Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Fulham

Kenny Dalglish is on Tuesday night likely to give his players the chance to audition for a place in Liverpool's FA Cup final team when Fulham visit Anfield in the Premier League.

The Merseyside club's extremely disappointing league campaign has long since been limping towards its conclusion and the best they can hope for is a seventh-placed finish.

Attention has consequently been upon a second domestic cup final appearance of the season ever since Merseyside rivals Everton were defeated in the FA Cup semi-finals on 14th April.

Dalglish has told his players they have a chance to submit their 'CVs' ahead of facing Chelseaon Saturday at Wembley and all will be keen to impress against Fulham, although the Scot is also likely to rotate his squad in order to avoid any risk of injury.
But visitors Fulham will not view this midweek fixture as a dress rehearsal and, in contrast to their hosts, they have enjoyed the 2011/12 Premier League.

Martin Jol, who it is understood will return to the dugout after missing the weekend defeat by Everton due to a chest infection, has guided Fulham into the top half of the table.

Indeed, with three league games of the season remaining, the Londoners could yet finish above a Liverpool squad containing more than £80million investment from last summer.

The omens are not brilliant for Fulham as they prepare for their second game on Merseyside in four days given they have never won a Premier League game at Anfield, failing to score in their last five.

But they have only suffered defeat on two occasions in the last five overall league fixtures with Liverpool, who are far from comfortable at Anfield after winning just once in their last seven home games in the top flight.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has recovered from the injury which meant he missed Saturday's victory at Norwich and is available for selection.

The club's record signing was left out because of a minor groin complaint, but has returned to training.

With the FA Cup final four days after facing Fulham, there are likely to be other changes to the team.

Andy Johnson is a doubt for Fulham's after he missed Saturday's 4-0 thrashing at Everton with an adductor injury and he is not expected to recover in time.

Stephen Kelly may also have to wait before making his comeback, while winger Bryan Ruiz (foot), Steve Sidwell (hernia) and Zdenek Grygera (knee) are long-term absentees.

Former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise, who won the UEFA Champions League with the club in 2005, will likely start for Fulham on his emotional return to Anfield.

Possible starting XIs:
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Coates, Enrique, Shelvey, Henderson, Spearing, Maxi, Bellamy, Carroll.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Hughes, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Duff, Diarra, Frei, Dempsey, Pogrebnyak, Dembele.

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