Marco Silva says relegation-threatened Leicester City will be dangerous opponents for Fulham when they arrive at Craven Cottage on Bank Holiday Monday.

“That will be a really dangerous game. After the Liverpool match, I said that probably the next game against Leicester will be even more difficult than City and Liverpool. Of course, people probably don’t understand what I was saying, I’m not saying that Leicester is a better team than the other two, but in terms of they are fighting for their lives.

They’ll come here to play in a different way to the other two teams against us, and it will be a tough one, a good test, another one for us. Another good test for us at the Cottage with our fans, and we have to play as best we can do in the game, because it will be tough one.

A team that is really strong on the counter attack, we are going to try to have command of the game. They are strong, [Jamie] Vardy in any moment of the game can punish you, as well with the support from players like [Harvey] Barnes or [James] Maddison. They are a good side but fighting for their lives in a position that they didn’t expect to be in.”

The Fulham head coach has challenged his side to beat the Premier League points record achieved by Roy Hodgson’s side in 2009.

“We are going to fight for it, because it’s a target for us. We have 12 points to fight for, four games to fight for, and we are going to do our best. As always, game by game, thinking about the next one. That will be a very good one at the Cottage that we want to do our best in to win, but the target is there, it’s realistic, and we have to fight really hard to get it.”

Silva professed himself pleased that Fulham are not worried by the drop themselves having enjoyed an excellent season.

“We are going to be in a different fight, and we have to be pleased of course, we have to be really proud, because I knew what everyone was saying at the beginning of the season about Fulham, I knew that we were the favourites, some people even without doubts that we will be the first one to get relegated, and of course we have to be pleased.

Not because what the people said, because it’s normal, they have to comment, they have to give their opinions. Much, much, much more for ourselves. Firstly, for our fans because the last two seasons in the Premier League were really tough for them and they deserve much more and, also, because I believe and I said from the last days of last season that I felt that the club belongs in the Premier League, this football club belongs in the Premier League, and we showed that during this season.”