Fulham V Liverpool Match Thread

amiable

Fulhamvs Liverpool

KO 20.00 at Craven Cottage

Live on Sky Sports

Liverpool's unbeaten run is put on the line as they travel to Fulham in the Premier League on Monday evening.
The Reds have not been beaten since their 4-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in September.
They have reached seventh in the table and were only the second side to take points off Manchester City in a 1-1 draw in their last outing.
Coincidentally, the only other side to have achieved that feat was Fulham, who drew 2-2 with Roberto Mancini's men almost three months ago.
Since then, the Cottagers have won twice in the Premier League as they have had to come to terms with balancing league, cup and European fixtures.
Indeed, Martin Jol's side go into the game following a trip to Holland where they were beaten 1-0 in the Europa League by FC Twente.
Only once have they managed to win a league fixture following a Europa League game although they have had an extra day's rest than usual this week.
Out of the teams in the bottom half of the table, only Blackburn and Wolves won over the weekend, meaning Fulham have the chance to move 13th with a win.
Conversely, five of the top six achieved maximum points over the weekend, with only Newcastle losing - in their 3-0 defeat by Chelsea.
That means Liverpool can jump up to fifth with a win, overtaking Arsenal and the Magpies in the process.
Kenny Dalgish's side will be hoping for a repeat of last season's visit to West London, as they romped to a 5-2 win courtesy of a hat-trick from Maxi Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also scored in the Reds' last outing as they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the Carling Cup last Tuesday.
Team news

Liverpool's build-up to the game has been marred by the injury to Lucas Leiva, with the influential midfielder suffering a knee injury.
The Brazil international will miss the rest of the season, with Jay Spearing likely to deputise.
After his goal against Chelsea, Rodriguez may be rewarded with a rare league start after Dalglish admitted it would be difficult to leave him out.
Damien Duff was substituted in the first half against FC Twente and could miss the visit of Liverpool with an ongoing calf problem.
Clint Dempsey missed Thursday's trip but is likely to return to the Fulham squad after struggling with a thigh complaint.
Stephen Kelly has also picked up a knock, but Bryan Ruiz, Moussa Dembele and Chris Baird could all return to the starting line-up.
Possible Starting XIs
Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora, Dembele
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Henderson, Spearing, Adam, Rodriguez, Suarez, Bellamy

http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,,11065_3458911,00.html

I'm going(and hoping) for a 3-1 away win

Blatter

Tough game for both sides and difficult to predict.

The loss of Lucas is huge for Liverpool and they had the added distraction of the Carling Cup midweek, albeit key players like Suarez were rested.

Fulham have impressed me at home against the bigger sides this season. Drew 2-2 with City after going 2-0 down and battered Spurs in the second half of their game and were very unlucky to lose.

That said, Liverpool are in very good form in general so this is difficult to call. I'll go for 1-2 Liverpool but Fulham will feel like they have a real chance here and it will be close IMO.

Redzer7

Hope Liverpool win just because a chap over on the Gambling section has a potential win of 800 odd euro, provided they win

JerryHandbag

Ah good, football on the telly to take my mind off the Budget

Luap

Who will be in for the injured Lucas?

mike65

Spearing, this is the type of game that Lucas would not be missed for really. He is at his best against the heavy weights. Hopefully Maxi will start on the left with Bellamy and Suarez and Downing on the right. Spearing/Adam in middle. Johnson/Skrtel/Agger/Enrique at the back with GK, Kuyt, Henderson, Carra, Kelly, Carroll and someone else to make up the subs numbers.

YouTookMyName

Maloney_o9 wrote: »

Who will be in for the injured Lucas?

Wee Jay.

D'Agger

Looking forward to this.

Lucas will be missed but imo but our defense has been solid of late and Bellamy and Maxi have taken their chance to shine over the past few weeks.

I wouldn't normally try to predict scores etc. but I'd be confident in us getting 3points tonight.

opr

djphal01 Phil
Reina Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Henderson Spearing Adam Bellamy Carroll Suarez

Opr

Phoenix Park

opr wrote: »

djphal01 Phil
Reina Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Henderson Spearing Adam Bellamy Carroll Suarez

Opr

hmm, no Maxi..

mike65

No wonder he's 100/1 to score a hat trick.

Blatter

Henderson back on the right is it?

tok9

I'm happy to see Carroll starting but the team doesn't seem to suit him again!

Hope I'm wrong and he gets a few goals tonight!

niallo27

Carragher seems to no longer first choice, probaly time to phase him out.

D'Agger

Blatter wrote: »

Henderson back on the right is it?

That or it's a 4-3-3 but I doubt Kenny's going to change the formation tbh

emo72

Looks like gerrard and carragher will have to fight their way back into the team. The way it should be. Thought maxi deserved a start though.

Blatter

PaulieC wrote: »

That or it's a 4-3-3 but I doubt Kenny's going to change the formation tbh

Bit surprising if Kenny was to put Henderson on the right again. He's shown nothing to suggest he can be effective enough there, especially away from home. Surely Downing or Maxi would be better options out there.

Has Suarez played out wide for ye in a 4-3-3? I don't recall him doing so myself, only ever remember him starting centrally and drifting.

whatawaster

Very happy with that team though I hope it is 433

NabyLadistheman

Blatter wrote: »

Bit surprising if Kenny was to put Henderson on the right again.

I take it you missed the Chelsea league Cup game last week? Henderson had a great game from the right wing

paddy kerins

Surprised and disappointed Maxi isn't starting. He's been playing well recently. Also the Fulham defence probably would've been ****tíng themselves if they saw his name on the team sheet

YouTookMyName

Suarezistheman wrote: »

I take it you missed the Chelsea league Cup game last week? Henderson had a great game from the right wing

He played right side of a 3 man midfield.

D'Agger

Blatter wrote: »

Bit surprising if Kenny was to put Henderson on the right again. He's shown nothing to suggest he can be effective enough there, especially away from home. Surely Downing or Maxi would be better options out there.

Has Suarez played out wide for ye in a 4-3-3? I don't recall him doing so myself, only ever remember him starting centrally and drifting.

I'd disagree strongly with that tbh

Hendersons performance level has gone up a good bit in his last 2/3 games - now I'm not saying he's playing out of his skin and I'd prefer to see him playing centrally, but the last number of games he's caused trouble on the right, linked up well (especially with Kelly) and has covered back well (Chelsea game in particular)

With regard to Suarez - he started up front in this tie last year but he drifted out to the right wing on a regular basis and caused trouble - could be that Kenny has remembered this and is putting him out there but again I doubt that's the case.

Paully D

Liverpool 11/10 - great bet.

D'Agger

Paully D wrote: »

Liverpool 11/10 - great bet.

What're the odds on us getting that gossip on Henderson Paully??

mike65

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=134406&part=sports

YouTookMyName

http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/20408/1/fulham-vs-liverpool--live-stream-online.html

daithijjj

Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Skrtel, Agger, Henderson, Adam, Spearing, Bellamy, Carroll, Suarez

retalivity

I like the look of that team, if it lines up as follows

---

reina

---

johnson-skrtel-agger-enrique

---

spearing-adam

---

--suarez-henderson-bellamy--

---

carroll

---

Paully D

PaulieC wrote: »

What're the odds on us getting that gossip on Henderson Paully??

About 100/1 at this moment in time.

I'm sorry, but I've been asked to hold it and I don't want to sacrifice getting the information I do, just for the sake of posting it up on an internet forum.

I do realise I said I'd post it and I'm sorry I didn't, but I wasn't expecting my source (same lad who gives me team news etc) not to say anything else about it when he sent it to me.

If I'm told that I can reveal it then I will no bother at all, but apologies.

Zapp Brannigan

Kick off at 8 yeah?

YouTookMyName

Yeah 8pm

Zapp Brannigan

Nuts, I'll only get to watch 30 minutes of it then before I have to head off to work!

Knex*

Had a feeling Carroll would start. Don't think its going to be anywhere near as easy as last year and can Liverpool winning 1 nil or 2-1.

Blatter

PaulieC wrote: »

I'd disagree strongly with that tbh

Hendersons performance level has gone up a good bit in his last 2/3 games - now I'm not saying he's playing out of his skin and I'd prefer to see him playing centrally, but the last number of games he's caused trouble on the right, linked up well (especially with Kelly) and has covered back well (Chelsea game in particular)

With regard to Suarez - he started up front in this tie last year but he drifted out to the right wing on a regular basis and caused trouble - could be that Kenny has remembered this and is putting him out there but again I doubt that's the case.

Sorry, I was referring to Henderson on the right wing of a 4-4-2, not right side CM in a 4-3-3, where I think he is fine.

Knex*

The more I listen to Gary Neville as a pundit the more I respect his opinion. It annoys me deeply though.

willmunny1990

Tough game for Liverpool. Lucas' injury could tell, he has been their best player this season IMO and it is a big blow.

Fulham have been decent against the bigger teams and Liverpool tend to fade away back into their shell after a big game.

G.K.

Some bench for 'Pool compared to last year!

No Maxi ??

tok9

Anyone got a sopcast link?

Leiva

0-2 Liverpool

Super-Rush

2-2 i reckon.

Knex*

tok9 wrote: »

Anyone got a sopcast link?

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=134406&part=sports

Bloodzeed is always good.

Morzadec

Have a bad feeling about this with Lucas out and with the sense that this away run can't last...

1-0 Fulham.

Here's hoping I'm wrong

tok9

Knex. wrote: »

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=134406&part=sports

Bloodzeed is always good.

Thanks. Absolute quality

missingtime

I hope we play 4-3-3.

Johner

http://adf.ly/2Md10

Fulham to win 2-1.

K-9

Nearly prefer Away games than home games at this stage.

Stat: Liverpool can equal a club record 7 Away runs in a row tonight, last done in 1988.

Need big games from Spearing and Henderson obviously.

Knex*

4-3-3 so far. I'm happy

Edit: Scrap that, Wilkins is commentating

doc_17

Knex. wrote: »

4-3-3 so far. I'm happy

Edit: Scrap that, Wilkins is commentating

"Quite" as Ray himself would say! He's a bit dull

willmunny1990

Dangerous.

Johner

Should be 1-0 Fulham.