English Premier
2024-04-21 - Fulham vs Liverpool
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 21st April 2024 - Kick Off 4:30pm
This game is live on TV
Fulham
A poor run of form after returning from the March international break has made it very difficult for Fulham to push into European Football places in the Premier League standings, especially with English clubs failing to progress in UEFA competitions as anticipated. That does not mean Marco Silva is willing to let this season peter out and motivation to play a key part in the Premier League title race has to keep the players somewhat focused.
They will be hosting two of the top three before the season concludes, while Fulham will still be chasing a top half finish in the Premier League that would underline the strong work being done under their current manager. The side have a 9-1-6 record at Craven Cottage in the top flight this season.
Fulham had not only failed to win any of 3 games in the Premier League, but had lost consecutive fixtures before upsetting West Ham United at the London Stadium last Sunday on a day of surprising results. They have won 3 of their last 5 Premier League games at Craven Cottage, but Fulham were pretty poor in the 0-1 home defeat to Newcastle United in the last outing here.
The squad looks to be all available for selection for this live Premier League offering on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool
It was always going to be a very big ask for Liverpool to overturn the 0-3 home loss to Atalanta in the Europa League Quarter Final, but an early goal in Bergamo gave them considerable hope. More poor finishing let them down at key moments throughout the Second Leg and Liverpool ultimately ran out of steam as the clock ticked on meaning another trophy is now out of their reach in Jurgen Klopp's final season as manager of the club.
All of the focus is now on the Premier League title race, but Liverpool slipped into 3rd place after losing to Crystal Palace last weekend and they are 2 points behind current leaders Manchester City. That gap may be 3 points to Arsenal if The Gunners win on Saturday, but all Liverpool can do is focus on trying to improve their 8-5-2 away record this Sunday ahead of a run of three consecutive fixtures to be played on their travels.
Liverpool had not won any of 3 previous games in all competitions, but they did do enough to earn a 0-1 victory in Atalanta on Thursday. They are unbeaten in 6 away games in all competitions in normal time and Liverpool have won 4 of those fixtures, but they needed a late goal to salvage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in the last away Premier League game played by The Reds.
Conor Bradley is expected to miss the remainder of the month, while Jurgen Klopp admitted Trent Alexander-Arnold had to be taken off on Thursday after just returning from injury. The manager is likely going to be making some changes on Sunday in a bid to keep his team fresh, although Liverpool can ill-afford to drop more Premier League points.
Head to Head
Liverpool have beaten Fulham twice at Anfield in the Premier League and League Cup Semi Final First Leg this season.
The Second Leg of that Semi Final ended 1-1 at Craven Cottage and that means the last 3 games hosted by Fulham have all ended in draws.
Prediction
Jurgen Klopp will always be fondly remembered by Liverpool fans, but there is a feeling that his final season in charge is in danger of petering out.
Winning the League Cup at the end of February had fans and the media speaking about winning a potential Quadruple to really sign off on the Klopp era on a high.
And right up until the middle of March, that looked a real possibility.
The FA Cup Quarter Final defeat at Manchester United saw that dream ended and it has sparked a poor run of form for Liverpool who have exited the Europa League on Thursday. They have also lost their grip on the Premier League title after losing at home against Crystal Palace last weekend and the next eight days are massive with Liverpool facing three straight away games.
Arsenal could ramp up the pressure by winning on Saturday, but Liverpool will know they cannot worry about other results and have to focus on themselves.
A tough game on Thursday saw Liverpool run out of steam and there is a real concern that this team have just been worn down by a long season.
Fulham are certainly capable of taking advantage at their best, but Marco Silva will know his team have not been operating at top level. The 0-2 win over West Ham United last weekend will have given the manager something to be encouraged by, but Fulham had failed to win any of 3 previous Premier League games and they were beaten 0-1 by Newcastle United in their last home fixture.
In their 3 games against Liverpool this season, Fulham have certainly given the title chasers plenty to think about. They led 2-3 at Anfield in the Premier League before conceding twice in the 87th and 88th minute, while Fulham also led in the League Cup Semi Final First Leg at that ground before losing that one too.
Marco Silva will be looking for a bit more out of his team if they are in a winning position and the preparation for this game should give the home team an opportunity.
They have held Liverpool to draws in each of the last 3 at Craven Cottage and Fulham look very appealing with a start on the Asian Handicap.
Liverpool have won 4 of their last 6 away games in all competitions, but this is a team that needed a late goal to earn a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford earlier this month. Wastefulness in the final third has been hurting Liverpool, while they have remained vulnerable defensively, and Fulham have shown they can give teams a real test here all season.
They have beaten another Premier League title chasing club when seeing off Arsenal on New Year's Eve and Fulham do look a very big price to win this game. The first goal is likely going to be important, but there is enough in this Fulham price to believe they can be backed if you are willing to take a bit more of a risk than simply taking Fulham with a start on the Asian Handicap.
Jurgen Klopp's team have just hit a wall when it comes to finishing off the chances they have been creating and the tough away fixture on Thursday may leave them short of energy as this one game enters the last twenty minutes. As long as Fulham show a bit more belief in their own level, they can take advantage and secure three points to dent Liverpool's title challenge further.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Fulham 2-1 Liverpool
