The prospect of visiting Anfield used to bring Fulham fans out in a cold sweat recalling the memories of humblings that made the national headlines. Ray Lewington’s Third Division outfit were beaten 10-0 in a second round Littlewoods Cup tie when Steve McMahon scored four and, in 1993, Robbie Fowler scored all five goals on his debut against Don Mackay’s men. Fulham have shipped goals for fun on the red half of Merseyside even after earning an elusive win in 2012, when Alex Kacaniklic’s cross was turned into his own net by Martin Skrtel, but the Cottagers are undefeated in their last three meetings with the Reds.
Arguably, the high point of Scott Parker’s time in the hot seat was a gritty, behind-closed-doors win at Anfield – secured by a superb strike from Mario Lemina just before half time – and Fulham were unfortunate not to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side at Craven Cottage the previous December, when boyhood Liverpool fan Bobby Decordova-Reid lashed the Whites in front of a few fans. Marco Silva’s men laid down a marker on the opening weekend of the season, leading Liverpool twice, before having to settle for a point after enjoying great success in taking the game to the Reds.
Fulham’s form has rather tailed off since the suspension of Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Whites were dealt a devastating double blow in their narrow defeat by Manchester City on Sunday. The loss of league ever presents Tim Ream and Andreas Pereira leaves Silva with something of a selection dilemma. Ream has been a revelation at the heart of a defence that proved much more resolute that all the pundits predicted, even if Fulham have now failed to keep a clean sheet since February. Plenty of people scoffed at the idea of paying £10m for Pereira but the bright Brazilian’s energy and delivery will be tough to replace in the closing weeks of the season. Tom Cairney turned in another classy cameo from the bench as he led Fulham’s search for an equaliser at the weekend, but can he do it for ninety minutes? The Fulham head coach could conceivably offer Sasa Lukic a start in a more advanced role or turn to teenager Luke Harris, but the skipper seems most likely to take Pereira’s place.
Liverpool are not the force of yesteryear, something Klopp has had to concede. The German seemed downbeat on their prospects of overhauling Manchester United to reach the Champions’ League, with a seven-point gap between the sides even after the crazy 4-3 win over Tottenham on Sunday. The Reds could record a fifth consecutive league win for the first time this season and Mohamed Salah, who on 98 Anfield goals, is the first Liverpool player to scored in seven straight home appearances since Luis Suarez.
While we might be reunited with Harvey Elliott briefly this evening, there seems little chance of a sighting of Fabio Carvalho, who is likely to moved on in the summer, according to reports. The dangers of making that big money move are writ large here, with the twinkle-toed twenty year old only having played five Premier League minutes since the end of October. Carvalho, who shone in Fulham’s stylish seizing of the Championship title, would have been a regular fixture in Silva’s side in the top flight – something which would surely have been better for his development than fading into the background at Melwood.
Klopp, who will be without Stefan Bajcetic, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita this evening, could continue rotating his forwards. Luis Diaz, who marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal against Tottenham, might be rested in favour of Darwin Nunez after Diogo Jota aggravated a rib injury after coming off the bench against Spurs. Liverpool might not be the formidable juggernaut that swept all before them in previous years but, with Trent Alexander-Arnold now operating in midfield, they are in a rich vein of form and will prove difficult to stop. Silva’s side have surprised everyone all season – and gave Pep Guardiola’s title chasers a real game at the weekend. It remains to be seen whether they can raise a few eyebrows again tonight.
MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Diop, Adarabioyo; Palhinha, Reed; Wilson, Decordova-Reid, Cairney; Vinicius. Subs: Rodak, Cedric Soares, Duffy, Lukic, Harris, Solomon, Willian, James, McFarlane.
