Monday Fulham Stuff - 0/12/24...

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Silva hails Robinson after Fulham's draw with Arsenal
Marco Silva hailed Antonee Robinson as "one of the best left-backs in this league" after Fulham's 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Robinson has been in excellent form for the Whites and was impressive again as they battled to a point against the title-chasing Gunners.

"He's been great for us. He's one of the best left-backs in this league," boss Silva declared.

"It's not just the way he is able to stop players, but the way he is able help ourselves.

"In open play last season he was the full-back in this league with most assists and this season is probably one of the full-backs with the most assists.

"He's a top player and a great professional. He's a proper athlete and is improving in some defensive positions we want him to improve.

"He's improving season by season, and week by week you can see he is improving, and we are really proud to have him with us."

William Saliba equalised after an early goal against the run of play by Raul Jimenez had put Fulham in front.

Arsenal dominated possession but Silva's side were resolute and deserved their point.

William Saliba equalised after an early goal against the run of play by Raul Jimenez had put the Whites in front.

"It was a tough game. We knew Arsenal would be a difficult opponent, but we showed great fighting spirit," said Silva.

"We didn't create many chances but we created a difficult situation for Arsenal."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-star-is-one-of-the-best-in-the-league-silva-declares

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"He could be a big asset for Tottenham..." – BBC Pundit backs Tottenham to sign Premier League full back
Tottenham Hotspur have been left thin on options in the left-back role given how Daniel Levy is yet to bring in a backup to Destiny Udogie, whom the North Londoners have grown quite reliant on of late; however, the Lilywhites are backed to sign Fulham defender Antonee Robinson.

Spurs suffered a lot when the Italian was injured in the twilight of the previous campaign, and many expected that Tottenham would sign a new left back in the summer; however, the club chose to go ahead with Ben Davies as the backup in the role for the season with the centre back duo of Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin filling in when needed.

Should Tottenham sign Antonee Robinson?
The North Londoners could be finally getting a new left back, not a backup but a starting quality. BBC pundit Andy Reid has backed either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United to sign the 27-year-old fullback. Former Spurs player backed his former employers to sign the player while watching him in action earlier today when Fulham hosted Arsenal at Craven Cottage.

Speaking about Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live Online, Reid said:

    "The Fulham fans won't thank me for this, but Antonee Robinson could play at one of the bigger clubs in the league. He could be a big asset for Tottenham or Man United."



https://tothelaneandback.com/2024/12/09/he-could-be-a-big-asset-for-tottenham-bbc-pundit-backs-tottenham-to-sign-premier-league-full-back/

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West Ham and Fulham Target Luiz for Midfield Reinforcement
Douglas Luiz: Premier League Return Sparks Transfer Race

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and one name that is gaining traction is Douglas Luiz. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, West Ham and Fulham have "joined the race" to sign the Juventus midfielder, with Manchester United also keeping a close watch on the 26-year-old.

Luiz, who moved from Aston Villa to Juventus for £42 million last summer, has struggled to make the desired impact in Turin. This has prompted Juventus to reportedly offer him to Premier League clubs in a bid to raise funds for a new striker and defender. The Brazilian's pedigree in English football, highlighted by his nine league goals for Villa last season, makes him an attractive option for several suitors.

West Ham's Bid for Reinvention
West Ham's interest in Luiz comes at a crucial juncture. With Julen Lopetegui under pressure and the Hammers languishing in 14th place, adding a player of Luiz's calibre could inject creativity and drive into their midfield. Gazzetta dello Sport notes that Luiz could be a "valuable addition" to help the London side recover in the second half of the campaign.

Having spent heavily in the summer, West Ham's disappointing form has left fans and decision-makers frustrated. Should a managerial change occur, Luiz's arrival could act as both a statement of intent and a tool for revival.

Fulham's European Ambitions
Fulham, in contrast, are enjoying a strong season, and their interest in Luiz underlines their ambition to push for European qualification. Bringing in the Brazilian would bolster their midfield options and further enhance their competitive edge. As Gazzetta dello Sport states, Fulham see Luiz as a player who can help maintain their upward trajectory.

With the club performing beyond expectations, adding a proven Premier League talent like Luiz could signal their intent to establish themselves among the league's upper echelon.

Juventus' Financial Conundrum
Juventus appear ready to part ways with Luiz just months after securing his services. The Italian club is reportedly looking to recoup the £42 million they paid for him, with their January plans hinging on this sale. While Luiz's performances in Turin have been underwhelming, his Premier League exploits suggest he could thrive in the right environment.

For Premier League clubs like West Ham and Fulham, Luiz represents an opportunity to secure a versatile and experienced midfielder capable of influencing games in both attacking and defensive phases.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis
The potential signing of Douglas Luiz could be transformative. The Hammers have struggled this season, and Luiz's arrival might provide the midfield spark they desperately need. His experience in the Premier League, combined with his goal-scoring ability, could reignite their campaign.

Fans will likely question whether Luiz alone is enough to fix West Ham's deeper issues, particularly with the managerial uncertainty surrounding Lopetegui. However, pairing Luiz with a new manager who understands how to utilise his strengths could prove pivotal in turning their season around.

For Fulham, Luiz's addition would signal their intent to solidify themselves as a top-half team. Supporters would undoubtedly welcome a player of his calibre, viewing it as a natural progression in their push for European qualification.

The decision ultimately rests on Juventus' willingness to negotiate and the financial resolve of West Ham and Fulham. Regardless of where Luiz ends up, his return to the Premier League would bring intrigue and excitement for fans across the league.



https://eplindex.com/124206/west-ham-and-fulham-target-luiz-for-midfield-reinforcement.html

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Silva: 'Robinson is one of the best left backs in the league'
Marco Silva saluted Antonee Robinson's progress after Fulham held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

The Portuguese head coach hailed the American international as one of the Premier League's best left backs after he nullified Bukayo Saka and continued his excellent form for the Whites this term.

Silva told his post-match press conference:

"He's been great for us. He's one of the best left-backs in this league. It's not just the way he is able to stop players, but the way he is able help ourselves. In open play last season he was the full-back in this league with most assists and this season is probably one of the full-backs with the most assists.

He's a top player and a great professional. He's a proper athlete and is improving in some defensive positions we want him to improve. He's improving season by season, and week by week you can see he is improving, and we are really proud to have him with us."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/12/silva-robinson-is-one-of-the-best-left-backs-in-the-league/

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Parsonson powers Fulham Women into round four
Madi Parsonson made one goal and then scored a superb winner to send Fulham Women into the fourth round of the FA Cup after a derby win at local rivals Brentford this afternoon.

The Whites made a strong start at Bedfont as Ella Newman drove over in the third minute and Steve Jaye's came close to an opener again when Ellie Olds connected with a inch-perfect cross from midfielder Stella Gandee Morgan but volleyed wide of the target. Brentford gradually got themselves into the contest and almost took a wind-assisted lead when Chloe Webb's left-wing cross almost floated over a wrong-footed Amber Webber in the Fulham goal.

The hosts then spurned a couple of good chances in quick succession to take the lead. First, Ashley Cheatley fired wide from a tight angle and then Chloe Logie lofted an effort over the crossbar after latching onto an intelligent through ball from Nikki Woods. An open contest saw Fulham go straight up the other end and test home goalkeeper Evie Witek through Gandee Morgan and then Olds, with the striker seeing a shot turned aside for a corner.

Fulham started the second period on the front foot and got their reward two minutes after the resumption. Parsonson floated over a perfect cross and the experienced Olds headed home the opening goal with aplomb. Brentford almost equalised within 90 seconds only for Woods to shoot straight at Webber when the visitors had failed to clear Cheatley's cross.

Bo Taylor was denied another smart Wittek save just after the hour mark as the game began to become significantly stretched. The Bees were throwing players forward in search of an equaliser and their attacking approach paid off with eighteen minutes remaining. Woods lofted a ball over the Fulham defence and Logie lashed a powerful finish past Webber and high into the net.

But the hosts were level for less than two minutes. Parsonson took the tie by the scruff of the neck and followed up to fire Fulham back in front after Wittek had done wonderfully to keep out the former Dulwich star's initial shot. Brentford threw everything at their local rivals in the closing stages, with the Whites indebted to Webber, who did brilliantly to deny Cheatley in a one-on-one right at the death.

Fulham held on to end Brentford's unbelievable 20-match winning run – with the Tier 5 side set to learn their fourth round opponents in tomorrow lunchtime's draw.

BRENTFORD WOMEN: Witek, Phillips, Graver, Engelhard, Holmes (Gjabiamila 79), Logie, Webb (Matthews 64), Woods, Cheatley, Worsley, Read (Potter 57). Subs (not used): Holguin, Reid, Aboul Kheir, Troth, Walker.

GOAL: Logie (71).

FULHAM WOMEN: Webber, Taguavini, Gane, Foreman, Olds, Parsonson, Gandee Morgan, Newman, Mendes, Beaver, Taylor. Subs: Gibbs, Stormer, Taylor-Makepeece, Roberts, Filder, Jordan.

ATTENDANCE: 719.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/12/parsonson-powers-fulham-women-into-round-four/

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Player ratings: Fulham 1-1 Arsenal

Fulham earned yet another admirable result at Craven Cottage as title challenging Arsenal had to fight back from a goal down to earn a point against Marco Silva's side. This leaves Fulham unbeaten from a week which yielded a run of games against Tottenham, Brighton and the Gunners, an extremely respectable effort from the Whites. It doesn't get any easier for Fulham, however, with a trip to Anfield on the horizon next week.

Bernd Leno

Despite Arsenal being the best side in the world from set pieces at the moment, I thought Leno dealt with them well. Granted, Arsenal's goal and a glaring chance for Partey came from corners, but both deliveries went far too far over Leno's head for him to consider claiming them. Bar those, he punched and caught crosses well all day. There were too important saves from the German in this one too. First, Saka had an angled effort saved by Leno at his front post. Then just after half time, Trossard manoeuvred a shooting opportunity from the left side of our box which was held on to well by our 'keeper. 6.5/10

Kenny Tete

Started the game really positively, leading to his perfectly timed pass down the channel into Raul resulting in the game's opening goal. Defended really well against the Arsenal response for the remainder of the first half, tucking inside sometimes with the defensive support of Iwobi on his side. A crunching tackle from Trossard in the second half just after Arsenal had equalised summed up the way Tete plays, his last moment challenges and blocks vital to keeping Fulham level in the latter stages. 7/10

Issa Diop

If Joachim Andersen came back from injury tomorrow, I wouldn't have him back in the team. That's simply because of how good Issa Diop has been this season every time he has been called upon. I was particularly impressed here at how evident it was (with the benefit of watching on television) that Diop is a proper leader in the defence in the way he communicates and dictates to our defensive line. In the air he was sublime against an incredible opponent from a crossing perspective, especially from those dreaded set pieces. 8.5/10.

Calvin Bassey

In the first half especially, Arsenal were trying a lot of through balls to Kai Havertz in-between Bassey and Robinson, which Bassey was frequently first to, getting his body in front of the Germans and helping to ease any danger in that regard. Also made a huge interception in his own box five minutes from time to prevent the ball reaching Saka in an extremely promising shooting position. Bassey will be a huge miss at Anfield after reaching five yellow cards, fingers crossed Jorge Cuenca (who you assume will deputise) will fill his void well. 6.5/10.

Antonee Robinson

What I love about Robinson is that the level of opponent does not unnerve him at all, he just wants to show off his ability to the world. It could be a National League winger or, as it was today, Bukayo Saka, and he'll still show off his one-to-one defensive qualities against anyone. There cannot be a fullback in England at anticipating passes to their opposition winger the way Jedi does, he is constantly getting his foot in first and looking to put his own team on the front foot in transition. His passing wasn't the best today but I thought it was a game that magnified his defensive prowess magnificently. 7.5/10.

Sander Berge

It's saying something when you're on a pitch with Martin Odegaard and Odegaard isn't the best Norweigan midfielder on the park. Berge was absolutely monstrous in our midfield here, marshalling the gap between Arsenal's midfield three and forward three incredibly well. Time after time he would make interceptions between the lines that almost make you forget Joao Palhinha ever existed in that position. His press resistance abilities are almost reminiscent of a certain Belgian midfielder from times gone by at the Cottage, muscling past multiple pressing Arsenal players at once on multiple occasions, in his own half no less. No player won possession more times (11), won more duels (8) or made more tackles (6, stats from Squawka) than Berge in this game. He is well and truly settled in the black and white now. 9/10. – Man of the match.

Sasa Lukic

Really like the partnership forming between Lukic and Berge and the freedom and fluidity it's giving other cogs in this Fulham midfield. Having that extra balance is allowing a more advanced midfielder to press higher up the park and allows Lukic more freedom to cover every blade of grass and focus on ball progression as well as ball retention in midfield. He kept things ticking along nicely here on his return from suspension. 7/10.

Emile Smith Rowe

Now I maintain that this is Smith Rowe's best position and at times you could see the freedom he had to press higher but ultimately this was extremely underwhelming against his former side. When Fulham aren't getting success on the ball, it feels like Emile is struggling to inspire any genius to get things rolling. For most of his hour on the pitch, he was largely anonymous on and off the ball, and this Fulham side can simply not carry underperformers in that scenario. He has so much quality, but for the fee we have paid for him, he needs to show it on a weekly basis rather than in random moments. 4.5/10.

Adama Traore

Another who largely underwhelmed. Admittedly I wasn't sure quite what to expect from Adama on the left. It's obviously not his preferred side to play on, but it is a position that saw him have a lot of influence on the game at the Etihad where Fulham set up in a similar system to this one. He saw the ball a lot more than any other Fulham player in Arsenal's half in the first half, it felt like anyway, and was sloppy on it far too often. When he did track back to get the ball deep, he kept pondering on the ball and giving it away in silly positions too. Not a great way to mark a return to the starting XI. 5/10.

Alex Iwobi

As mentioned, Fulham set up similar to the way they did at the Etihad. This meant Iwobi having more responsibility at both ends of the pitch, often reverting to a right wing back out of possession. Although it prevented him from having any impact on the final third for most of the game, his support to Tete on the right side of defence was crucial whist we had the lead. By the time Wilson came on and Iwobi reverted to the left wing and a more advanced position, Fulham weren't threating Arsenal enough for Iwobi to have any joy in front of goal. 6/10.

Raul Jimenez

Could not have got off to a better start could he really? Raul's first attempt on goal came off the back of a beautifully timed run down the right channel, followed by an exquisitely placed finish across David Raya into the far bottom right corner. He was industrious for the first half too, winning all seven of his duels and working hard for a team that, after his goal, did a hell of a lot of defending. Struggled to get any further opportunities as a result, but nice to see him already match his tally of goal contributions from last season as early as December this time round. 6.5/10.

Substitutes

Andreas Pereira (60' for Smith Rowe)

I thought this was a better cameo than the one against Brighton which yielded an assist, to be honest. He looked really lively and sharp, and within minutes of coming onto the pitch forced a good near post save from Raya after beating his man. Added intensity to our pressing that had previously been lacking. May have earned a start at Anfield... 7/10.

Harry Wilson (60' for Traore)

Feels strange not waxing lyrical about a Harry Wilson cameo off the bench but ultimately not much to was lyrical about here. Hardly got himself on the ball for the half an hour he was on the pitch and didn't offer the same defensive cover that Iwobi did to Tete. Maybe harsh to say, but were it not for VAR, his struggle to help close down Arsenal's left wing cross may have contributed to us losing the game. 5.5/10.

Rodrigo Muniz (79' for Jimenez)

Much like at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Muniz showed no fear at throwing his body around, particularly in the air, and put fear into the opposition's defence. He looked to win set pieces and hold the play up to give Fulham some control and calm as they looked to hold onto a point, which was important. 6/10.

Jorge Cuenca (90+1' for Lukic) on too late to be fairly assessed, but it's fair to say he might have a huge part to play at Anfield next week.

Manager

Marco Silva

Ultimately a pragmatic approach, whether it was forced upon Fulham or part of Marco's plan, won us a decent point in the end. Still not keep on going to a back five to see out games and still don't like how often we're conceding in the 45-60 minute mark, I just don't know why those things continue to happen really but here we are. The changes from the Brighton game kept things fresh and continuing to play Berge and Lukic together acknowledges what most fans can see in that it offers far more balance to us, not just in the middle but to the team as a whole. Subs mostly worked well, especially in terms of Andreas. 7/10.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-12-08-player-ratings-fulham-1-1-arsenal/

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Federico Chiesa question becomes clear as major Liverpool changes considered
A look at how Liverpool might lineup when they are entertained by Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday night

Having seen the Merseyside derby postponed, Alexis Mac Allister will now serve his one-match suspension in the Premier League at Fulham next week. And with the Argentina international also ruled out for Tuesday's visit to Girona, Arne Slot has a midfield rethink of sorts on his hands.

For the trip to Everton, Slot was being tipped to recall Dominik Szoboszlai and drop Curtis Jones back alongside Ryan Gravenberch but with the Reds flying at the top of the Champions League table and with that Fulham game to be navigated without Mac Allister, is this a chance for Wataru Endo?

The Japan captain has only started two games this term - both in the Carabao Cup - but Endo might be able to give an overworked Gravenberch a rare rest after his leggy performance in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United last week.

There is also a case to be made for Harvey Elliott, who has featured for just a handful of minutes all season after suffering a foot fracture on England Under-21s duty in September. With Slot's team so well placed in the revamped European Cup, a first-ever trip to Girona provides the opportunity to rest and rotate ahead of Premier League action later in the week.

Elliott was one of the stars of Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States, looking at home in the No.10 role with his touch, technique and vision but that foot injury three months ago has stunted progress significantly.

Former Fulham teenager Elliott was a late sub in the 2-0 win over Manchester City recently in what was his first run-out since a late cameo against Brentford in August. He needs game-time, so this might be ideal for him to operate furthest forward in the midfield trio. If Slot is looking to give his main men in midfield a much-needed break then a recall for Elliott seems an obvious decision.

In defence, the options are somewhat more stretched with Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas all out. Jarell Quansah may once more be asked to deputise for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back with Joe Gomez keeping his place alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre-back. Slot will be able to provide an update on Alisson Becker on Monday when he meets the media but the Brazil international did train late last week.

Up top, Slot might utilise the option of Luis Diaz as his No.9 once more after it was used to devastating effect in the 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen last month. The Colombia international, in fact, struck a hat-trick as the Bundesliga champions were swept aside.

How fit is Federico Chiesa? Having played just 60 minutes of football since September, in last week's Under-21s defeat to FC Nordsjaelland, the Italy international will still be someway short of 100% but he might be needed to alleviate the workload on Mohamed Salah for this one.

It's unlikely he starts but the next few weeks offer chances for Chiesa to get some more games under his belt having barely featured since his August move from Juventus.

Chiesa has played just 77 minutes of the 1710 Liverpool have played since he joined the club but with Southampton in the Carabao Cup on the horizon and the fixtures starting to bottleneck for a Reds squad just feeling the impact of injuries just now, the visit to Girona might be an important one for the former Juve forward.

Liverpool are insistent Chiesa is a long-term project but helping share the workload for his colleagues could be vital. For now, filling in for his fellow frontmen might be a temporary role for Chiesa until he is at a sufficient level of fitness to start to providing more serious competition.



https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/federico-chiesa-question-becomes-clear-30538653

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Arsenal drop points at resilient and tenecious Fulham
Fulham (1) 1 v Arsenal (0) 1

Raúl Jiménez 11

Saliba 52

By Kaz Mochlinski at Craven Cottage

Premier League

Matchweek 15

Arsenal missed out on an opportunity to reduce Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League table as they could only come away from Craven Cottage with a 1-1 draw against Fulham.

Even to get one point in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off required recovering from trailing at half-time, but Arsenal managed to cancel out Fulham's early first-half goal with a similarly quick strike at the start of the second-half.

The Gunners thought that they had completed the comeback with a winning goal in the 88th minute, headed in at the far post by Bukayo Saka from a Gabriel Martinelli left-wing cross, but the Brazilian was marginally offside in the build-up.

The Cottagers had gone ahead with their first attack of the game, as Kenny Tete's perfect pass split the opposition defence for Raúl Jiménez to run through and catch out David Raya by getting his shot off unexpectedly quickly.

Almost inevitably, the Arsenal equaliser was scored from a corner. It was the 23rd such goal for the Gunners since the beginning of last season, a league-leading number and more than by any other club in Europe during that time.

Following on from both their goals in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Wednesday coming from corners, this was the third successive strike from that source - and also the third in a row scored by a defender.

It adds to the opening goal last weekend in the 2-5 triumph at West Ham United likewise being from a corner finished by a defender. That time the scorer was Gabriel Magalhães. The latest two have now both been put away by William Saliba.

Unlike against Manchester United four days earlier, Saliba did not need his backside to divert the ball goalwards, but another first-time strike from close range once more had to survive a tight VAR check for offside.

"Set-piece again, olé, olé!" was the loudly sung celebration of the visiting supporters. The home fans responded with chants of "Fulham 1, Stoke City 1" after Dimitar Berbatov's midweek comparison of Mikel Arteta's men to Tony Pulis's team.

Undoubtedly, during the course of this season, Arsenal's scoring threat from set plays has become magnified to the point where each Gunners' corner is now a moment of great theatrical drama.

At Craven Cottage again most of the spectators in the stands were on the edge of their seats for every dead-ball situation, with the noise levels rising in anticipation of what Arsenal's much-praised set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, had planned.

Fulham will have been relieved to have only conceded four corners in the first-half, and just two in the second-half, with a solitary goal resulting from this fertile recent scoring source for the Gunners.

Conversely, Arsenal are suddenly struggling to create clear chances from open play, with barely two of their eight goals in three matches over the last nine days coming in this way, both at West Ham, where they also scored two penalties.

Against Fulham, it took until the 37th minute for the Gunners to have their first attempt on target, when Martin Ødegaard finally got Saka away down the right before a classic cut inside by the England winger for a left-foot shot that was comfortably stopped at the near post.

That was Arsenal's single effort on goal in the opening period, and they registered just four in total over the 90 minutes, as Fulham worked tenaciously to diligently close off the passing channels sought by Ødegaard.

The Norwegian was captaining his club for the 100th time, but it was the opposition skipper, Antonee Robinson, who excelled on this occasion in keeping Saka subdued for almost the entire contest.

Fulham's efforts were all the more impressive in the absence of Joachim Andersen with a calf injury. On an afternoon of icy-cold wind and rain, this might have been a good day to be left on the sidelines.

Reiss Nelson was also unavailable for Fulham due to a hamstring injury, but he would have been ineligible to play anyway as he is on loan from Arsenal. The rest of the ex-Gunners at the Cottage - Bernd Leno, Emile Smith Rowe, and Alex Iwobi - gave the home team enough extra motivation.

Nevertheless, Arsenal will be disappointed not to have produced anything more in a game which they dominated territorially and in terms of possession, having 67% of the ball in comparison to the hosts' meagre 33%.

There was some consolation for the Gunners in the performance of their makeshift defence of Thomas Partey, Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, and Jurrien Timber, who were playing together as a unit for the first time.

With Gabriel Magalhães, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all unavailable through injury, the defensive foursome at Craven Cottage had to adapt very rapidly to each other.

Caught out in the opening exchanges by Raúl Jiménez, at least they subsequently restricted Fulham to a total of solely two chances to score in the whole match, with the goal being the Cottagers' single attempt on target in the first-half.

Fulham's only effort on goal in the second-half came from substitute Andreas Pereira 20 minutes from full-time, when his break down the left led to a shot which was well dealt with by Raya. Thereafter, it was Arsenal who looked much more likely to get a winner.

The celebrations when Saka seemed to have scored right at the end were immense, with all the away side gathering in a huddle in the corner in front of their deliriously delighted supporters in what felt like a potentially crucial moment in the season.

However, having benefited from a very close VAR decision for Saliba's goal, when he was kept onside by Robinson's left leg, the second VAR review went against the Gunners, with Martinelli just offside from Timber's pass.

The feeling of deflation among the visitors at the outcome was almost palpable. Arteta must hope that it does not have too much of a psychological impact on his players in the foreseeable future.

Although their run of four consecutive victories has ended, Arsenal remain unbeaten in the six games since Ødegaard's return from injury. And they are still third in the Premier League in spite of being downcast at dropping a couple of points.

Fulham for their part have not lost any of their past nine London derby matches in league competition, their longest such sequence for over 23 years. And they got through a challenging week of fixtures undefeated in three Premier League games.

They have been beaten just once in their last seven league outings since the middle of October. But the tight state of the table means that in one weekend they have tumbled from sixth down to tenth place.

Their next assignment is at Anfield. Liverpool may be leading the race to be champions this season, but the Reds will not relish facing an opponent as well organised and determined as Fulham right now.

Fulham: (4-2-3-1) Leno - Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson - Berge, Lukić (Cuenca 91) - Iwobi, Smith Rowe (Pereira 60), Traoré (Wilson 61) - Raúl Jiménez (Rodrigo Muniz 79)

Arsenal: (4-2-3-1) Raya - Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber - Jorginho (Merino 74), Rice - Saka, Ødegaard (Nwaneri 79), Trossard (Martinelli 60) - Havertz (Gabriel Jesus 73)

Attendance: 26,954



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/arsenal-drop-points-at-resilient-and-tenecious-fulham

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Derby Postponement: Negative For Endo & Morton
Liverpool's Packed December: What's Next for Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton?

Busy but not as it was before. Liverpool's December fixture list is a relentless marathon of crucial matches, yet for players like Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton, game time remains a significant question mark. The postponement of the Merseyside Derby has only complicated matters, raising speculation about their future roles—and possibly their futures with the club. With the derby off the calendar, Liverpool face Girona, Fulham, Southampton, Tottenham, Leicester, and West Ham in a demanding run. Let's dive into the implications for Endo and Morton during this critical month.

Endo and Morton's Challenge: A Squeezed Schedule
The month kicks off on Tuesday, 10th December, as Liverpool travel to Girona for a Champions League group-stage clash (17:45 GMT). This could have been the perfect match for Endo to step in, especially after Gravenberch looked fatigued in the previous Premier League encounter against Newcastle, and with Mac Allister suspended. However, with the derby postponed over the weekend, manager Arne Slot may lean towards fielding a stronger XI to secure progression in Europe. Saturday, 14th December (15:00 GMT), brings Fulham to Anfield for a Premier League showdown. Given Fulham's stubborn approach, this is unlikely to be a rotation-friendly fixture, further limiting opportunities for squad players. The next opening might arise in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton on Wednesday, 18th December (20:00 GMT). This competition traditionally offers room for fringe players, and Endo and Morton should both feature here. However, it's one match out of six—a slim window to truly make an impression.

December's Heavy Hitters: Limited Opportunities
Liverpool's Premier League campaign continues with two vital matches: Tottenham away on Sunday, 22nd December (16:30 GMT), followed by Leicester at home on Boxing Day (Thursday, 26th December, 20:00 GMT). Both fixtures are high-stakes affairs in the race for the title. Rotation in midfield is a luxury Liverpool can ill afford, and players like Szoboszlai and Mac Allister will almost certainly dominate the starting line-ups. By the time Liverpool head to West Ham on Sunday, 29th December (17:15 GMT), the squad will be running on fumes. But even here, the need for points may override the opportunity to experiment with personnel. This leaves Endo and Morton facing another frustrating month of minimal involvement.

Agents' Influence: January Moves Loom?
Slot mentioned five midfielders in his press conference on Friday and you can guess the two he left out. For Endo and Morton, December's tight schedule and Liverpool's ambitions could force difficult conversations. Morton, a product of the club's academy, must be eager to push his development further. His impressive loan spell at Hull last season showcased his potential, but without game time, stagnation becomes a real risk. It seems a million lies away since Leverkusen enquired. As for Endo, it's clear that there's no real future for him in Slot's midfield. With the Carabao Cup the only guaranteed stage for the Japanese international, his camp may also be considering alternative options. January will undoubtedly bring speculation, and a decision could hinge on how much faith the club shows in him this month.

Carabao Cup: The Only Glimmer of Hope
With the derby postponement, the Carabao Cup tie against Southampton is likely to be a rare moment in the spotlight for Liverpool's depth players. For Endo, this is a chance to remind the coaching staff of his tenacity and tactical discipline. For Morton, it's an opportunity to stake his claim for more meaningful minutes. But beyond this single game, the horizon looks bleak. Liverpool's packed December schedule will test every facet of the squad, but for Endo and Morton, it may serve as a tipping point. Without sufficient game time, January could usher in significant changes—whether in the form of loans, transfers, or simply hard discussions behind the scenes. You do wonder what the agents' discussions are like.



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