Saturday, November 10, 2007

Match Preview: LiverpooL vs Fulham

Liverpool run out for Rafael Benitez' 200th game in charge, four days after thrashing Besiktas 8-0 - the biggest win in Champions League history. The Merseysiders put their unbeaten Premier League record on the line, against a Fulham side yet to win away, but one who also enjoyed their biggest win of the season last time out (3-1, home to Reading). This is a match between the draw specialists of the Premier League; six of Liverpool's 11 league games have finished all square, and 50% of Fulham's have also ended level (six of 12).

Rafa Benitez has been saying that the heavy defeat of Besiktas on Tuesday has had the effect of galvanising the confidence in the Red’s players who had been struggling for form though still unbeaten. Liverpool’s players have fired too many blanks of late, but the players on Tuesday seemed to have regained the “midas touch”.

Peter Crouch was recalled and repaid the manger’s faith and the backing of the fans by producing a superb striking performance and notching two goals. The much-maligned Ryan Babel also chipped in with a couple of goals. The second was fortuitous but the first was simply majestic – hopefully a glimpse of what this young lad is about.

The Cottagers have never won at Anfield in the Premier League. They probably won’t feel that they are tackling Liverpool at the most appropriate time with the Reds coming of an 8 –0 victory and Fernando Torres returning to the fray. Fulham will look to record their first back-to-back victories in the Premier league. Fulham will go for the Red’s jugular, they play an attacking brand of football, which has seen them notch up an impressive 16 goals – only one less than Liverpool. However, they do ship them in, conceding 18 goals. It’s clear if they want to take some points from Anfield that they will have to defend better. Fulham were the last team to beat Liverpool in the Premier league.

I think the only certain thing I can say about Benitez’s side is that it will not be the same one that played on Tuesday. That would go against the ideology he follows, so I don’t see why he will revert from his norm.

Crouch has staked his claim for a starting inclusion but it’s arguable that the whole team did on Tuesday; there were no poor performances on that night. However, Kewell, Torres, Finnan, Babel, and Kuyt will all be vying for starting spots after missing out from the starting against the Turks.



FORM GUIDE

Liverpool

Nov 6 v Besiktas (H) WON 8-0 (Champ League)
Nov 3 v Blackburn (A) DREW 0-0 (PREM)
Oct 31 v Cardiff (H) WON 2-1 (Carling)
Oct 28 v Arsenal (H) DREW 1-1 (PREM)
Oct 24 v Besiktas (A) LOST 2-1 (Champ League)


Fulham

Nov 3 v Reading (H) WON 3-1 (PREM)
Oct 27 v Sunderland (A) DREW 1-1 (PREM)
Oct 20 v Derby (H) DREW 0-0 (PREM)
Oct 7 v Portsmouth (H) LOST 2-0 (PREM)
Sept 29 v Chelsea (A) Drew 0-0 (PREM)



TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

The match has come to early for Alonso and Agger, both are still out with damaged metatarsals. Kuyt, Babel, Torres, Kewell and Finnan will all look to come back into the starting line-up.

Squad: Reina, Finnan, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Hobbs, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko, Kewell, Voronin, Kuyt, Crouch, Torres, Martin, Lucas.


Fulham

Paul Konchesky and Elliott Omozusi are both banned, but Carlos Bocanegra returns from a suspension. Shefki Kuqi could be given his full debut for the Cottagers.

Chris Baird is fit and will return to the starting line-up, but youngster Nathan Ashton has picked up a thigh injury and misses out. Jimmy Bullard is still out injured.

Squad: Niemi, Warner, Stefanovic, Hughes, Bocanegra, Baird, Leijer, Davis, Smertin, Murphy, Seol, Davies, Healy, Dempsey, Kamara, Kuqi.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool

Fernando Torres will return to the fray, ready to join in on the goals.

Fulham

Simon Davies has been in good form and will be the Fulham danger man.

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