Sunday Fulham Stuff - 03/12/23...

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Results

Saturday 2/12
Arsenal	2-1	Wolves
Brentford	3-1	Luton
Burnley	5-0	West Ham
Forest	0-1	Everton
Newcastle	1-0	Chelsea

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Fulham welcome back Joao Palhinha vs. Liverpool – but winger set to miss out
This weekend's visitors have received a welcome boost with the return of Joao Palhinha to fitness, but they will be without another key player at Anfield.

Palhinha was tentatively linked with a move to Liverpool at points over the summer, before his planned move to Bayern Munich fell through on transfer deadline day.

The midfielder remains a vital component in Marco Silva's side, but Fulham were without him for the controversial 3-2 over Wolves due to suspension.

Now able to welcome him back into the fold, Fulham are unquestionably a stronger side with the Portuguese at their disposal, but another important player is expected to watch on from the sidelines.

Adama Traore has played just eight minutes of Premier League football since sustaining a hamstring injury back in September, and Silva revealed in his pre-match press conference that the Spaniard is among four players working their way back.

It leaves Fulham short of options across the pitch for a game in which they are hoping to spring a surprise, with the side currently sitting 14th in the league table.

The Standard had reported that Traore was due to undergo a late fitness test ahead of the encounter, but Silva has indicated that he will not be available at Anfield.

Previewing the contest, the Fulham boss said: "Issa Diop is still recovering but making steps forward. Adama Traoré, Rodrigo Muniz and Tyrese Francois are still the same."

Diop is currently out with a foot injury, while Muniz and Francois are nursing a knee problem and a knock respectively.

Jurgen Klopp will also be without a number of his senior players for the clash, with Alisson, Diogo Jota, Thiago, Andy Robertson and Stefan Bajcetic all still unavailable.

Conor Bradley made his return to the field against LASK on Thursday night, having been sidelined with a back injury since the summer after returning from his loan spell with Bolton.

The Reds are looking to maintain their perfect home record so far this season, having won all 11 of their games at Anfield in all competitions in 2023/24 to this point.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/12/fulham-welcome-back-joao-palhinha-vs-liverpool-but-winger-set-to-miss-out/

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Klopp: Willian is a 'Premier League great'
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described Willian as 'one of the greatest the Premier League ever saw' ahead of Fulham's trip to Anfield on Sunday.

The German, whose side are targeting a return to the top of the Premier League table with a victory over the Whites this weekend, praised Marco Silva's role in Fulham's revival but waxed lyrical about the Brazilian veteran's enduring ability when asked about him during his pre-match press conference yesterday.

They have very creative set pieces, really creative, so we need to make sure we prepare for that properly. Marco is a top manager, he's doing a brilliant job in a strong league, I'm not saying they are overachieving but they are doing particularly well and it's a really good football team. With [Raul] Jimenez up front, [Carlos] Vinicius, and then one of the greatest, the little curly one [Willian], one of the greatest the Premier League ever saw, who is still going and going and going and [Andreas] Pereira.

It's just a good football team, well set up and it makes it special, and their little stadium there, they can create a proper atmosphere and we've had our struggles there. But this time it's at Anfield, it's home and we have to make sure it will be extremely difficult for them."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/klopp-willian-is-a-premier-league-great/

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Liverpool vs Fulham: Prediction and Preview
Jürgen Klopp's men will be aiming to extend their Premier League unbeaten run at Anfield on Sunday. We look ahead with our data-powered Liverpool vs Fulham prediction and preview.

Liverpool vs Fulham: The Quick Hits

    Liverpool are huge favourites to maintain their 100% start at Anfield with another victory on Sunday, predicted to win 63.6% of the time by the Opta supercomputer.
    Only Wolves (five) have conceded more penalty goals than Fulham (four) in the division this season, while no team has scored more from the spot without conceding one than Liverpool (three).
    Fulham haven't won any of their last six away Premier League games (D3 L3), though their most recent victory on the road was on Merseyside in August, a 1-0 win at Everton.

Match Preview
Liverpool will look to keep touch with the Premier League summit when they welcome Fulham to Anfield on Sunday.

A Trent Alexander-Arnold equaliser was enough to earn a 1-1 draw at title rivals Manchester City last weekend, leaving Liverpool two points and two places behind early leaders Arsenal in the league table.

With Arsenal and Man City both at home this weekend as well, against Wolves and Tottenham respectively, it's vital Liverpool don't slip up on Sunday, with the Reds looking to make it seven wins from their first seven home league games this season.

Liverpool have won 19 Premier League matches in 2023 and registered at least 20 wins in all seven previous full years under Jürgen Klopp's management. They last won 20+ league games for eight years in a row between 1971 and 1980 (10 in a row), while only two managers have ever won 20+ Premier League games in eight successive calendar years: Arsene Wenger (13, 1998-2010) and Sir Alex Ferguson (eight, 2005-12).

Sunday could be a game where Liverpool need Mohamed Salah, who after not scoring or assisting in any of his first four Premier League appearances in 2023, has now managed 22 goals and 13 assists in his last 31.

Only Salah himself (40 in 2018) and Luis Suárez (37 in 2013) have ever registered more Premier League goals and assists combined in a calendar year for the Reds, while only Alexander-Arnold (17 in 2019) has managed more assists in a year.

Part of Liverpool's success has been their ability to come from behind, losing just one of their last 11 Premier League games when conceding first (W4 D6), which was after going 2-1 down in the 96th minute at Spurs in September after having two players sent off. They have won the most points from losing positions in the competition this season (12).

Eight of Fulham's last nine Premier League goals have come in the second half, though Liverpool have conceded just three goals after half-time in the top flight this season, failing to win any of those three games (D2 L1).

Fulham have done well on Merseyside in recent times, winning four of their last five away league games against Everton and Liverpool, having taken maximum points on just one of their first 55 such visits in the league beforehand.

The Cottagers head to Anfield on the back of a 3-2 home win over Wolves on Monday, with Willian scoring a pair of spot-kicks to clinch the three points in a topsy-turvy encounter. Only Arsenal's (seven) Premier League games have seen more penalties scored than Fulham's this season (six).

Marco Silva will be looking to capitalise on the extra rest his team have had ahead of Sunday's game, with six days passing between Monday's win and kick-off this weekend, while Liverpool were involved in UEFA Europa League action on Thursday, thumping Austrian side LASK 4-0 at Anfield to secure their progression as Group E winners. Salah scored his 199th Liverpool goal in that match, and he will have his sights set on reaching his double century this weekend; he also only needs one goal to break into the Premier League's top 10 all-time leading scorers.

But Klopp will be without a number of key players for Sunday's game, with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson and Diogo Jota both out for several weeks with muscle injuries while Thiago Alcântara and Andrew Robertson remain long-term absentees.

João Palhinha's return from a one-game suspension served against Wolves is a huge boost to Fulham, though Issa Diop, Adama Traoré and Rodrigo Muniz are all out injured and unavailable this weekend.

Liverpool vs Fulham Head-to-Head
Liverpool have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games against Fulham (W7 D2), a 1-0 home loss in March 2021.

Fulham have scored just four goals in 16 Premier League away games against Liverpool, and never more than once in a match. It's the lowest goals-per-game ratio (0.25) of any team to play more than 10 away games against an opponent in the competition.

The most recent meeting between the two clubs was back in May, with Mohamed Salah scoring for the eighth home game in a row, converting a penalty in the 39th minute as Liverpool claimed a 1-0 victory.


Recent Form
Liverpool's win over LASK on Thursday was just their second in their last five in all competitions, though they have now scored in 12 consecutive games, netting two or more in 10 of those outings.

Since a 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Anfield in March 2021, which at the time was their sixth consecutive league defeat suffered on home soil, Liverpool have lost just one of their last 48 Premier League matches at Anfield (W37 D10) – a 2-1 loss to Leeds United in October 2022.

Fulham's 3-2 win over Wolves on Monday was a much-needed victory, their first since early October, moving them 10 points clear of the Premier League's bottom three. It was also just the second time all season that Silva's men had scored three or more in a league game.

Opta Power Rankings
The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system that assigns an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world and 100 is the best team in the world.

Ahead of kick-off this weekend, here is the Opta Power Ranking for both sides.

RANK	TEAM	RATING
4	Liverpool	95.6
50	Fulham	85.5

Liverpool vs Fulham Opta Player Ratings
The Opta Player Ratings are something we introduced ahead of 2023-24. For a quick primer on how they're calculated, you can check our explainer here.

Before kick-off in this match, here are the top five performing players from both teams in the 2023-24 Premier League according to the Opta Player Ratings:

Liverpool
Alisson: 78.6 (out of 100)
Mohamed Salah: 77.8
Dominik Szoboszlai: 76.3
Andrew Robertson: 73.1
Virgil van Dijk: 71.8

Fulham
Bernd Leno: 69.5 (out of 100)
João Palhinha: 63.3
Tom Cairney: 62.8
Willian: 61.6
Alex Iwobi: 61.5

These Opta Player Ratings also power our set of brand-new, free-to-play gaming experiences, which you can play on Opta Analyst all season long.

Liverpool vs Fulham Prediction


Liverpool are the second-biggest favourites among the Premier League's action on Matchday 14, with their 63.6% probability of victory only bettered by Manchester City (67%) at home to Spurs, according to the Opta supercomputer.

Fulham are given just a 13.7% chance of picking up a shock away win at Anfield, while the teams shared the spoils in 22.7% of the 10,000 simulations conducted ahead of this weekend.

Liverpool are third, yet they are given a higher chance of winning the Premier League title than current leaders Arsenal, with their likelihood of lifting the famous trophy rated at 10.2% compared to the Gunners' 9.3%.

However, both are predicted to finish behind Man City, who win the title 79.3% of the time. Fulham, meanwhile, are expected to end the campaign comfortably mid-table, relegated in just 1% of simulations, with 12th their most-likely finishing spot.



https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/12/liverpool-vs-fulham-prediction/

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Bristol City and QPR interested in Fulham player
Muniz is already on a couple of teams' radars ahead of the January window.

    Championship clubs Bristol City and QPR are interested in Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz.
    Muniz's game time has been limited, both at Middlesbrough on loan last season and at Fulham this season.
    The Cottagers won't take a decision on him until they bring a replacement in.

Championship duo Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers have taken an interest in Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz ahead of the January transfer window, according to TEAMtalk.

The Brazilian forward was heavily involved for the Cottagers during his first season in London, helping to contribute to his current side's promotion back to the Premier League as an alternative option to Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Mitrovic's form saw his appearances limited, but he was still able to contribute and could class his first campaign at Craven Cottage as a success.

But he became surplus to requirements when Marco Silva's side were promoted to the top flight, with the forward being sent out on loan to Middlesbrough as the Teesside outfit looked to join the Cottagers in the top tier.

Stats in England (in all competitions)

Season	Appearances	Goals
2021/22	28	5
2022/23	17	2
2023/24	8	1

Unfortunately for him, his game time at the Riverside was limited, with Cameron Archer's arrival in January not exactly helping matters.

Muniz made just 17 appearances in all competitions for Boro, scoring twice in the protest and failing to build on a semi-promising first season in England.

This term, he has made eight competitive appearances so far, but his game time has been limited in the league.

Which other teams are interested in Rodrigo Muniz?
The Cottagers are currently weighing up whether to send him out on loan - and they may be tempted to considering he isn't winning a huge amount of game time.

In saying that, he has been part of plenty of matchday squads this term and may potentially want to bring in a replacement if he did depart, either permanently or on loan.

In terms of other teams that are interested in him, Atletico Mineiro and Gremio are believed to be keen on him, although it's unclear whether Muniz wants to return to his home nation after failing to achieve much in England.

It doesn't look as though Muniz will be departing at the very start of the window though, with Silva's side wanting to bring in another striker before they make a decision on the 22-year-old.

Should Bristol City and QPR make moves for Rodrigo Muniz?
The Robins already have some centre-forward options at their disposal, so it's fair to argue that some of their options are inexperienced and that's why they may be keen to add another senior player to their squad.

After losing Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott who can be real assets in the final third, bringing in Muniz who can score regularly at this level could be good.

QPR are a team that definitely should be looking to recruit a striker.

They did recruit Paul Smyth, who can be an asset in the final third as he showed last night. But they can't be too reliant on Lyndon Dykes and Sinclair Armstrong, with the former not guaranteed to score goals most weeks and the latter still inexperienced at this point despite the obvious quality he has.

Marti Cifuentes deserves the chance to put his stamp on the squad - and Muniz could be a good fit for him. Whether they will be able to agree a deal with their rivals remains to be seen though.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bristol-city-and-qpr-interested-in-fulham-player/

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Liverpool without five injured players for Fulham match
Liverpool's injury list, suspensions and availability ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Fulham

Liverpool return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Fulham at Anfield.

The Reds head into the game on the back of a comfortable 4-0 victory over LASK on Thursday night. Cody Gakpo, who scored twice, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were all on target for Jurgen Klopp's side.

Liverpool are currently two points behind league leaders Arsenal in the Premier League table. The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester City in their last top-flight game.

And below are the latest details and return dates for Liverpool's injured contingent ahead of Sunday's fixture against Marco Silva's side.

Alisson Becker
Alisson is likely to miss five matches but should return for the visit of Manchester United on December 17. The Brazil international picked up a hamstring injury during Saturday's draw with Manchester City at the Etihad.

Providing an update on Wednesday, Reds boss Jurgen said: "Ali is a bit lesser, so we have to see. Not day by day - he cannot play tomorrow [Thursday] or Sunday.

"Probably not the week after should be kind of OK. Alisson is not as bad [as we thought] but still bad enough. Diogo will take a little bit longer, don't know exactly. Have to see."

Expected return date: Manchester United (H), Premier League, December 17

Diogo Jota
Whereas Klopp offered a ray of light over Alisson, he seemed less optimistic about Jota. Of the forward's condition, the Reds boss said: "Diogo will take a little bit longer, we don't know exactly how long. We have to see."

That suggests that Liverpool could be without the forward, who has eight goals to his name this season, for the rest of the calendar year.

Expected return date: Unknown

Andy Robertson
Kostas Tsimikas is expected to deputise for Robertson until January at least, with the Scotland international some way off a return to action after dislocating his shoulder in October. Robertson has not played for club or country since colliding with Unai Simon during Scotland's Euro 2024 qualifier against Spain.

Providing an update on his condition last week, the left-back said: "It's so far so good; three weeks since my surgery now, so everything is progressing well. I have just got to take it bit by bit and week by week. Everything has went well up to this point, and hopefully, that continues."

Expected return date: January 2023

Thiago Alcantara
It is hoped that Thiago will be able to make a return to action in January, too. However, if his seven-month rehabilitation has taught any lessons, it is that rarely do returns from injury ever go to plan.

The Spaniard has not featured for the Reds since April's 2-1 victory at West Ham United after it was decided that cutting his 2022/23 season short would be beneficial in time for a summer return. But that has not been the case for Thiago, who briefly made a return to training in the summer before suffering a setback early into the new season.

Speaking to reporters about the midfielder last month, Klopp said: 'It's an ongoing thing, and we cannot put any kind of pressure on. We expect him to be back - I would say probably the start of the New Year - that's probably a realistic thing to try."

Expected return date: January 2023

Stefan Bajcetic
Similarly to Thiago, Bajcetic has endured an injury-hit campaign and only made two appearances across all competitions.

The young Spaniard initially suffered an adductor injury in March and has since seen his progress hampered, now suffering from a fresh setback.

Speaking recently, Bajcetic said: "Because I had the same injury before but in the other side, when I was getting the pain, I kind of thought about that, it was going to be the same. But in my mind it was like, 'it can't be the same, I need to keep playing'.

"But I did a scan. Scans are very cruel – they always show something. I remember I was at home, they rang me and they told me, 'you have a stress response'. Obviously, it was a tough moment but I kind of took it well, I think. I took it as an opportunity to get stronger, improve in some bits. I just tried to stay positive mentally."

Expected return date: Unknown



https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alisson-thiago-liverpool-injury-latest-28214935

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Middlesbrough 'not interested' in Premier League forward - but Championship rivals Bristol City and QPR linked
Middlesbrough are reportedly not interested in bringing Rodrigo Muniz back to the club – but there is believed to be interest in the forward from Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers.

The 22-year-old is under contract at Premier League outfit Fulham and spent last season on loan in the second tier with Middlesbrough. He showed glimpses of promise at the Riverside but managed just 17 appearances and two goals.

He returned to Fulham following the conclusion of the 2022/23 campaign but is yet to get off the mark for the Cottagers in the Premier League this season. According to TEAMtalk, Fulham are poised to make a decision on his future in January.

The report claims Middlesbrough are not keen on a reunion but that both Bristol City and QPR hold some interest. There is also said to be interest from Atletico Mineiro and Gremio in his native Brazil.

Muniz has missed Fulham's last two Premier League games due to injury and his last league outing was against Manchester United nearly a month ago.

He arrived in England back in 2021, joining Fulham from Flamengo.

The forward has since made 36 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring six goals.



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-not-interested-in-premier-league-forward-but-championship-rivals-bristol-city-and-qpr-linked-4431315

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 Marco Silva warns Fulham striker Carlos Vinicius to control his emotions after controversially avoiding red card against Wolves for headbutt

    Silva revealed he gave Vinicius a strong reminder about controlling his emotions
    This comes after the forward avoided being sent off for a headbutt on Monday

Marco Silva revealed he gave Carlos Vinicius a strong reminder after the Brazilian forward avoided being sent off for a headbutt on Max Kilman during Fulham's 3-2 win over Wolves.

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil voiced his frustrations after the striker appeared to direct his head towards Wolves skipper Kilman in the second half and picked up a yellow card from referee Michael Salisbury.

This comes after Vinicius struck Thiago Silva in Fulham's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in October and Cottagers boss Silva called for his player to control his emotions on the pitch.

'I have done before (spoken to Vinicius) and I did again,' Silva told a press conference ahead of Fulham's clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

'Any time that I'm doing this I'm doing so strongly because football players need to play football and not to react because the emotions are there and we need to control our emotions.


Marco Silva revealed he gave Carlos Vinicius a strong reminder to control his emotions
 

The forward collided with Max Kilman on Monday and appeared to headbutt the defender
 

Vinicius was lucky to escape with a yellow card for the incident

'From me it's clear that these sort of things can't happen again.

'I've spoken to him before, after the Chelsea game, and hopefully this was the last time.'

Fulham will have to deal with the threat of Mohamed Salah on Sunday if they are to claim back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

And Silva lauded the free-scoring forward, who has 15 goal contributions in 13 matches this season.

He added: 'He's a top player with top quality. In football it is so difficult to find players of top quality where they are so consistent and Salah has been that over the last five or six years in the Premier League.

'He scores so many goals and has the capacity to score in many ways and to assist.

'In the counter-attack or in open play he can find a way to do it and that's why he's doing so well.'

VAR was called into action for a string of incidents during Fulham's win over Wolves, including Willian's second-half added-time penalty which saw the hosts claim a late victory.

Silva wants the on-field referee to have more of an impact when officiating and for the emotions of the match not to be spoiled by the long decision-making process.

'I want them (referee) to be more assertive and the person in charge of decisions to be bigger,' he said.

'I don't like the game to be stopped so many times. I want decisions to be made quicker and for them not to take so long and for the emotions of the game to continue.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12817437/Marco-Silva-warns-Fulham-Carlos-Vinicius-control-emotions-avoiding-red-card-Wolves.html

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Opposition Analysis: Key Threats For Clash With Fulham

Anfield Anticipation: Liverpool vs Fulham
Familiar faces, potential transfer targets, and former rivals will all be returning to Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool face Fulham in the Premier League.

The clash marks the start of the Reds' busy festive schedule, where they will be looking to make up valuable ground in their push towards the Premier League title.

But today we're going to be taking a deeper look at the opposition and what to expect from Marco Silva's side.

Recent Form: Fulham's Journey to Anfield
Fulham come into the game on the back of a hugely controversial, 3-2 home victory over Wolves, where a stoppage time penalty converted by Willian secured the three points.

Prior to that, the Cottagers had just one win in seven Premier League games with that being a 3-1 victory over newly promoted Sheffield United back in October.

Their only other win since then had come against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round.

Marco Silva's side currently sit 14th in the Premier League, but comfortably sitting ten points above the relegation zone.

The former Everton boss has received plenty of plaudits during his time in West London, establishing Fulham as a decent Premier League side.

Key Threats: Fulham's Players to Watch
Joao Palhinha:
The Portuguese defensive midfielder has been regularly linked with a move to Anfield over the past 12 months, largely due to his fantastic performances last season.

Palhinha had seemingly secured a deadline day move to Bayern Munich before that move collapsed, but has kept up his fine form so far this season regardless.

The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the best ball-winning midfielders in the Premier League, averaging 9.60 duels won and 7.75 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

He also poses a threat offensively, already scoring two goals from midfield this season.

Antonee Robinson:
The full-back has also been one of Fulham's standout performers since their return to the Premier League in 2022.

Robinson is one of the most promising defensive full-backs in the division, averaging 5.83 duels won and 6.67 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Sunday could be the trickiest game of his season so far though, as he will be tasked with keeping Mo Salah quiet.

The USA international has also managed two assists for his teammates so far this season.

Willian:
The experienced Brazilian winger is Fulham's top goal scorer this season, with three goals to his name.

Willian will likely be deployed on the left-hand side of Fulham's attack and will look to exploit any space behind Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger has plenty of experience and always has a moment of magic in his locker, so Jurgen Klopp's defenders will need to be completely switched on.

If Willian doesn't perform to his best, Liverpool academy graduate Harry Wilson could make an impact from the bench.

Final Prediction: Liverpool's Prospects
I think Liverpool will win this one fairly convincingly, although the scoreline may not reflect it.

Fulham will be very organised defensively and be hard to break down, but I also don't think they will have the clinical nature or pace to cause any real problems on the counter-attack.

Therefore, I'm going to back the Reds to come out 2-0 winners on Sunday.

Final Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Fulham Goal Scorers: Virgil Van Dijk + Mohamed Salah



https://anfieldindex.com/60730/opposition-analysis-key-threats-for-clash-with-fulham.html

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Match The opposition lowdown: Fulham

Get the lowdown on Fulham ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday.
Recent form
Marco Silva's side arrive into this weekend's game on the back of a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the top flight at Craven Cottage on Monday.

That saw the Cottagers head into this weekend in 14th place in the table. They have taken 15 points from their 13 league games this season, with four wins and six defeats.

Away from home, Fulham have won once in seven matches, against Everton on the opening weekend of the campaign. They did, however, take a point off league leaders Arsenal in August, and have also picked up a draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The view from Fulham
Peter Rutzler, The Athletic

On Fulham's form this season...

Fulham are doing fine. They have not been exceptional but they are progressing steadily. Marco Silva described it as a 'solid' start last month and that feels about right. Especially after the team lost Aleksandar Mitrovic in the summer.

This whole campaign has revolved around adapting to his absence and the goals have dried up. Only the three promoted clubs have scored fewer goals. They currently have 13 on the board and by this stage last year, Mitrovic had nine on his own.

There were some lingering concerns about the team's form before the international break, particularly as the team have also been making more defensive errors than expected. But the win over Wolves has relieved the pressure. It established a 10-point gap to the bottom three.

The thing with Fulham is that they are generally beating the teams they expect to beat and losing to the ones where they expect to lose, with only one or two exceptions. That's a good way to be at this point for a team looking to stabilise their top-flight presence. Going forward, though, they will want to resolve their goalscoring issues.

On their key players...

Joao Palhinha and Bernd Leno are Fulham's two standouts. Leno has been in exceptional form once again and his saves have helped Fulham to key results, such as the win at Goodison Park and points at Brighton and Arsenal.

Palhinha nearly joined Bayern Munich in the summer but it has not drastically affected his form. He remains a crucial, tackling machine in midfield and he will thrive in games against the big teams, especially away at Anfield.

Alex Iwobi is another name who is becoming increasingly important for Fulham. Signed for £22m from Everton, he was a big investment from the club but his creativity has been much needed in an uncertain attack. He could well have a key role against Liverpool.

On Fulham's likely approach...

Marco Silva tends not to adapt his approach too much from game to game, standing firm with his 4-3-3 system. Fulham have adopted a more resilient approach, though, for these big away games, and that paid off at the Emirates where they were able to frustrate Arsenal for long spells.

Expect to see a compact 4-4-2 out of possession, but a team also keen to strike on the counter-attack.

Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson, Palhinha, Iwobi, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez, De Cordova-Reid.

Previous meetings
Liverpool won when the sides met at Anfield back in May, with a Mohamed Salah penalty settling a tight contest.

At Craven Cottage in August 2022, a 2-2 draw was played out, with Salah and Darwin Nunez on target.

Fulham last won on Merseyside in March 2021, a 1-0 victory which was their first at Anfield since May 2012. Those are the only two away wins the Cottagers have recorded in this fixture.

What they said

Marco Silva
"It's always really tough to play at Anfield. The quality they have, the manager they have, the crowd is going to push them – they are three really important factors that can make things really difficult for us.

"If you look at it on paper, it shows it's going to be a really tough task for us because they have been doing really well, with the style they've been playing at home, and credit for them.

"It shows that it's going to be tough, but at the same time it's there for someone to break. We are going to be the next ones to play against them, [and] it's always a chance to break that home record that they have right now.

"This is a very good challenge but that is a motivation for us as well."



https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/opposition-lowdown-fulham-0

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Fresh Middlesbrough stance on Sam Greenwood emerges as West Ham United and Fulham eye Leeds United loanee
Middlesbrough know it will be difficult to sign Leeds United loanee Sam Greenwood permanently without promotion, according to TEAMtalk.

The publication reported on its website on Saturday (2 December) that a permanent stay there is a "very serious option" if promotion is achieved.

The 21-year-old attacker is currently on a season-long loan at Boro, where he has scored four goals from 13 appearances.

"TEAMtalk has learned from sources that Middlesbrough already know that without promotion they will find it hard to hold on to loan sensation Sam Greenwood beyond this season.

"And we understand that West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Fulham, Leicester and Southampton have all been keeping tabs on Greenwood's progress in the North-East.

"Should Boro earn promotion, however, then a permanent stay at the Riverside could well become a very serious option for the 21-year-old."

Elland Road return?
It remains to be seen what will happen with young talent Greenwood, who seemingly has a number of options available to him.

And that is not surprising given the attacker's fine displays this season, with the youngster currently on four goals and two assists.

For now, all that the Whites loanee can do is continue to impress on the pitch as Boro look to climb the Championship standings.

Promotion does, however, seem more likely at Leeds, with the Elland Road club currently sitting third in the table, with Middlesbrough occupying 10th spot.

Greenwood does, of course, have history in the top flight, having made 18 Premier League appearances for the Whites last season and seven the season before.

He could be back in the competition soon even if his temporary or current club do not clinch promotion this season, with a Premier League side potentially taking a chance on the player.



https://motleedsnews.com/transfers/fresh-middlesbrough-stance-on-sam-greenwood-emerges-as-west-ham-united-and-fulham-eye-leeds-united-loanee/

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Preview: Fulham's Tough Test at Liverpool

Liverpool v Fulham – The Premier League Preview
With their successful Europa League group stage campaign now behind them, Liverpool must concentrate on the Premier League and their hopeful ascent back to the top of the division. Manchester City have their £115 million charge related issues to contend with at some point this season, whereas Arsenal will soon start to feel the full force of Champions League fatigue, something Mikel Arteta has not had to contend with since his arrival as the Gunners manager. Jürgen Klopp must see this transitional year as an opportunity to win major silverware, whether that be in Europe or at home, and must now start to hunt down all available points. Fulham arrive this Sunday with a desire to survive, and I just hope that Liverpool invite them in with a clear intention to cause three points worth of damage.

The Fulham Availability
In terms of availability, Rodrigo Muniz, Adama Traore, and Issa Diop are ruled out for the trip north. Joao Palhinha is now available after a one-game suspension, which is a huge boost for the visitors. Fulham come into this game on the back of a good home win, as they overcame visiting Wolves 3-2. Prior to that, a 3-1 loss away to the impressive Aston Villa, followed a very disappointing 0-1 home defeat to the inconsistent Manchester United. The West London outfit currently sits 14th in the Premier League, with 15 points taken from their 13 games played. Marco Silva already has a solid ten-point gap between his men and the relegation places, therefore will now start to build towards a hopeful mid-table finish.

A Predicted Line-Up for Fulham
GK – Bernd Leno RB – Timothy Castagne RCB – Calvin Bassey LCB – Tim Ream LB – Antonee Robinson CDM – João Palhinha CM – Saša Lukić ACM – Andreas Pereira RW – Alex Iwobi CF – Raúl Jiménez LW – Willian

In a 4-2-3-1 system, Fulham will be looking to outwork and outmuscle their richer opponents, with opportunities limited. Harry Wilson will be keen to garner solid minutes against his former employers, whereas João Palhinha will be hoping to impress potential future paymasters.

The Liverpool Availability
Third-placed Liverpool will be very happy with 28 points garnered from their own 13 games played. A very welcome and impressive 1-1 draw away to Manchester City represents Liverpool's last league outing, after a comprehensive 3-0 win at home to Brentford. That win came following a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Luton.

In terms of those available, Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić are still sidelined until late January, which is the timeline set out for Andy Robertson also. Alisson Becker is out until the visit of Manchester United on the 17th December, whilst Diogo Jota could be out until February.

Liverpool's Expected Line-Up
GK – Caoimhin Kelleher RB – Trent Alexander Arnold RCB – Joël Matip LCB – Virgil van Dijk LB – Kostas Tsimikas RCM – Dominik Szoboszlai CDM – Alexis Mac Allister LCM – Curtis Jones RF – Mohamed Salah CF – Darwin Núñez LF – Luis Díaz

In a 4-3-3 (hybrid) system, Liverpool's German manager will be hoping for the same attacking display from their most recent Europa League contest. Game management can be engineered and players preserved, though only once games are safely won, which will be the first half intention from Liverpool.

How Will This Contest Play Out
The home team should stride into the game with a desire to overwhelm and outscore Fulham by a convincing margin. The levels of performance and experience in the Anfield ranks should be too much to handle, as the six-time European champions start to remember who they are and what they can achieve.

Player to Watch – Darwin Núñez

Score Prediction: Liverpool 3 – 0 Fulham



https://anfieldindex.com/60719/preview-fulhams-tough-test-at-liverpool.html

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Liverpool release early team news ahead of Fulham clash
Liverpool have released early team news ahead of their meeting with Fulham at Anfield tomorrow in the Premier League.

Liverpool will host Fulham on Sunday as they attempt to keep pace at the top of the Premier League. They'll do so on the back of two positive results - a draw at the Etihad against Manchester City and then a thoroughly convincing 4-0 win over LASK in the Europa League.

The Reds have now released their early team news for the Fulham game on the club's official site. The suggestion there is that Jurgen Klopp will have exactly the same squad to choose from that he did against LASK.

That means no Alisson or Diogo Jota returns, not that either was expected. Andy Robertson, Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic all remain out as the Reds' long-term absentees, too.

But Ibrahima Konaté is fine to play. Klopp took him off on 56 minutes against LASK, saying afterwards that it was a 'medical decision' designed to limit his minutes. Whether that means a start against Fulham is anyone's guess but the Frenchman will be available and in the squad.

Liverpool were careful not to overuse players in midweek with the busy winter period now upon them. It means there aren't really any fitness concerns here either. Just about everyone should be ready to start if Klopp wants them too.

As for Fulham, they'll have Joao Palhinha back from suspension but do have four guaranteed absences. Issa Diop, Adama Traore, Tyrese Francois and Rodrigo Muniz are out and won't make the game at Anfield.

Kenny Tete and Tosin Adarabioyo are two more doubts. Marco Silva says the pair need minutes in matches before they're true options for him - it suggests they could be in the squad to face Liverpool if only to play a few minutes at the end.



https://anfieldwatch.co.uk/liverpool-release-early-team-news-ahead-of-fulham-clash/

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'He's not the answer'... Pundit says £5m player won't solve Fulham's problems
Fulham are struggling to score goals this season.

The Whites have scored just 13 goals in 13 games this season, and that tally would be even more worrying if it weren't for two questionable penalties against Wolves on Monday.

Of course, whenever any team is failing to score goals, the finger is pointed at the centre-forward, and speaking on Premier League Productions, Jermaine Beckford has made the point that Raul Jimenez isn't the answer for Fulham.

Jimenez isn't the answer
Beckford gave his verdict on the £5m man.

"As good as an all-round centre-forward Jimenez is, he's not the answer. If you look at his record and average it out,  it's borderline nine, 10, 11 goals on average throughout his career. I'm not taking anything away from him because as an all-round player he's very good, but you need a goalscorer, he's not the answer unfortunately. That leaves an opportunity for Vinicius who needs minutes, he needs to play and he hasn't been afforded that," Beckford said.

Ridiculous
Beckford isn't saying anything that we don't already know here, and the fact that anyone at Fulham would've thought Jimenez was the answer was ridiculous.

Just look at his record. He's scored one Premier League goal in 18 months.

There's a reason he cost just £6m, he wasn't wanted at Wolves, and if you're looking to replace a £45m asset in the shape of Aleksandar Mitrovic, you need to spend a bit more.

We'd love to see Jimenez come good at Fulham, but, in all honesty, it's hard to see how he will ever get to the point where he could be described as a success at Craven Cottage.

Jimenez has been a complete and utter flop so far, and Fulham undoubtedly need to go and get a new striker in January.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/12/02/hes-not-the-answer-pundit-says-5m-player-wont-solve-fulhams-problems/

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Mo Salah looking to join 4 Liverpool greats in 200 club with goal against Fulham
Mohamed Salah is on the brink of achieving a milestone only four Liverpool players have ever reached, a historic feat even by his own standards.

The Reds are one goal short of recording 50 for the season in all games.

Liverpool, with 28 points, are currently nine points better off than were at the same stage of last season (after 13 games).

Jurgen Klopp's side have avoided defeat in 10 of their last 11 Premier League games in which they have fallen behind, coming back to win four and draw six.
 
History beckons for the Egyptian king
Salah needs one goal to register 200 goals for Liverpool in all competitions and would become only the fifth player to achieve the feat for the club after Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285), Gordon Hodgson (241) and Billy Liddell (228).

Sunday could also be Salah's 300th start for Liverpool in all competitions.

He requires one goal to reach 150 in his Premier League career, his first two coming while at Chelsea. He would be the 11th player to achieve the feat in the competition's history.

A hat-trick would see Salah reach 150 Premier League goals for Liverpool.

The Egyptian has scored in 17 of his last 19 appearances at Anfield in league and cup, netting 20 times in that sequence.

The Anfield clash last season was won by his 39th-minute penalty, a goal which took him into outright fifth place on the club's all-time goalscorers list.

Mixed record
In the Premier League era Liverpool have won 19, drawn six and lost seven of their 32 meetings with Fulham, while at Anfield they have won 10 with four draws and two defeats.

The Reds clean sheet at Anfield last season was their first in five league meetings, home and away.

Fulham have scored 26 goals in 32 Premier League encounters with Liverpool, with four of those coming at Anfield.

Marco Silva has faced Liverpool seven times in his managerial career. Fulham are the fourth different club he has faced the Reds with.

His only victory came at the first attempt when his Hull team won 2-0 on Humberside in February 2017. In his team that day, at left-back, was Andy Robertson.

Other milestones up for grabs
Joel Matip's next league appearance will be his 150th for the club. Last weekend he played his 200th game for Liverpool in all competitions.

The Reds are seeking a fourth consecutive home clean sheet in all competitions for the first time since December 2021 in a run of five.

They could also register back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season in all competitions.

If they score twice, they will register 500 goals at Anfield under Klopp. This will be his 219th game at the ground as Reds boss.

Liverpool have won all 10 of their games at Anfield in all competitions this season, each by a margin of two or more goals.

They're only the second English top-flight side ever to win 10 consecutive home games by at least two goals, after Wolves from December 1938 to April 1939, in a run of 12.

A look at the visitors' form
Fulham have won one of their seven away league games this season. It came on the opening day of the campaign across Stanley Park when Bobby De Cordova-Reid netted the only goal on 73 minutes.

They have picked up six points out of a possible 21 on the road with draws coming at Arsenal (2-2), Crystal Palace (0-0) and Brighton (1-1).

This is their fifth visit to a top-six side so far this season. Following the Arsenal draw they have lost at Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

The Cottagers have yet to concede a goal in the opening 15 minutes of any league game this season.

Harry Wilson is the only player to feature in all of Fulham's games this season in league and cup.

This Season's Scorers
Alexander-Arnold 1, Endo 1, Robertson 1, own goals 3

Fulham: Willian 3, De Cordova-Reid 2, Iwobi 2, Palhinha 2, Vinicius 2, Cairney 1, Jimenez 1, Muniz Carvalho 1, Pereira 1, Ream 1, Wilson 1, own goals 2



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2023/12/mo-salah-looking-to-join-4-liverpool-greats-in-200-club-with-goal-against-fulham/

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Liverpool's 'insulting' transfer bid will leave forward being booed by supporters who adored him
Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho have enjoyed contrasting fortunes since trading Fulham for Liverpool

Harvey Elliott will be well-aware that he is unlikely to get a warm reception when Liverpool host Fulham on Sunday.

The England Under-21s midfielder was the Premier League's youngest ever player when he joined the Reds from the Cottagers as a 16-year-old in the summer of 2019, having made just three appearances for Fulham before his boyhood side swooped. The transfer ultimately damaged relations between the two clubs further, having already been fractured by Liverpool's failed efforts to sign Clint Dempsey in 2012.

Fulham were entitled to training compensation for the teenager, but the Reds' initial offer of £850k plus add-ons was deemed 'insulting' by the Cottagers. The Londoners had instead wanted £10m for Elliott, with a further £10m in add-ons.

Unable to agree on a compensation amount, the case went to tribunal with relations strained once again as a result. The Professional Football Compensation Committee ordered Liverpool, in February 2021, to pay an initial £1.2m along with £300k for Elliott, having signed his first professional contract in July 2020, with another £200k due when he pens a second professional contract. This was activated in July 2021, five months after the tribunal.

Further payments are based on cumulative first-team appearances and senior international appearances. The maximum Fulham can receive is £4.3m, which would be triggered by Elliott making 100 first-team appearances for the Reds while also earning an England debut.

Senior international recognition currently eludes the 20-year-old, but he boasts 84 appearances for Liverpool. The Cottagers will also receive 20% of the fee from any future sale of the midfielder.

Fulham were confirmed to be pleased with the fee, which was a record for a 16-year-old, even though it was considerably less than their demands. Yet then Cottagers boss Scott Parker publicly hit out at the figure, calling it madness.

"I was disappointed in it all because this is a player that had been developed at this club for a long, long time," he said. "We gave him his debut. You don't want to go and spend £20-30m on players. That's why the Academy is so important for us.

"We want to develop these players. But we have developed that player for a big club to take him. Four million quid for a player we developed and thought the world of, to then leave like he did, is madness really. Elliott has the potential to be a top-class football player, but Liverpool have taken him off us for minimal numbers for what he's capable of."

Relations have since soothed between the Reds and Fulham, aided by the £12m sale of Harry Wilson in July 2021. However, it later emerged that the Wales international was technically at Craven Cottage on loan, with the permanent transfer delayed until 2022 in order to get around Championship FFP regulations.

Liverpool then decided to send Neco Williams on loan to Fulham in January 2022, with loans and pathway director David Woodfine and then-sporting director Julian Ward investing a lot personally to get the deal over the line on transfer deadline day. With the switch sanctioned to maximise the defender's playing time at an appropriate club in a World Cup year, the deal was a straight loan as the Cottagers only covered the Wales international's wages, and he would play a key role in helping them win promotion back to the Premier League.

But while relations between the Reds and Fulham are in a much healthier state these days than they were when Liverpool first signed Elliott, it is a different story when it comes to Cottagers supporters' own feelings towards the midfielder.

"Harvey Elliott, you're a w****r!" and "You're just a s**t Harry Wilson!" were the two chants aimed in his direction from travelling fans at Anfield back in May, as he came on as a late substitute in the Reds' 1-0 win. Whether he starts or is a substitute against Fulham on Sunday, he perhaps won't be surprised if he is inflicted to similar treatment.

But Elliott has a clear future with the Reds. Yet it's a different story for the last player Liverpool signed from Fulham. 18 months after trading Craven Cottage for Anfield, Fabio Carvalho is arguably already at a career crossroads.

The Portuguese also joined the Reds at the end of his contract, in the summer of 2022, but his switch was far more amicable. Negotiations with Fulham initially took place at the same time as Williams' loan move the other way was being finalised.

However, the two clubs ran out of time to complete the move before the transfer window closed despite agreeing a deal, and Liverpool being happy to loan the forward back to Fulham for the remainder of the season to continue his progress under Marco Silva.

With both parties keen to avoid a repeat of the Elliott saga and another tribunal, the Reds negotiated a £5m compensation fee with Fulham for the out-of-contract 19-year-old, with the deal also including add-ons that could bump the final cost up by a further £2.7m along with a 20% sell-on clause.

Carvalho - with permission from Fulham - had already visited Liverpool's AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, where he met with Reds boss Klopp and the coaching staff, underwent a medical and agreed personal terms on a five-year contract prior to confirmation of the deal in May. Meanwhile, the player had not wanted the transfer made public until the end of the season out of respect for his Fulham team-mates as they successfully chased promotion back to the Premier League as champions.

Consequently, when making his Premier League debut for Liverpool against his former club at Craven Cottage, he avoided the jeers that Elliott was subjected to. While the manner of his team-mate's exit when still only a fledgling had not been forgotten by supporters, neither had what the Portuguese achieved at the club in comparison, returning 10 goals and eight assists from 36 appearances in 2021/22 to fire them to promotion and the Championship title, before looking to move on.

Yet with Fulham now an established Premier League outfit as they travel to Anfield, Carvalho must wonder if he was hasty to move on when he did. After all, the last 18 months of his career have not gone to plan as he found his game-time increasingly limited and his progress stalled.

He made 16 appearances before the mid-season World Cup in Qatar last season, starting just six times and only totalling 520 minutes of senior action. Yet he'd play just five times following the return of club football, and featured for only 75 minutes in 2023 (66 of them coming in a mid-January FA Cup third round replay win over Wolves).

There was speculation regarding his future as a result, as RB Leipzig looked to sign him permanently. The Bundesliga outfit would have a bid believed to be in the region of around £10m rejected, before settling on a season-long loan move instead.

With it agreed the player was in need of more senior action, they fought off competition to seal Carvalho's signature. At the time of his loan exit, The ECHO understood that Liverpool were unwilling to entertain the idea of letting him leave on a permanent basis just 12 months into his career on Merseyside.

Meanwhile, club sources were adamant that the forward's best years remain at Anfield, with there a confidence that Leipzig would offer the best environment for him to start to fulfil the potential that made him one of the most coveted young players in Europe at the turn of 2022.

But having joined RB Leipzig at the end of June, the move is yet to work out for either player or both clubs. Now five months into his time in Germany, he is featuring even less in the Bundesliga than he managed at Anfield during the first half of last season, with his flailing fortunes making him almost easy to overlook and forget.

The 21-year-old has featured for just 257 minutes across 12 appearances for his temporary club, starting just once in the Bundesliga and making two late substitute appearances in the Champions League. Meanwhile, a second round DFB-Pokal exit to VfL Wolfsburg last month has limited his opportunities further, while he was again named as a substitute for the club's clash with FC Heidenheim on Saturday.

While it previously would not have been a surprise to see Leipzig try to persuade Liverpool into selling Carvalho permanently next year, should he have impressed in Germany, so far the evidence must leave their fans wondering why they were so keen to sign the forward in the first place. Meanwhile, those of a Reds persuasion must be questioning whether his best years really remain at Anfield after all.

In truth, he has not been helped by intense competition for places and the fact that the Bundesliga outfit, much like the Reds, don't play with a number 10 - which remains his favoured position. Instead, his snippets of action have come on the flanks, with him failing to provide any goal contributions as a result.

However, an opening will potentially present itself to Carvalho in the New Year after the German winter break at least, with it reported that Emil Forsberg is set to complete a January transfer to Leipzig sister-club New York Red Bulls. And Leipzig manager Marco Rose has urged him to 'excel' in training in order to win a place in his side.

"He's a good boy, a good footballer. You can see his qualities," Rose said of Carvalho recently. "He has real goals in front of him in his position.

"He's close, but he has to stick with it. Then he'll definitely get opportunities again and again, to show yourself. He is broadening our squad and has been getting more playing time in the last few games. He has to use this and excel in training too."




https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpools-insulting-transfer-bid-leave-28216769

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Predicted Liverpool lineup against Fulham: van Dijk, Szoboszlai to return; Nunez up front

Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Darwin Nunez will return to the Liverpool starting lineup against Fulham on Sunday.
A win on Sunday against Fulham can take Liverpool above Manchester City if the reigning Premier League champions fail to beat Tottenham Hotspur later in the day. The Reds are undoubtedly the better team on paper, and the fans will be expecting a strong performance here.

Liverpool picked up an impressive draw away to Manchester City in their last league outing, and they should be come out on top here. But the home side will be without the services of their three long-term absentees — Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andrew Robertson.

All three players are out for the foreseeable future, and they are only expected to return to action next year. Meanwhile, Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker picked up knocks against Manchester City, and they will not be available to take on Fulham.

The Reds are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal in the absence of Alisson. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas will continue as the full-backs. The duo will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Ibrahima Konate is likely to get a start here as well after being withdrawn at the hour mark during the midweek. Virgil van Dijk will start alongside him in the central defensive partnership. Meanwhile, Klopp spoke about Konate's withdrawal during his pre-match press conference.

The Liverpool boss said, "Ibou, top [performance]. That we took him off was a medical decision. No risks, stuff like this, give him minutes but not too long."



In the midfield, Alexis Mac Allister will come into the side as the defensive midfielder. The Argentine international will look to keep things compact in the middle of the park. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones will add creativity and drive to the side. Finally, Darwin Nunez should lead the line for the hosts, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz on either side of him.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz



https://thehardtackle.com/news/2023/12/03/predicted-liverpool-lineup-against-fulham-van-dijk-szoboszlai-to-return-nunez-up-front/

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Why isn't Liverpool vs Fulham Premier League game live on TV in UK today?
Anfield clash not available to supporters in the UK

Liverpool are offered another favourable chance of piling more pressure on their Premier League title rivals later today.

Anfield has been a fortress this season and opponents Fulham have not won any of their last fix away games in the League.

With that in mind, it would be a major shock if Jurgen Klopp's side slip up, having won all ten of their games at home this season.

Sadly, however, fans in the UK will not be able to watch the game. The fixture was originally scheduled for a 3pm Saturday slot but was pushed back due to the Reds being involved in the Europa League.

As such, it cannot be shown on TV in the UK, with West Ham's clash with Crystal Palace instead taking the 2pm GMT slot on Sunday, shown live on Sky Sports.

Still, supporters can keep right across the action with Standard Sport's dedicated match blog. Dom Smith will be providing expert analysis from the ground.

Match of the Day 2 will also show highlights when it airs at 10.30pm on Sunday night.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-fc-vs-fulham-premier-league-watch-tv-channel-stream-today-b1124367.html

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Paul Tierney: The VAR on duty for Liverpool vs Fulham

    Liverpool host Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon
    Jurgen Klopp has a long-running feud with Tierney
    Fulham boss Marco Silva has criticised Tierney earlier this season

Referee appointments used to pass by without much incident. But the modern fan's sense of persecution and paranoia now makes the PGMOL's release of officials almost as keenly anticipated as each club's team sheet.

Liverpool and Fulham fans scanning the list of appointments ahead of their Sunday kick off at 14:00 (GMT) will have spotted Stuart Attwell is down as the on-pitch referee. However, the eye is quickly drawn to the name lurking beneath the video assistant referee (VAR) section. Paul Tierney will be the official watching on from Stockley Park.

Impressively, Tierney has incited the wrath of both fanbases and staff members of Liverpool and Fulham in recent years. Here's everything you need to know about the VAR this weekend.

Paul Tierney's 2023/24 Premier League matches as VAR

Date	Result
19/08/23	Liverpool 3-1 Bournemouth
20/08/23	West Ham 3-1 Chelsea
25/08/23	Chelsea 3-0 Luton
02/09/23	Brentford 2-2 Bournemouth
16/09/23	Wolves 1-3 Liverpool
24/09/23	Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham
30/09/23	Everton 1-2 Luton
04/11/23	Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
11/11/23	Wolves 2-1 Tottenham

Alexis Mac Allister's first home appearance for Liverpool ended inside an hour. Thomas Bramall deemed the Argentine's tackle on Bournemouth's Ryan Christie to be worthy of a straight red card. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp unsurprisingly called the decision "harsh" and "a mistake" but even the beneficiary Andoni Iraola admitted: "In real life, it did not look like a red card."

Tierney did not overrule Bramall on that occasion or when Dominik Szoboszlai won a soft penalty in the first half of a 3-1 win for the Reds.

Mikel Arteta was mightily glad that Tierney did intervene during September's north London derby, flagging Cristian Romero's second-half handball to award the penalty which led to Arsenal's second goal of the afternoon.

Tierney can labour over decisions - he took a particularly long time to decide that Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal for Everton in defeat to Luton Town was onside - but he hasn't made any major gaffes this campaign.

Paul Tierney's record as VAR in Liverpool games

Club	Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Red Cards for & against	Penalties for & against
Liverpool	10	8	2	0	1:0	6:1

"We have our history with Tierney," Klopp raged after a particularly hectic 4-3 victory for Liverpool over Tottenham Hotspur in April. "I really don't know what he has against us."

The ongoing feud between Liverpool's manager and the Wigan-born official stretches back to December 2017 when Tierney disallowed Dominic Solanke's bundled finish in a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion. That incident came before VAR was introduced and most of Klopp's gripes with Tierney have revolved around his on-pitch refereeing.

At the end of a spiky 2-2 draw against Spurs in December 2021, Klopp sidled up to Tierney and was caught on a microphone saying: "I have no problems with any referees, it's only you." After that game, Tierney was removed from VAR duty for Liverpool's match against Chelsea the following month.

When Tierney has been allowed to distantly oversee a Liverpool game, the Reds have fared very favourably; winning eight and drawing two of the ten such matches.

Tierney has seen Liverpool win six penalties in ten games and only concede one. That solitary spot kick came in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City in November 2020. Kevin De Bruyne stepped up from 12 yards after Joe Gomez had been deemed to handle the ball in the box following a typically lengthy review from Tierney. Yet, the Belgian missed. Klopp was more concerned with Liverpool's condensed fixture list than the penalty that day.

Paul Tierney's record as VAR in Fulham games
Tierney is yet to be in front of a monitor watching a Fulham game in Stockley Park. The Cottagers have had the pleasure of getting whistled on the pitch by Tierney on 17 occasions across various competitions - but Fulham are yet to win a Premier League game with Tierney as the referee (D3 L6).

Marco Silva branded Tierney's decision to send Calvin Bassey off in Fulham's 2-2 August draw with Arsenal a "joke". The former Ajax centre-back was booked for time-wasting before receiving a second yellow card after a cynical block on Eddie Nketiah. Silva argued that Arsenal's reputation impacted Tierney's decision at the Emirates Stadium.

"It is always going to be not the big clubs who suffer more," the Portuguese coach sighed.



https://www.90min.com/posts/paul-tierney-var-duty-liverpool-vs-fulham

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Fulham taking serious interest in new Preston North End star
Preston North End starlet Kian Best is drawing interest from Fulham, a Patreon report from Alan Nixon has said.

Preston North End have seen 18-year-old Best nail down a place in Ryan Lowe's first-team this season. He made his senior debut on the opening day of the season and has played 11 times across all competitions overall.

His displays have seen him become an England U19 international and he's quickly emerged as one of the Championship's most promising talents. Now, it seems his displays have caught the eye in the Premier League.

Reporter Nixon has said on his Patreon that Fulham are keeping close tabs on Best's situation. Scout Brian Talbot has been watching over the Preston youngster and has are forming a dossier on his talents ahead of a potential move in the future.

Best is under contract at Deepdale until the summer of 2025 after penning terms in the summer. He mainly plays on the left as a wing-back or full-back but has played as a centre-back and defensive midfielder before too.

Destined for a step up?
After making an eye-catching breakthrough with Preston in the early stages of the season, many have tipped Best for a step up in the years to come. Whether that comes as soon as this winter though, time will tell.

It wouldn't be a surprise if Fulham aren't the only side keeping tabs on his talents either. The Cottagers are the first to take a serious interest though, as per Nixon, so it will be interesting to see if they take things to a more serious extent when the window comes around in less than a month.

Best had started four consecutive Championship games before dropping to the bench against QPR on Friday night. Andrew Hughes started at left-back as Lowe switched to a four-man defence.



https://the72.co.uk/2023/12/03/fulham-taking-serious-interest-in-new-preston-north-end-star/