Fulham vs Liverpool
There is something quintessentially English about Craven Cottage.
Ask many fans of Premier League and, indeed, Football League clubs, and they will tell you it’s actually their favourite ground to visit behind their own club.
Set off the picturesque location of the banks of the River Thames, it offers a rare blend of traditional charm and modern football facilities.
Those attributes will be on show again this Sunday as, for the first time this year, the Cottagers look for early Premier League 2026 highlights.
Talking Points
It’s a quick turnaround for them and their visitors, Liverpool following early evening fixtures on New Year’s Day.
That’s when Fulham earned a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, thanks to a brilliant goal from substitute Tom Cairney – a strike which may earn him a place in Marco Silva’s starting line-up for this one.
It also extended their unbeaten league sequence to four – they very nearly snatched what would have been a club record-equalling fourth top-flight league win on the spin – a run they will want to continue this weekend.
At the same time as Fulham were drawing at Selhurst Park, Liverpool were being held at home to a goalless draw by newly promoted Leeds.
It was the first time the Merseysiders had been involved in a goalless draw since Dutchman Arne Slot was appointed boss 18 months ago.
The full-time whistle signalled boos amongst the Liverpool faithful, whose team sits in fourth place, which many will view as a lousy return given the record outlay they made in the summer.
Fulham, meanwhile, are sitting in 11th place, which, given Silva felt he wasn’t sufficiently backed in the transfer market last summer, is a more than decent return.
Perhaps this month’s window will enable him to strengthen. Fulham fans must often wonder that, if they had been able to hold onto the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Joao Palhinha in recent years, they may well have qualified for Europe by now.
With just three points separating them from a European berth in the table, victory at home to Liverpool may reawaken those conversations.
On the team news front, record signing Alexander Isak (ankle) and Mohamed Salah (on AFCON duty) remain absent for the visitors, although there is a chance of versatile defender Joe Gomez returning from a muscle injury.
On saying that, Slot has rarely selected him this season, even when fit.
As for the hosts, Silva has confirmed that Kenny Tete is unlikely to be available due to the hamstring injury he suffered in midweek, so Timothy Castagne can look forward to a swift recall to the XI.
Tete is one of four injury-related absentees alongside Josh King (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring), and Rodrigo Muniz (hamstring). Additionally, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey are still on AFCON duty, severely limiting the options at their disposal.
Watch out for Fulham attacking midfielder Harry Wilson, a player Liverpool deemed surplus to requirements.
History
Fulham announced their Premier League return three and a half years ago against Liverpool with a showing which impressed this SBOTOP observer, led by a Mitrovic double.
They didn’t fare so well against the Merseysiders after that, however, with four defeats out of five.
That was until last term when they drew 2-2 at Anfield when it took a late goal from the late Diogo Jota to rescue a point for the home side, who had been reduced to 10 men early on.
They then edged them out 3-2 in April on home soil when three quick first goals from players absent this weekend – Sessegnon, Iwobi and Muniz – meant goals from Alexis MacAllister and Luis Diaz weren’t enough.
Overall, Fulham have enjoyed 14 victories against Liverpool who have tasted success 45 times with a further 20 draws.
Their inaugural clash came in a second round FA Cup tie in 1912, a match won 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Betting Tip
Our Premier League betting odds back the visitors. You can get pay outs on them which include 1X2 @ 1.99 and Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.23. Fulham, meanwhile, are priced at a very attractive 1X2 @ 3.43 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 2.23.
I was looking at the draw @ 3.26, while a repeat of the corresponding fixture last season is on offer @ 42.00 with Correct Score 3-2.
You don’t really get goalless draws between these two – in fact, there’s only been four in history – so that explains why odds range from total goal 0-1 @ 3.35 to 2-3 @ 2.00 and 4-6 @ 3.13.
With the home side missing so many players this weekend, I am expecting this to be pretty open.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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