Match Preview
Liverpool vrs Fulham
Premier League Match Day 12 1819 at Anfield
Referee:
Paul Tierney (Lancashire)
Live on BT1
|
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic finds himself increasingly under pressure ahead of a trip to third-placed Liverpool on Sunday.
Fulham go into the game bottom of the Premier League following Monday's 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield, where the Cottagers managed only one shot on target over the entire 90 minutes.
Jokanovic did not mince his words when previewing the trip to Anfield, their last game ahead of the international break, and laid the blame on the efforts of his players.
"We chose an ugly way to lose the game," he said. "You must be proud, competitive and fight at the last moment and make extra effort.
"We are right now not showing this quality or effort, we must wake up and when we lose the game we must know how we lost it; we cannot sell our skin so cheap.
"A few times before games I say my team is ready for the fight, but are not showing effort or ambition and we must change this.
"We must accept this situation and go outside our comfort zone, because this didn't bring us a good result.
"We must shake our hands, push harder; I don't believe this is impossible."
Jurgen Klopp lamented the atmosphere around his Liverpool side despite their bright start to the season, with 27 points from their first 11 games.
Klopp's side have been less successful in Europe, losing two of their four Champions League games so far, but the German said their successes overall had been overshadowed.
"The season so far-wise, points-wise in the Premier League, has been really successful," he said.
"But it doesn't really feel like that because there are two reasons in comparison with last year: free-flowing football in a few games and Man City and maybe Chelsea and a few others play a very good season as well.
"It feels a bit like this season can only be a success if we become champions this year. In a year our competitors are the champions of last year, the champions of two years ago, a more refreshed Arsenal and a more experienced Tottenham and Manchester United.
"That's a really tough job but we have no problem with that, we go for everything. We have to build on our situation, we have to get better, to get more confidence out of the season."
-
Fulham's only Merseyside win in 54 away league games against Liverpool and Everton was 1-0 at Anfield in May 2012 (D11, L42).
-
The Londoners have scored just four times in their last 17 matches away to Liverpool.
-
Liverpool have won their last four Premier League matches against Fulham, though this is their first league meeting since February 2014, scoring a total of 14 goals.
-
Fulham could equal their club record of six consecutive Premier League defeats, set in 2001-02 and 2012-13. Both of those streaks included a loss against Liverpool.
-
Fulham have conceded 29 goals in 11 games, the joint-highest figure at this stage of a Premier League season, Southampton let in 29 in 2012-13.
-
They have taken one point from their last 18 Premier League matches against the established top six sides. That includes three defeats this season, in which they have conceded 11 goals and scored twice.
-
Prior to the weekend, Fulham were one of just three teams yet to keep a clean sheet in English league football this season, along with Macclesfield and Sheffield Wednesday.
-
Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds have won all eight of their Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides, scoring 25 goals and conceding just three.
-
Liverpool are unbeaten in 26 top-flight games at Anfield, their longest such run since a 31-match streak from 2007 to 2009.
-
If the Reds keep a clean sheet they will equal the club record for fewest goals conceded after 12 top-flight fixtures: five in 1977-78 and 1978-79.
-
They had 38.2% possession against Arsenal last weekend, their lowest figure in the Premier League since February's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
-
Daniel Sturridge has scored four goals in his last three league matches against Fulham.
-
Mohamed Salah has averaged a Premier League goal or assist every 66 minutes against newly-promoted teams since joining Liverpool.
-
In their three Premier League games immediately following a Champions League fixture this season, Liverpool have scored exactly the same number of goals as they did in their European match (3 vs PSG/Southampton, 0 vs Napoli/Man City, 4 vs Red Star/Cardiff).
-
Daniel Sturridge has had a hand in five goals in his last three Premier League games against Fulham for Liverpool (4 goals, 1 assist).