Premier League: Liverpool target the West End Boys

Fulham vs Liverpool

After a great week in Europe, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool now heads to West London to take on Fulham in yet another crucial Premier League clash.

Sat on the banks of the River Thames in an affluent part of the Capital City, Craven Cottage has the title of the most picturesque ground in English football. But the title chasers aren’t going there to admire the view; they are after another three points as the race at the top of the league heats up. Our Premier League 2019 predictions have long since said this is a two horse race, and with Spurs faltering that is exactly what it has become.

Now a single point behind Manchester City, the Reds have a chance to leapfrog the leaders who are engaged in FA Cup activity this weekend. And they come up against a Fulham side in the last chance saloon, after a shocking run of form has left the hosts 13 points from safety with just eight games to play.

Talking Points

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Sadio’s the man for Liverpool

The Reds have an array of attacking talent that other teams could only dream about; and when one of their strikers has a quiet time, another picks up the pace.

Sadio Mane has reached 50 goals in his Liverpool career and has now scored 16 league goals this season. He is just one behind last season’s Premier League top scorer, Mo Salah, who has been quieter of late. But these two, alongside the ever dangerous Roberto Firmino are sure to guarantee goals.

Klopp has worked hard to bring his defence up to his team’s attacking standards. Virgil Van Dijk has a growing number of admirers who hold the Dutch centre back up as the best defender in the world.

If there is any hope for Fulham this weekend I just wonder how much Liverpool’s exertions in Munich have taken out of Klopp’s side. FC Bayern was surprisingly poor on the night and Liverpool took advantage. And now the Reds have a great draw for the quarter finals against FC Porto who beat Roma in the Round of 16. Keep an eye out for the SBOBET tips on that game.

But they will be without midfielder Jordan Henderson against Fulham, after he limped off in the victory over Bayern.

A must-win for Fulham

It isn’t often that a team outside the Premier League top six would say that a home game against Liverpool is a must-win, but that’s a reflection of just how desperate Fulham’s plight really is.

The Cottagers have had a dreadful season on their return to the top flight, spending heavily and getting no return. They are now on their third manager after Scott Parker replaced the sacked Claudio Ranieri.

Fulham caretaker manager Scott Parker hopes to halt Liverpool in going back to the top of the Premier League table — Fulham players during the warm up before the match

He’s had a baptism of fire, losing games against Chelsea and Leicester City, but he hasn’t given up hope, saying: “I believe we can stay up, in this league I see the quality in this team but I know and understand it will be very difficult.

We have some very good footballers and they have a chance, at the weekend, to prove how good they are.”

Well you have to admire his optimism!

Parker does have some good players but as a team they don’t seem to be good enough for the top flight. Aleksandar Mitrovic is top scoring for the Cottagers on ten goals, while former Chelsea star Andre Schurrle brings some quality to the team and has weighed in with six goals. Calum Chambers is a talent at the back and will likely move on in Fulham goes down as expected.

History

The Reds got back to winning ways in the league with a 4-2 win over Burnley last week, but the Clarets’ kamikaze defending did give Klopp’s team a helping hand.

Fulham has a worse defence than Burnley and so Mane and co will be licking their lips. Liverpool leads the head to heads by 17 wins to six, and in the most recent meeting the Reds beat Fulham at Anfield, thanks to goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and Mo Salah.

The Cottagers’ Premier League 2019 results have been simply catastrophic; they have lost their last six and all the evidence points to that soon becoming seven. They haven’t won in five attempts against Liverpool, while the Reds are unbeaten in five away games.

Betting Tip

	Fulham vs Liverpool	First Half over 1.50 goals @ 2.28
	March 17, 22:15(GMT+8)

Liverpool is at 1.25 to win this game with the draw at 5.40 and a Fulham win at 12.50, massive odds for a home team in the same division as its opponent.

There may be a shock if Liverpool is tired after its Champions League exploits and if Parker can get the best out of his team…but I doubt it! And I’m pretty sure we won’t have to wait long for goals.