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

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool vs Fulham: Their fans are bored of Slavisa Jokanovic now

Fulham fans are bored of their manager Slavisa Jokanovic as he spoke ahead of the game against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

The Cottagers are under pressure and this could be the fixture that decides the future of Jokanovic. As a result, certain supporters have got bored with the Serbian's prematch offerings.

Speaking before the Liverpool game, the Fulham manager called for more energy from his players when they take on the Reds on Remembrance Sunday.

His words were reported by the club Twitter account, and Jokanovic also called for his team to show more ambition on the field.

"Right now, we haven't shown this effort and must wake up. We cannot sell our skin for cheap. We must be available for the battle and must show it on the field," cried the gaffer.

But you could argue that they need to show less ambition and concentrate on what's going on at the other end of the pitch. Fulham's defence has been rancid this season and they've already conceded 29 goals in just 11 games.

And as it was correctly pointed out, getting the starting XI to show more energy or more ambition is part of the manager's job. He can't play for them, but he can motivate the squad to perform at acceptable levels.

Perhaps if Jokanovic is finding that too tough then he isn't the man for the job?

On the Liverpool front, this could be the game that sparks some midfield form and fluidity in attack. The Reds have been good going forward without looking totally convincing, while that loss against Red Star would have knocked the wind out the sails a bit.

It was a bad day for Fulham on Saturday as Newcastle United beat Bournemouth and Cardiff City came away with a win. Huddersfield also earned a point and that'll all put more pressure on the Cottagers.



https://rushthekop.com/2018/11/11/liverpool-vs-fulham-fans-bored-slavisa-jokanovic-now/

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool vs Fulham: Cottagers EXPECT to be hammered

Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield for the Sunday lunchtime kick off and Cottagers fans are expecting to be hammered.

Despite the Reds being below their usual performance levels going forward, Londonders are not hopeful of anything good coming from the Remembrance Sunday fixture.

Fulham have a terrible defensive record this season and have let in nearly three goals a game – and Liverpool could be a team to exploit this.

With Craven Cottage boss Slavisa Jokanovic fighting for his job, this fixture has come at a bad time for the Serbian.

Jokanovic has called for more from his side, but if the manager can't motivate his squad to put in the required amount of effort on the field, is he the right man for the job?

Fulham fans probably think not, especially as they expect to be on the receiving end of a bit of a pasting.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is their leading goalscorer, but Liverpool have the tools to blunt his threat. Mitrovic relies on strength and an excellent areal presence, but Virgil van Dijk leading the defense will ensure that the Serbian is feeding off crumbs all day.

The fact is, there are those who are excited about the prospect of playing Fulham at Anfield. Liverpool could really use this game to kick start their form going into Christmas and beyond – especially after the loss to Red Star Belgrade.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino haven't been at their fluent best, although Salah and Mane are leading the Reds' scoring charts with five and six each.

Xherdan Shaqiri will be chomping at the bit to get another chance to prove his worth, and the Swiss international definitely deserves it.

Shaqiri has been dynamic and direct, and that's resulted in him notching up two assists this season.

Liverpool have more than enough firepower to blow away Fulham, and that's exactly what despondent fans are worried about.



https://rushthekop.com/2018/11/11/liverpool-vs-fulham-cottagers-expect-hammered/

[WhiteJC]

 
Transfer Battle: Andy Robertson vs Ryan Sessegnon

Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season and have been one of the form teams, while Fulham are struggling to adjust to life in the top-flight under Slavisa Jokanovic.

The Reds currently find themselves trailing in the race for the Premier League title, while the Cottagers are at the opposite end of the table flirting with the possibility of relegation.

Interestingly, this season has seen a couple of full-back come under the spotlight for both these clubs, with Ryan Sessegnon getting his first taste of Premier League football and Andy Robertson coming on leaps and bounds.

With that in mind, let's compare these two transfers...

ANDY ROBERTSON
Andy Robertson joined Liverpool from Hull City for £10 million back in the summer of 2017, and it's safe to say that this has proved to be an absolute bargain. Jurgen Klopp has been praised for bringing in the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane over the years, but signing the left-back has to be up there on a similar level.

Indeed, the Scotsman has always looked assured in possession in the red shirt and has contributed towards a number of goals by swinging dangerous crosses in from the left. And, he played a huge part in the Reds' push for silverware in the Champions League last season, with a a number of accomplished defensive displays.

He may not have been the flashiest of signings when you take Liverpool's recent spending history into consideration, but he has been more than worth the small fee that was paid.

TT GRADE: A

RYAN SESSEGNON
Ryan Sessegnon established himself as one of the hottest prospects in English football at Craven Cottage in the Championship last season, as he scored 16 goals and produced eight assists.

But, making the step up to the Premier League has been a struggle for the Englishman as he continues to disappoint after being hyped up to be the next big thing. The versatile left-back currently only has one goal and one assist to his name, so it's clear to see that he's struggling to come to terms with the bridge in quality.

He may not have enjoyed the best of times in the top-flight of English football so far, but there's no doubt that he will go on to enjoy success on an international level and in the Premier League at some point in his career.

TT GRADE: B+

TT VERDICT:
When comparing these two, it's clear to see that both players are currently at opposite ends of the spectrum, with Andy Robertson constantly receiving praise and Ryan Sessegnon struggling to adjust to the top-flight.

The Liverpool man has been influential at Anfield over the past season or so and continues to defy expectations in the red shirt, with the sky being the limit for the 24-year-old.

But, the Fulham wonderkid does have plenty of potential and has been tipped for big things in English football, so you can't write him off just yet with his whole career ahead of him.

Ryan Sessegnon will no doubt go on to achieve great things in English football and at international level, but right now it's Andy Roberston that is making all the headlines.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/features/transfer-battles/tt-battles-andy-robertson-vs-ryan-sessegnon/

[WhiteJC]

Three Players to Watch: Matchday 12 vs. Liverpool
Will this be last chance saloon for Slav?

Oh boy. Just when you thought last Monday's loss to Huddersfield couldn't have been rock bottom for Fulham and Slavisa Jokanovic, wait till you get to feast your eyes on this potential performance against one of the contenders for the Premier League title. And trust me when I say that Liverpool have no business taking their foot off the gas in this contest. They're shocking loss to Red Star Belgrade should be enough fuel to the fire for Jurgen Klopp's team to run rampant and the fact that Chelsea and Manchester City remain unbeaten in the league only strengthens that point.

When they are at their best, Liverpool continue to fire on all cylinders with a strong and consistent back four, something Fulham have been begging for mercy for, while also relying so much on the attacking trio of Mo Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.

If there is one interesting point for Fulham to pay attention to, it is that Liverpool don't press with the same type of voracity like it has done in seasons pass under the former Borussia Dortmund boss. According to understat, Liverpool have been secnd, second and fourth in each of their first three seasons under Klopp in passes allowed per defensive action. This season, they have fallen all the way down to 15th at 13.43 passes per defensive action. If anything, that is a higher rate than Fulham's 12.28 and it is the first time under Klopp where that rate isn't under 10 per defensive action.

If anything, Liverpool rely more so on a midfield block to be able to sniff out opposition buildup play. Whether that tactic is to do with the need to keep bodies fresh after the World Cup or during Champions League play is another subject entirely. The point is, Liverpool are not as "down your throat" in the way they approach every matchday. That isn't to say that they'e worse as much as they just play differently now. With a defense that is only bettered by Manchester City, it's okay to get away with playing less aggressively.

That means that Fulham have to revert back to their strength if they are to ever get away with anything out of this game. In otherwards, as they were advertised before this season ever started, Tom Cairney and Jean Michael Seri have to take charge of the midfield and lead this squad with their performances. Otherwise, this will be a miserable day at Anfield that deserves the noon kickoff that was given to us. Here's hoping Slavisa Jokanovic can leave us with something to take pride in.

Until then, here are the danger men to look out for in today's fixture.

Mo Salah

Did you really think I was going to profile anyone else up front? Okay sure, Mané's six goals so far have been sensational and have kept the headlines of Salah "slumping" to a minimum. But if anything, the Egyptian sensation is still producing at his very best in his age-26 season at an astounding 4.10 shots, 2.29 key passes and 2.29 successful dribbles per contest. His 0.66 expected goals per 90 is a bit lower than the 0.77 rate he delivered last season, but that has more to do with a goal conversion rate that was cut in half more than anything else. Also, who on earth knows if anyone will ever be able to match the 32 goals Salah racked up like he did ever again. It will truly take something special to have that season replicated. But for now, let's all enjoy what a special player Salah has been to Liverpool. One last thing to note is that his three assists have him on track to record over 10 assists or more for the third straight season in league play: a very underrated skill set that hasn't been talked about enough.

James Milner

As I said before these profiles, I personally think Liverpool's weakness is their midfield as they don't necessarily rely on a creative force in that area. Sure, they can bring in Xherden Shaqiri and that argument is done and over with, but the Swiss International isn't a guaranteed starter just yet. If anything, their biggest spark plug over there is the ageless wonder who should still be playing for England.

Simply put, Milner is 32 years old and is somehow getting better. Players his age will go and finish off the rest of his career in MLS, Asia, Australia or the Middle East. Mr. Milner would have none of that as he seeks another Premier League title. With two goals, two assists and a tackle rate still over 3.1 per contest and you've get a box-to-box midfielder that is somehow keeping Naby Keita, Liverpool's top transfer this summer, on the bench. To say that he is one of the more confounding performer's this season is a real understatement.

Virgil Van Dijk

All data from whoscored.com

Lastly, we take a look at Liverpool's rock in defense. Before Virgil Van Dijk arrived, Klopp's back four was a bunch of solid, but never world class pieces that could only take the Reds so far. This time, with so much youthful enthusiasm at fullback and with his center back partner in Joe Gomes, Van Dijk is the coup de gras to a rebuild of the back four that has taken time to gel. Now they are setting the world alight, along with goalkeeper Alisson and his ability to pass from the back. Boy will Aleksander Mitrovic have a real task on his hands beating this rock of a center back, but it will be one of his greatest achievements getting one past him today.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/11/11/18084030/three-players-to-watch-matchday-12-vs-liverpool

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham must follow Ryan Sessegnon's example against Liverpool

Fulham currently sit dead last in the Premier League, adrift of safety and due to a run of five straight league losses.

As the Whites travel to face Liverpool at noon, a thankless task awaits against one of the best attacking outfits in the division.

Yet the Fulham players must follow the example of Ryan Sessegnon and show up, work hard, and put in maximum effort for the supporters today.

The 18-year-old phenom is truly Fulham through-and-through, and is one of the few players who have shown any fight during the Cottagers' nightmare start.

Every single match, Sessegnon leaves everything on the pitch, and come full time, he never fails to clap the Fulham faithful.

Most notably, after the abysmal 1-0 loss to Huddersfield Town on Monday, the versatile left-sided player sunk to a crouch in dismay, clearly forlorn over the awful result and its implications.

Sessegnon is the rare modern footballer that seems to legitimately play each match like he is a fan, taking each defeat as heartbreak and each victory with exhilaration.

Today, Fulham need eleven Ryan Sessegnons on the pitch, full of passion, verve, and dedication to the fight, even at the club's darkest hour.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-must-follow-ryan-sessegnons-example-against-liverpool/

[WhiteJC]

 
The Chalkboard: What Fulham must do to stand a chance against Liverpool

All of the optimism that accompanied Fulham as they were promoted to the Premier League ahead of this season has gradually ebbed away. Now, they have a manager on the verge of the sack and the worst defensive record in the top flight.

Such a poor back line has led to the Cottagers becoming the division's whipping boys who even Cardiff can put four goals past. With Liverpool next on the agenda things look set to get worse before they get better.

If the west Londoners are to stand any chance of securing a result at Anfield, they must be tactically perfect.

On the Chalkboard

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic must dial back his attacking instincts to an extent and focus on constructing a far more balanced rearguard, which includes playing players in their natural positions.

The time has also come for Jokanovic to place faith in the players who secured promotion for Fulham in the first place. Including the likes of Tim Ream, Ryan Sessegnon and Cyrus Christie in the starting XI ought to provide a measure of defensive cohesion that the overabundance of newcomers at the club cannot yet muster.

Equally, the central midfielders and wide attackers must be diligent in performing their defensive duties.

Taking chances

Defensive solidity is the foundation of any successful side. That is a lesson that Liverpool themselves have had to learn in recent years. If Fulham can find that base to build from at the back then they can still survive and thrive in the Premier League.

Against the Reds, the Cottagers have the attacking quality to create chances. If they take their chances and match that with a greater focus upon maintaining their defensive focus, then at the very least signs of improvement and progress should be evident on Sunday.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/fulham/the-chalkboard-what-fulham-must-do-to-stand-a-chance-against-liverpool