With a game in hand over their title rivals for the foreseeable future, Liverpool’s position looks even stronger, especially after both Arsenal and Manchester City dropped points. City’s struggles have effectively taken them out of the title race, leaving Chelsea as Liverpool’s closest challengers, four points behind after their dramatic 4-3 win over Tottenham.
The Reds may have been frustrated by a late equalizer in their 2-2 draw with Newcastle last week, but Arsenal and City’s slip-ups softened the blow. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have dropped points in only three of their 21 matches, and their midweek 1-0 win over Girona, courtesy of a Mohamed Salah penalty, kept their perfect Champions League record intact.
Back at Anfield, Liverpool will be confident, having won 12 of their last 13 home games. The only blip came in September against Nottingham Forest. While defensive lapses have raised concerns, their attack has been ruthless, scoring two or more goals in seven consecutive Premier League matches—their best run in over three years. With four league games left in 2024, Liverpool are also just 12 goals shy of breaking their Premier League record for most goals in a calendar year (88 in 2019).
Fulham, meanwhile, haven’t had much joy against Liverpool historically, with the Reds winning nine of their last 12 league meetings. Last season, Liverpool scored seven goals across their two league victories against the Cottagers.
Fulham did cause a few scares, though—leading 3-2 with 10 minutes left in one match before falling 4-3, and putting up a fight in their EFL Cup semi-final. Notably, Fulham’s only win at Anfield came during Liverpool’s bizarre home slump in early 2021, but they’ve never beaten them here in front of a crowd.
Marco Silva, Fulham’s manager, has struggled against Liverpool throughout his career, winning just one of 11 encounters. His last visit to Anfield with Everton in 2019 ended in a 5-2 loss—and his dismissal soon after. That said, Silva’s Fulham played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s title charge last weekend by holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, thanks to a VAR decision ruling out Bukayo Saka’s late goal.
Fulham’s 23 points from 15 games this season is their second-best start in Premier League history, only behind their 25-point tally in 2003-04, when they finished ninth. Despite a solid run of just one loss in their last seven matches, they currently sit 10th. However, with the top half of the table so tight, they are only four points off fourth-placed Manchester City.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Liverpool are starting to see key players return to the fold. Alisson made his comeback in midweek after 11 games out, delivering five crucial saves to secure a clean sheet against Girona. Diogo Jota is back in training and could feature, while Federico Chiesa is also nearing a return to action.Alexis Mac Allister, initially set to miss the Merseyside derby due to suspension, will now serve his ban in this game after also sitting out the Champions League win because of yellow card accumulation. Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to step in for him again, while manager Arne Slot faces a decision up front between Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo, depending on whether Jota is ready for significant minutes.
Fulham, on the other hand, have their own absences to contend with. Calvin Bassey is suspended, and Joachim Andersen remains sidelined with a calf injury that has kept him out of the last three matches. This could pave the way for Jorge Cuenca to make his first Premier League start after three brief substitute appearances.
Midfielder Harrison Reed is out until 2025 following knee surgery, while Reiss Nelson missed last weekend’s draw against Arsenal with a hamstring issue, allowing Adama Traoré to step in. Captain Tom Cairney will also be unavailable as he serves the final match of his three-game ban for a red card picked up against Spurs.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Cuenca, Diop, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Adama; Jimenez
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 3-1 Fulham
Playing a day ahead of Chelsea gives Liverpool a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points. With nine wins in their last 12 league meetings against Fulham, the Reds fully deserve their status as favorites in this matchup.
