Fulham top scorer, Barry Hayles, has backed the Reds
to claim the title for the first time in 11 years.
Hayles, 29, said: "I think Liverpool are definitely the favourites
for the title now. The sides who will be battling for it are Leeds, Arsenal,
Liverpool, Manchester United - and hopefully Fulham. I think Manchester
United will turn it round and they will be in there come May."
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Fulham top gun Barry Hayles |
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The in-form Cottagers' latest victims were Liverpool's rivals Everton
- beaten 2-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday - and Hayles now knows exactly
who he must outsmart if he is to get among the goals and give his team
the chance of completing an impressive Merseyside double at Anfield.
"Sami Hyypia is a very good player," Hayles said. "When
Liverpool bought him, people were saying 'who is he?' But he's proved
himself in the Premiership now and the man playing alongside him, Stephane
Henchoz, has also proved himself.
"Liverpool aren't top of the league because they're an average side
- they are a very good side."
Hayles was tipped to be relegated from the Fulham starting 11 this term,
especially following the £11.5million arrival of Steve Marlet. But
the former Stevenage and Bristol Rovers frontman has taken advantage of
Marlet's compressed knee fracture to make a striking berth his own - bagging
six league and two Worthington Cup goals in the process.
Hayles described his side's recent purple streak as a "platform"
on which to build, although he admits his side have a real challenge to
continue that run.
He added: "We played against them last season and it was really,
really tough. It's away from home so it's going to be tough again. We've
got to go there and look to get a point, or an added bonus if we get three.
"We also had a draw against Leeds last week and we could have got
all three points to be honest. This run is a nice platform, and if we
can keep it going, we'll be up there come May."