Fulham (H) - Sat 14th Dec 2024 (3:00pm)

[Trumo]

TNT Sports couldn’t pick us for this one as they were supposed to be covering the derby last week, meaning that we are in that rare Saturday 3:00pm slot and not on TV. The thing is, Saturday at 3:00pm is still the ideal slot for a match. It’s not ridiculously early and doesn’t finish ridiculously late so you still have Saturday night to plan for, and hopefully all of Sunday to enjoy. A bit like with the British government going back forever it seems, the PL’s chase for the foreign gravy train means they have to bow to the whims of foreign TV markets. If Asia wants a PL match on during their peak Saturday night slot, it means a lunchtime game over here. Money takes precedence over quality and any real enjoyment. Plus ça change.

 

After facing one of City’s feeder teams in the Champions League, we now take on Fulham at Anfield. They are one of those sides that can be a real handful on the day, especially if you are not on it yourselves. Not consistent enough to challenge for a top 4 place, but with a fair wind could make one of the other European places. Marco Silva has been there for 3 years now (longer than he spent at either Hull or Everton) so has had time to properly bed in his ideas. He wants his players to let the opposition know they’ve been in a game, win, lose or draw. We saw that last season where we were not allowed to get too comfortable in any of the 4 games we played. Not least in the corresponding league fixture last season, which was a real ding-dong battle needing some late heroics from both Endo and Trent.

 

In the summer, they spent a lot of money to sign defender Andersen from Palace, midfielder Berge from Burnley, and attacking midfielder Smith-Rowe from Arsenal. He was always on the fringes of Arteta’s squad, had seen what regular game time had done for Palmer at Chelsea, and decided he needed to fly the nest. Harry Wilson had to make the same decision with us a few years ago, and he also opted for Fulham. They got a significant chunk of their outlay back on their new signings with the sale of Palhinha to sit on Bayern’s bench. They are a side that are unlikely to play on the front foot against the bigger sides, but rather try to counter quickly and crisply. They should have got something at the Etihad, and in their last 2 fixtures have beaten Brighton and drawn with Arsenal.

 

We’ve seen what they can do if we aren’t at the races so we must ensure that everybody is far more tuned in defensively, more precise in our control and use of the ball, and much more ruthless in the attacking third. None of the sloppiness we saw at Southampton, Newcastle and Girona. Ali returned to action at Girona and should be OK to start again, and maybe Diogo (who also returned to training recently) might be an option off the bench. Maybe the Italian stallion will have overcome his sickness and be ready to be involved once more (you never know!). Macca is suspended for this one (he would have been missing for the derby had it gone ahead), and Conor, Ibou and Kostas are still unavailable. I’d expect Slot will go strong for this one with who he has available, and plan on more of a reshuffle for the League Cup tie next week.

 

How have our previous managers got on in their first home fixture against Fulham? It’s a very good record, though Fulham didn’t play in the top flight until 2001, and have spent a few years in the second tier since then.

 

Souness...N/A

Evans...N/A

Houllier...12/12/2001...Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

Benitez...05/02/2005...Liverpool 3-1 Fulham (Morientes, Hyypia, Baros)

Hodgson...N/A

Dalglish...26/01/2011...Liverpool 1-0 Fulham (Paintsil og)

Rodgers...22/12/2012...Liverpool 4-0 Fulham (Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing,  Suarez)

Klopp...11/11/2018...Liverpool 2-0 Fulham (Salah, Shaqiri)

 

I don't ask for much. Maximum motivation, control, application, attitude and concentration from minute one. 3 points please. Get it done!

[3 Stacks]

Right side of the defense has to be better. Can't be one of those games where Trent saunters around and loses almost all his defensive duels, like against Girona. Konaté isn't there to bail him out.

 

Hopefully, the midfield will be energetic as well.

[El Rojo]

The forced reliance on the same 13 players will catch us out soon. Really need to start integrating Elliott more and hopefully Jota a bit to spare the fatigue of others. 
 

We’re laughably short in defence with 5 players for what looks like the next several games.

[Bjornebye]

3 nil easy win. 

[VladimirIlyich]

12 minutes ago, Bjornebye said:

3 nil easy win. 

How long have you been watching us? If you aren't considering self medicating on angina pills by half time you aren't watching us.

[Bjornebye]

2 minutes ago, VladimirIlyich said:

How long have you been watching us? If you aren't considering self medicating on angina pills by half time you aren't watching us.

Darwin hat trick you heard it here first 

[Bobby Hundreds]

Tough game this. I remember starting the season once full of hope and vigor and these fuckers just outplayed us all over the pitch. I tell you, that was the last time hope and vigor set foot on these shores.

 

Although I'll gladly just take the points it would be nice to see us perform. Be nice to see players on form outplaying players they are miles better than who they get paid far far more than. Have a good first half and a good second half. To win and say "take that" rather than "I'll take that" fuck it just get the 3 points.

[Lee909]

They always give us a tough time under Marco Silva. One of the teams like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth that if you are not on can cause a shock. Can't be playing down a level in this one. 

[Anubis]

Just win.

[elvis]

12 hours ago, Bjornebye said:

Darwin hat trick you heard it here first 

Bit of luck that donkey will be warming his ass on the bench 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I'll be happy with this season's usual pattern of riding out a tough first 15-20 minutes, growing into the game, taking complete control and getting the goals we need.

 

Mind you, I'd also be happy if we batter them eleventy-nil.

 

I've got nothing personal against Fulham, their fans or any of their players. It's strictly business.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Binomial]

Alisson

Trent Gomez Virgil Robbo

Grav Jones

Szobo

Salah Nunez Gakpo

 

5-2 win. Nunez x2, Salah, Gomez and Chiesa

 

 

 

[an tha]

Hopefully less stressful than this fixture last season.

[Megadrive Man]

16 hours ago, El Rojo said:

The forced reliance on the same 13 players will catch us out soon. Really need to start integrating Elliott more and hopefully Jota a bit to spare the fatigue of others. 
 

We’re laughably short in defence with 5 players for what looks like the next several games.

 

We had a break last weekend and we can rest a fair few in midweek in the cup.

 

We can go full strength in this game then go with something hopefully like Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Norris? Morton, Mac Alister, Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez, Chiesa vs Southampton. 

[Bruce Spanner]

Could be a tough game this.

 

Reckon we’ll huff and puff to an unconvincing 9-0 victory.

[El Rojo]

1 minute ago, Megadrive Man said:

 

We had a break last weekend and we can rest a fair few in midweek in the cup.

 

We can go full strength in this game then go with something hopefully like Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Norris? Morton, Mac Alister, Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez, Chiesa vs Southampton. 

Yeah, we definitely need to run the few reserves we have next week.

 

It’s a sad state of affairs though that actually signing a player or two in January is probably off the agenda.

 

I think we’ll beat Southampton, but given the great league and European position we’re in, we could do without a two-legged semi in the new year against Arsenal, Man United or Newcastle. 
 

We’d beat any of them, but we don’t have the squad depth for the sheer frequency of games, even with us avoiding that Euro play-off. 
 

Of course, if Konate, Bradley and Tsimikas are back that changes things, but they might not be even by then.

[Megadrive Man]

16 minutes ago, El Rojo said:

Yeah, we definitely need to run the few reserves we have next week.

 

It’s a sad state of affairs though that actually signing a player or two in January is probably off the agenda.

 

I think we’ll beat Southampton, but given the great league and European position we’re in, we could do without a two-legged semi in the new year against Arsenal, Man United or Newcastle. 
 

We’d beat any of them, but we don’t have the squad depth for the sheer frequency of games, even with us avoiding that Euro play-off. 
 

Of course, if Konate, Bradley and Tsimikas are back that changes things, but they might not be even by then.

 

The likely lack of transfers is frustrating as we have a surprising chance to win both the league and Champions League this season. 

 

I agree, I wouldn't be too disappointed if we went out midweek. I want us fully firing on all cylinders in the second half of the season. 

[Dapower]

Could be tricky this one depends how we approach it from the off but let’s get the win and put the pressure on

[Bjornebye]

3 hours ago, Megadrive Man said:

 

We had a break last weekend and we can rest a fair few in midweek in the cup.

 

We can go full strength in this game then go with something hopefully like Kelleher, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Norris? Morton, Mac Alister, Elliott, Gakpo, Nunez, Chiesa vs Southampton. 

Nah. We’re in the quarter finals we should be going for it and I’m sure Slot will love to get the first bit of silverware in the bag. 

[Binomial]

1 hour ago, Dapower said:

Could be tricky this one depends how we approach it from the off but let’s get the win and put the pressure on

 

Are you trying to say we could be in for our first real test of the season?

[Binomial]

4 hours ago, Bruce Spanner said:

Could be a tough game this.

 

Reckon we’ll huff and puff to an unconvincing 9-0 victory.

 

Not good enough.

[Bobby Hundreds]

I hope Slots words are a bit of a kick up the arse. We cant let complacency be the thing that kills our chances. Fulham are tough but the players we have should bury them if they turn and and earn it. The slight attitude we often give like we can win casually just won't cut it. These are the real opportunities to put pressure on the chasing pack don't fuck it up.

 

The forwards aside from Salah need a kick up the arse.

[Dapower]

12 minutes ago, Binomial said:

 

Are you trying to say we could be in for our first real test of the season?

 
Well yeah I mean who the fuck have we played so far?

[Binomial]

4 minutes ago, Dapower said:

 
Well yeah I mean who the fuck have we played so far?

 

Something I've been trying to figure out myself for a good few months now.

[Code]

11 hours ago, Lee909 said:

They always give us a tough time under Marco Silva. One of the teams like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth that if you are not on can cause a shock. Can't be playing down a level in this one. 

Results against Fulham since 2015.