Friday Fulham Stuff (17/12/10)...

[WhiteJC]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/12/17/phil-thompson-struggling-fulham-must-be-swept-aside-100252-27841748/?

Phil Thompson: Struggling Fulham must be swept aside

IN our yo-yo season tomorrow's game against Fulham at Anfield is one we simply have to win.

Mark Hughes' side seem a bit toothless without Bobby Zamora and are struggling for goals.

They haven't had a good run of late and we have to take advantage of that.

With our away form being so poor we have to ensure we keep winning at Anfield.

However, you can guarantee Fulham will be looking to impress against their old boss and they do have potential match-winners in their side.

The likes of Clint Dempsey, Zoltan Gera and Damien Duff all pose a threat, while I'm sure Danny Murphy will want to make a good impression on his return to the club.

One thing is certain that if Liverpool are going to get back to winning ways we will have to defend a lot better than we did at Newcastle.

When the pressure is on away we seem to crumble. We were extremely sloppy defensively at St James' Park and their goals were down to schoolboy errors. Individual mistakes are costing us but we're not defending well enough as a unit either.

We have to show tomorrow the togetherness we've seen in previous home games to ensure we get a result.

It hurts me when I look at the table and see how much difference another five or six points would make.



Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/12/17/phil-thompson-struggling-fulham-must-be-swept-aside-100252-27841748/?#ixzz18M4A45wM

[WhiteJC]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/12/17/liverpool-fc-will-reap-benefits-of-a-fresh-fernando-torres-against-fulham-says-roy-hodgson-100252-27841754/?

Liverpool FC will reap benefits of a fresh Fernando Torres against Fulham, says Roy Hodgson

ROY HODGSON believes he will reap the benefits of his decision to rest Fernando Torres in midweek when Liverpool entertain Fulham tomorrow.

The manager admits his U-turn on playing the striker against Utrecht left him with "egg on his face".

Hodgson backtracked on his initial vow to start with Torres after consulting with sports science chief Peter Brukner, but he insists he wasn't overruled and that he retains the final say on team selection.

Torres will be looking to put a string of disappointing performances behind him.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say your first thought wasn't the wisest," Hodgson said.

"I had two choices. To stubbornly go ahead with playing Fernando Torres or admit that after a sleepless night I'd realised it was a stupid decision and get a bit of egg on my face.

"I would have compounded the mistake by sticking with a stupid decision and the right call was made in the end. There was no dispute with the medical staff.

"Initially, I thought it might be a good idea for his confidence to play 45 minutes but I was envisaging an easier game where he would go out and get a couple of goals.

"The way the first half panned out with Utrecht so deep playing him would have been a waste of time.

"We were able to work on our attacking play with Torres at Melwood on Thursday and we wouldn't have been able to do that if he had played on Wednesday as he would have been warming down.

"He will be fresh on Saturday and I'm convinced we will see a very good Fernando Torres."

Liverpool are still waiting on whether skipper Steven Gerrard is fit to return after a month out with a hamstring injury.

"Steven is training hard and is desperate to get back playing, but with my record of saying things and then getting them wrong, I think I am best being cagey and saying let's wait and see," Hodgson added.

The Reds were set to discover their opponents in the last 32 of the Europa League when the draw was made in Nyon from noon today.



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[HatterDon]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6582262,00.html?

Bobby's bouncing back
Striker runs for first time in his bid to return from broken leg

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is on track with his road to recovery after running for the first time since breaking his leg.

The England hot-shot suffered the injury when falling awkwardly against Wolves in September and is due to return in February.

:tom: :tom: :tom: :tom: :tom: :tom:

clumsy Bobby Z. And what a shame it happened in a game instead of while walking up his sidewalk. If it had, then poor ol' Wolves wouldn't be linked with this tragic accident.

Un  :tom: ing believable.

[ImperialWhite]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6582262,00.html?

Bobby's bouncing back
Striker runs for first time in his bid to return from broken leg

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is on track with his road to recovery after running for the first time since breaking his leg.

The England hot-shot suffered the injury when falling awkwardly against Wolves in September and is due to return in February.

:tom: :tom: :tom: :tom: :tom: :tom:

clumsy Bobby Z. And what a shame it happened in a game instead of while walking up his sidewalk. If it had, then poor ol' Wolves wouldn't be linked with this tragic accident.

Un  :tom: ing believable.

Clumsy oaf.

How was Karl Henry meant to know that scissor tackling someone from behind might cause someone to fall awkwardly?