Fulham failed to beat a relegation rival in Monday Night Football this week, so how will they fare against a title contender? George Pitts investigates.
Recommended bets
2pts Mo Salah and Andre Schurrle 1+ shots on target each at 6/4
1pt Maxime Le Marchand to be carded at 9/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Liverpool v Fulham (Sunday, 1200 GMT, BT Sport 1)
Many expected Liverpool to be up there fighting for the Premier League title this season; few expected Fulham to be fighting like they are at the bottom end.
The Cottagers' summer spending and impressive additions have so far failed to get points on the board, largely due to Slavisa Jokanovic's poor - and ever-changing - defence.
They have already shipped 29 goals this term in just 11 games and the last thing you want in this vein of form is a trip to Anfield. A glimmer of hope can be found in the fact Liverpool's front three are yet to hit top gear; the worry is it could happen at any moment.
The 30/1 best price for Fulham shows the uphill task they face on Merseyside and this should be a regulation home win.
The Reds have made an unbeaten start to the season, winning eight as they attempt to keep the pace with Man City and Chelsea at the top.
In previous years, this sort of fixture has proved to be a banana skin, where they drop cheap points against a bottom-half opponent. After drawing with both their title challengers, they must now prove themselves by beating the lesser teams who up their game on their visit to the north west.
Betting guide
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Fulham (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)
Liverpool struggled to 'find their mojo' in Belgrade but it should not be an issue here as Jurgen Klopp looks for a response. The Tuesday-Sunday turnaround gives them plenty of time for recovery and preparation. Fulham's luck has not been in of late, conceding an own goal at Huddersfield before having one ruled out for offside, and their defensive woes could cost them their Premier League status. Matches against those around them are more important for the Cottagers, whose goal difference could take another hit on Sunday as pressure piles on Jokanovic.
Best bet: Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle 1+ shots on target each at 6/4
Salah has scored four in his last five appearances, with fans hoping he is starting to regain last season's form, and he averages nearly four shots per game in the Premier League. Fulham, meanwhile, should get the occasional chance at the other end and danger man Schurrle often tries his luck - averaging over three shots per game - and this price therefore looks too good to pass up. Elsewhere, the cards market could be worth a look with Fulham's shaky defence and Liverpool's counter-attacking style. Considering defenders Denis Odoi and Maxime Le Marchand average over a foul per game, backing either or indeed both, at 16/5 and 9/2 respectively, could be a shrewd approach.
Goals: Virgil van Dijk at 13/2
With Salah, Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all odds-on to score, the search for value heads elsewhere in the scoring market. Should he play, Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored against Spurs in September, is a good price at the best part of 4/1. Virgil van Dijk at 13/2 looks better though, with the Dutchman's aerial presence likely to cause issues from set pieces. He had two headed attempts in midweek and this fixture could be the one when he opens his account for the Reds this season.
RequestABet: Liverpool to win, over 2.5 goals, Andre Schurrle 1+ shots on target each and Maxime Le Marchand to be carded at 11/1
Opta statistics
- Liverpool have won their last four Premier League matches against Fulham, though this is their first league meeting since February 2014.
- In all competitions, Fulham have managed just one win in their 33 away visits to Liverpool (D9 L23), scoring just four times in their last 17 games at Anfield.
- Fulham have won just one of their 54 away league games on Merseyside against Liverpool and Everton (D11 L42), a 1-0 win against Liverpool in May 2012.
- Liverpool have won all eight home Premier League games under Jurgen Klopp against newly-promoted teams, scoring 25 goals and conceding just three.
- Fulham have taken one point from their last 18 Premier League games against the ‘big six’ sides (W0 D1 L17), losing all three games this season by an aggregate score of 2-11.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 26 Premier League home games, their longest such run since August 2009 (31 games).
- Coming into the weekend, Fulham are one of just three teams yet to keep a clean sheet in English league football this season (along with Macclesfield and Sheffield Wednesday).
- 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).
- For Liverpool in the Premier League, Mohamed Salah is averaging a goal or assist every 66 minutes against newly promoted teams (4 goals, 5 assists in 592 minutes).
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Posted at 1155 GMT on 09/11/18