucked Andy Robertson from Hull, but Sessegnon continues to go from strength to strength.

Pacy and technically excellent, the teenager also has an eye for a goal and has spent the season in more advanced role at Craven Cottage in his maiden season in the Premier League.

One for the future of English football no doubt, Reds fans might be keeping a close on eye the performance of Fulham's 18-year-old on Sunday.

Leaky Fulham defence
The aforementioned leaky defence of Fulham has seen them ship a whopping 29 goals in just 11 games so far this season.

Such faltering form has seen Jokanovic's position come under threat and the 50-year-old is clearly struggling to find his best team at present after concluding deals for as many as 14 players this summer for over £100million.

Jokanovic hasn't found the right balance so far, regularly chopping and changing between games evidenced by the fact that Fulham have already used their different goalkeepers this term.

Fabri, Sergio Rico and Marcus Bettinelli have all played a part in the Premier League this season behind a defence that has also been chopped and changed on a weekly basis.

Six straight defeats see Fulham arrive at Anfield at a low ebb and while Klopp might not be admitting it publicly, this game represents a good chance to claw back some of the plus-13 goal difference on leaders City ahead of the Manchester derby.

An early goal could see Liverpool smell blood.



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/game-against-lowly-fulham-comes-15399652

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Fulham boss looks to Red Star performance for inspiration ahead of Liverpool trip

Fulham's Slavisa Jokanovic refuses to be "scared" of the prospect of Sunday's trip to Liverpool — even amid reports his job is at risk.

His struggling team visit Anfield where they must resist perhaps the Premier League's most potent attack if they are to avoid a seventh successive defeat.

Fulham's open, attacking football inspired promotion from last season's Championship, but since then they have been exposed, contributing to the concession of 29 goals in 11 league games and the fact they are bottom of the league.

Scott Parker is reportedly in contention to replace him should he be sacked if their struggles continue, but against that backdrop and the prospect of facing Liverpool's Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, the 50-year-old Jokanovic has no intention of heading to Anfield to defend.

On Friday, he spoke of his players needing to show greater fight, and of Sunday's fixture said: "I'm not a scared man. I'm not going to stay in our box and wait for 0-0; it sometimes happens, but it's many times you don't find any result.

"I don't believe we're the best team at defending in the box. We must be organised, we must have a plan, and we must try.

"I know it's not easy playing against a really fast counter-attack like their three front players, but we must look for our chance, be brave, and show the mentality at the end, for fighting, for running with them, for challenging with them, and for a chance to win.

"Without any doubt, I need more (from my players), the supporters need more, and the club needs more, and that's it. It's simple. They know they didn't offer enough, and we need to encourage them to push forward.

"We need to be clever and find a balance about everything. We're not at our best level and must be more solid, more aggressive."

Red Star Belgrade, the fierce rivals of Partizan Belgrade, who Jokanovic supported and both played for and managed, unexpectedly defeated Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday.

"They show it's possible, they push from all the sides, from the stands, from the field, and complete a good game," he added.

"It's a good example for the team."



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/11/fulham-boss-looks-to-red-star-performance-for-inspiration-ahead-of-liverpool-trip/

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Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic not 'scared' of facing Liverpool

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic refuses to be "scared" of Sunday's trip to Liverpool and insists his side will not be playing for a draw at Anfield.

The Cottagers have largely struggled since returning to the Premier League and have taken just five points from their opening 11 games, conceding 29 goals in the process.

They are now two points adrift at the bottom of the table, while Liverpool could return to the top with a win this weekend, but Jokanovic says he won't adopt an overly-defensive strategy against the Reds.

"I'm not a scared man. I'm not going to stay in our box and wait for 0-0; it sometimes happens, but it's many times you don't find any result," he said.

"I don't believe we're the best team at defending in the box. We must be organised, we must have a plan, and we must try.

"I know it's not easy playing against a really fast counter-attack like their three front players, but we must look for our chance, be brave, and show the mentality at the end, for fighting, for running with them, for challenging with them, and for a chance to win.

"Without any doubt, I need more (from my players), the supporters need more, and the club needs more, and that's it. It's simple. They know they didn't offer enough, and we need to encourage them to push forward.

"We need to be clever and find a balance about everything. We're not at our best level and must be more solid, more aggressive."

Liverpool head into the match on the back of a shock 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade and Jokanovic says his former club have provided the blueprint to beat Jurgen Klopp's men.

"They show it's possible, they push from all the sides, from the stands, from the field, and complete a good game," he added.

"It's a good example for the team."



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11551099/fulham-boss-slavisa-jokanovic-not-scared-of-facing-liverpool

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Naby Keita's return, Ryan Sessegnon and other reasons not to miss Liverpool against Fulham

Jurgen Klopp welcomes the Premier League's leakiest defence to Anfield on Sunday afternoon

Jurgen Klopp welcomes the Premier League's leakiest defence to Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool aim to regain top spot against struggling Fulham.

Victory against the Cottagers may only see a temporary return to the top with Chelsea and Manchester City in action later that day against Everton and Manchester United, respectively - but the game still represents a presentable opportunity to end a disappointing week on a high.

The shock 2-0 defeat to Red Star Belgrade was a big blow to the Reds' Champions League aspirations, but fate firmly remains in their hands on the continent and Klopp's side have still managed to pick up a superb 27 from the 33 points on offer so far.

So it isn't all doom and gloom around Anfield right now, and the game against lowly Fulham has come at a perfect time for the Reds.

Many will be expecting that impressive points tally to rise to 30 when Slavisa Jokanovic's porous side pitches up at Anfield, and there will be a number of sub-plots to keep an eye on on Sunday lunchtime, too.

Naby Keita's return
Gifted Guinean Naby Keita has so far endured a fairly low-key start to life as a £50million Liverpool midfielder.

The all-action Keita has shown flashes of class at times, but has spent the last month sidelined with a hamstring problem.

The former RB Leipzig man returned to the fold this week though in Belgrade and could be let off the leash against the Londoners at Anfield.

Klopp's midfield has looked lethargic and bereft of creativity at times over the past couple of games and Keita's inclusion could go along way towards solving that this weekend.

Ryan Sessegnon at Anfield
Teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon inevitably saw his name linked with a transfer to Liverpool in the summer 0f 2017 after starring in the Championship at left-back for the Cottagers.

Then just 17, Sessegnon was seen by some as the long-term solution to a left-back problem that had plagued the Reds for some time.

However, Liverpool eventually wiped away their left-sided defensive issues when they plucked Andy Robertson from Hull, but Sessegnon continues to go from strength to strength.

Pacy and technically excellent, the teenager also has an eye for a goal and has spent the season in more advanced role at Craven Cottage in his maiden season in the Premier League.

One for the future of English football no doubt, Reds fans might be keeping a close on eye the performance of Fulham's 18-year-old on Sunday.




https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/naby-keitas-return-ryan-sessegnon-15395261

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Liverpool vs Fulham: Stats prove it'll be a proper goal-fest

Liverpool welcome Premier League strugglers to Anfield on Sunday afternoon and the stats are showing it'll be an absolute goal-fest.

The Cottagers have one of the league's worst defenses, while the Reds love turning up any ruining their day by scoring bulk goals against the London side.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Robeto Firmino might not be at their best this season, but Mane and Salah still lead the Liverpool scoring charts while Firmino has been unlucky not to hit the back of the net more this campaign.

Fulham spent big in the summer but neglected to bring in quality defensive reinforcements. Alfie Mawson and Calum Chambers haven't really cut the mustard this season and were left out the side who lost 1-0 to Huddersfield Town last weekend.

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle might be leading their scoring charts this season, but the Cottagers have only scored once in the last eight games against Liverpool. Expect Virgil van Dijk to nullify the threat Mitrovic poses.

As mentioned previously, Slavisa Jokanovic is in charge of a side who can't stop scoring goals – and history suggests that he'll be unable to turn that around on Sunday afternoon.

That's because Liverpool have scored three goals per game in their last four games against Fulham across all competitions. This could well be the perfect time to get the Reds firing on all cylinders once again.

This is truly a game that features two sides at opposite ends of the league spectrum. While Jurgen Klopp's team is still unbeaten in the Premier League, Jokanovic's outfit have lost their last five league games. On top of that, they've only won once all season.

As you can see, things aren't pointing towards the away side having a fun trip to Merseyside. Anfield will be intimidating as always. Fulham are shell-shocked, their boss is fighting for his life. And the stats show it'll be a Liverpool goal-fest.



https://rushthekop.com/2018/11/11/liverpool-vs-fulham-stats-prove-goal-fest/