Liverpool are getting closer to the big prize. With just eight games left and a 12-point lead at the top, they could be only three wins away from becoming champions.
On Sunday, they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham, another step to glory.
Arne Slot’s side edged past Everton in midweek with a hard-fought 1-0 win, showing they can grind out results when it matters most. Fulham lost to Arsenal and couldn’t help Liverpool’s cause, but the Reds are still in complete control of their title race.
Fulham vs Liverpool – Preview
Fulham head into this fixture on the back of a disappointing performance in their recent London derby against Arsenal. Despite strong performances from key players like Bernd Leno and Willian, the Cottagers couldn’t break down Arsenal’s defense.
Goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka handed the Gunners the win, while Fulham’s late goal from Rodrigo Muniz proved to be too little, too late.
However, their European ambitions remain alive. The Cottagers are just three points behind the top seven, though inconsistency at home has been an ongoing issue. They’ve alternated between wins and losses in their last six home games and have yet to secure back-to-back Premier League home victories this season.
Fulham’s last victory over Liverpool at home came back in December 2011. Earlier this season, they managed a 2-2 draw at Anfield, which remains their only point from their last 11 Premier League meetings with the league leaders.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot’s Liverpool endured a challenging few weeks before and during the March international break. After being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, they suffered a defeat to Newcastle United in the final of the EFL Cup.
However, Liverpool remains firmly in control at the top of the Premier League, with 73 points from 30 games. They’ve secured 22 victories, drawn 7 times, and suffered just 1 defeat. The team has scored 70 goals and conceded only 27.
Liverpool most recently earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby. Despite not being at their best in attack, the team demonstrated their ability to grind out crucial results.
Team News
Fulham have a few injury concerns ahead of their clash with Liverpool. Kenny Tete could return from a knee injury, but Harry Wilson (foot) and Reiss Nelson (thigh) are still out.
Manager Marco Silva is likely to return to a 4-2-3-1 formation after a failed experiment with three at the back against Arsenal. Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz, who scored Fulham’s only goal in the midweek loss to Arsenal, will be pushing for starting spots.
Liverpool’s defensive concerns include Joe Gomez (hamstring) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle), who will miss this match. Conor Bradley, recovering from a thigh injury, is close to a return but will need a fitness test.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains a doubt after not clearing concussion protocols for the Merseyside derby. Despite these issues, Liverpool’s attack, led by Mohamed Salah, remains strong as they look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Head-to-Head and Previous Meetings
The most recent meeting between Liverpool and Fulham ended in a 2-2 draw, showing that Fulham can make things challenging when in good form. However, Liverpool dominated the recent encounters, winning three of the last five matches, with the other two finishing in draws. Fulham failed to beat Liverpool in these recent games.
Key Stats
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Fulham have picked up one point in their last 11 Premier League matches against teams starting the day top of the table (D1 L10), though it was against Liverpool in this season’s reverse fixture, a 2-2 draw.
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Since losing 2-0 at Everton in April last year, Liverpool have gone 17 Premier League away games unbeaten (W10 D7), only having a longer run in the competition between January 2019 and February 2020 (21 games).
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Liverpool have won each of their last three away Premier League games in London, beating Spurs, West Ham and Brentford. They last won four in a row between December and April in the 2020-21 campaign.
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Since the start of last season, Fulham have scored 53 Premier League goals at Craven Cottage but only two of those have come from outside the box, converting just 1.3% of their attempts from range in that time; four of their last 10 home goals in 2022-23 were scored from outside the area.
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Across Liverpool’s last four away Premier League matches, Liverpool have scored eight goals and all eight have either been scored (5) or assisted (3) by Mohamed Salah. Only one player has ever had a hand in nine in a row for a side away from home in the competition – Thierry Henry between April and August 2003 for Arsenal (3 goals, 6 assists).
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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has had a hand in exactly two goals in each of his last four away Premier League appearances, his second run of doing so this season (also November/December 2024). No player has ever done so in five away games in a row, with Thierry Henry also having a run of four between April and August 2003.
