Liverpool return to Premier League action bidding to widen their margin at the top of the table, with Fulham the visitors to Anfield.
Arne Slot’s league leaders were granted a weekend off as Storm Darragh blew away the Merseyside derby last Saturday, but the side returned to action well, taking care of business in the Champions League to continue a perfect start in the competition. Confidence is high at the club, particularly after the return from injury of Alisson in goal. Victory here would take Liverpool at least six points clear overnight with a game in hand on their rivals.
Bidding to stop the hosts securing the three points are a Fulham team enjoying a relatively productive spell of their own. Just one defeat in their last six games has allowed Marco Silva’s men to climb into the top half, with a strong point and a battling performance against Arsenal last weekend showcasing their defensive strength. Can they similarly frustrate the title favourites on the road?
Follow all of the latest from Anfield in our live blog below:
Liverpool vs Fulham
Right, kick off at Anfield is not far away at all. Can Fulham frustrate Liverpool in the manner they did Arsenal last weekend? Marco Silva’s side had very little of the ball at Craven Cottage but managed to deny their visitors too many clear chances, conceding only from a corner. You suspect they may have it tougher on the road against an attacking side in slightly more fluent form in open play, but it’s clear that the visitors are capable of a result this afternoon.
Why are Chelsea and Tottenham playing at Sunday 7pm? The rise of Premier League’s ‘unpopular’ kick-off time
Those two Sunday evening kick offs are an oddity that the Football Supporters Association aren’t at all happy about. Jamie Braidwood explains the scheduling pressures that are forcing alternative slots upon Premier League clubs and why we might just be seeing more and more:
Premier League fixtures this afternoon
Our focus will be on events at Anfield but there are some other intriguing tussles around the Premier League grounds this afternoon, headlined by Arsenal’s encounter with Everton. Here’s the full weekend schedule:
Saturday 14 December (3pm GMT unless noted)
Arsenal vs Everton
Liverpool vs Fulham
Newcastle vs Leicester
5.30pm Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
Sunday 15 December
2pm Brighton vs Crystal Palace
4.30pm Manchester City vs Manchester United
7pm Chelsea vs Brentford
7pm Southampton vs Spurs
Monday 16 December
8pm Bournemouth vs West Ham
Brentford boss Thomas Frank names the ‘best team in the Premier League’ — and it’s not leaders Liverpool
Another west London manager disagrees with Marco Silva’s assessment of the Premier League leaders, with Thomas Frank naming a different club as the current class of the English top flight:
Marco Silva piles praise on Liverpool ahead of clash
Marco Silva was rather complimentary of Liverpool and opposite number Arne Slot when asked about his opponents this week ahead of the Premier League clash.
“Firstly, they are the most consistent team in the league so far,” Silva said. “Really, really strong in any moment of the game, making life really difficult for any team that they play against.
“Great, in terms of the collective quality of the team, the impact of the manager, and, of course, the individual quality they have. I think everything together is the reason why they are on the top of the league.
“They’re achieving the best results, and the impact from Arne Slot has been top. the expectations were there, all the eyes were there on him and on the team, how they were going to react after a big personality, a big character left the club, and was so important for the club the last nine years.
“He showed his quality so far, the impact that he’s had in that football club, on the players as well. You can feel that they are all on the same page as a football club.”
Arne Slot defends Darwin Nunez’s contribution but accepts his standards dipped
A bench role for Darwin Nunez today, then. Liverpool are blessed with plenty of forward options but Arne Slot defended the Uruguyan striker’s contributions this season ahead of this game.
Liverpool v Fulham team news
Alisson is back for Liverpool after injury, having made his return in the Champions League in midweek, while Joe Gomez is the man partnering Virgil van Dijk at centre-back in the continued absence of Ibrahima Konate.
Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz are the men alongside Mohamed Salah in the front three, although Darwin Nunez and fit-again Diogo Jota are brilliant bench options for Arne Slot if needed. Federico Chiesa is also on the bench as he tries to build up match fitness.
For Fulham, Jorge Cuenca starts alongside Issa Diop in the heart of defence with Calvin Bassey adding to Fulham’s absences. In-form Alex Iwobi continues on the wing with Raul Jimenez up top.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Diop, Cuenca, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Pereira, Iwobi; Jimenez
Liverpool v Fulham team news
The teams have been announced – here’s how they’ll line up at Anfield today.
Arne Slot gives Liverpool fitness update on Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa
The team news will be with us shortly ahead of this 3pm Premier League kick off, with Arne Slot confirming yesterday that both Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa could be fit to feature.
Marco Silva hails Fulham’s work ethic ahead of Liverpool clash
Marco Silva praised the work ethic in his Fulham side during their Premier League campaign so far this season.
Fulham are 10th in the table after 15 games, something head coach Silva attributes to the high standards at the club.
The Cottagers boss has been pleased with his side’s start to the season and they now face a tough test today at league leaders Liverpool.
“I don’t see football or success in football without hard work, that is the first thing,” Silva said.
“It’s been one of the reasons why everything has been going well the last three or four seasons. Everybody works really hard, it’s the demands from ourselves in the football club – they are high.
“If you work hard every single day, the standards and demands they are high, of course you are able to respond in this league, that is so tough and is so difficult with the best players and the best managers in the world and some of the best clubs too.
“The quality of the players, we work with them. Being able to keep a good platform inside, even if you have been losing some key players, but at the same time adding good players for our squad too.
“Everything together is giving us the chance to perform the way we’ve been performing and to be able until now – I know it’s the beginning of December with a lot of fights and big games ahead of us – but it has been really good to see the way the team is responding.”