Match Preview
Liverpool v Fulham
Premier League Match Day 34 2223 at Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday 3rd May 2023 KO: 20:00
Referee:
Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
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Fulham are visiting Anfield for a midweek encounter on Wednesday
Fulham have impressively managed to avoid defeat in each of their last three meetings with Liverpool across all tournaments - drawing 2-2 at Craven Cottage in August following a 1-0 Anfield success last term - but it has been 56 years since the Cottagers last went four games unbeaten versus their Merseyside counterparts.
While Liverpool will be looking to extend their Premier League winning streak to five matches,
A goal from a former Tottenham Hotspur player was celebrated across the red half of North London on Sunday afternoon, as Carlos Vinicius fired home a half-volley to draw Fulham level against Man City, who had broken the deadlock through Erling Braut Haaland's 50th goal of the season from the spot.
The Cottagers' efforts were ultimately in vain, though, as Julian Alvarez - stepping in for the stricken Kevin De Bruyne - scored a wonderful second for City before the half-time whistle blew, and the champions escaped two penalty shouts en route to a nervy win.
The Fulham faithful had every reason to feel proud of their side's efforts on the day, but back-to-back defeats have dented the Cottagers' European dreams as they occupy 10th place in the table, five points better off than Crystal Palace and five below Brentford, both of whom have played a game more.
Aside from a pair of wins over Everton and Leeds United, Silva's men have now fallen to defeat in seven of their last nine contests across all tournaments and have failed to keep a single clean sheet since February - not a reassuring statistic before a taxing journey to Anfield.
The Reds came up trumps 4-3 in a chaotic affair with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, a couple of hours after Marco Silva's side were defeated 2-1 by Manchester City.
A second round of refunds in the space of two weeks could have been in the pipeline for Tottenham fans amid yet another disastrous start on the road, as Liverpool surged into a three-goal lead through Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah within the first 15 minutes of Sunday's Anfield contest.
However, few fans, neutrals or pundits alike could have envisaged the spectacular comeback from those in white, as Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison levelled the scores before Lucas Moura cancelled out all of his side's hard work - laying the ball on a plate for Diogo Jota to score a last-gasp winner for Liverpool.
More officiating controversy came to the fore too, as Jurgen Klopp's personal rivalry with Paul Tierney kicked up a notch when the German accused the referee of having something "against" his side, who have jumped up to fifth in the Premier League table thanks to their fourth win on the bounce.
The Reds still have a seven-point gap to make up to Manchester United having played a game more, so Klopp was unsurprisingly still pessimistic about his side's fleeting hopes of Champions League qualification, especially with his side now conceding at least once in each of their last five matches.
On the flip side, Liverpool have now found the back of the net at least twice in each of those contests - racking up 17 across their last 450 minutes of top-flight football - while their domestic unbeaten run at Anfield now stands at nine matches ahead of the visit of a dejected Fulham crop.
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Fulham won away to Liverpool for only the second time in 35 competitive visits on their most recent trip to Anfield, a Premier League game in March 2021.
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Liverpool have dropped points in each of the past three Premier League meetings, including a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage on the opening weekend of this season.
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This is the 50th top-flight encounter between the sides. Liverpool lead by 26 wins to Fulham's 10, with 13 draws
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Fulham have lost seven of their past nine matches in all competitions, winning the other two.
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Fulham's solitary point from 10 league games this season against the current top-six sides was a 2-2 draw versus Liverpool in their opening fixture.
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They are one short of equalling the club Premier League record of 14 wins in a season.
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The Cottagers have already matched the club top-flight record of six away victories in a season, previously achieved in 1960-61 and 1962-63.
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Their only victory in 19 Premier League away fixtures played on a Wednesday was by 1-0 at Derby County in January 2002.
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Liverpool are vying to win five consecutive Premier League matches for the first time this season.
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The Reds are on a run of eight straight victories in league fixtures played on a Wednesday since losing 1-0 at home to Brighton in February 2021.
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Their only defeat in 39 Premier League home games since losing 1-0 to Fulham at Anfield in March 2021 came against Leeds last October.
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Liverpool have conceded 42 Premier League goals in 2022-23, their joint-most in a full season under Jurgen Klopp.
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Mohamed Salah has scored 98 goals for Liverpool at Anfield in all competitions.
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He is the first Liverpool player to score in seven home appearances in a row in all competitions since Luis Suarez's streak of eight from April 2013 to January 2014.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided an assist in five successive Premier League appearances. Only two players have had longer runs: seven games by Mesut Ozil in 2015 and six by Cesc Fabregas from April 2011 to September 2014.
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Source Ben Knapton at SportsMole