Fulham Entertain Liverpool on Monday Night

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

The last Premier League contest of this weekend actually takes place on Monday night as 7th place Liverpool travel to Craven Cottage to take on 15th Placed Fulham. Fulham has always been a happy hunting groung for Kenny Dalgleish’s men, with them winning three of the last four matches in London. If they are to close in on the leaders, it looks like a great time to start putting the lesser lights of the Premier League to the sword away from home and close down the points gap to the top of the table.

This looks like a good fixture for Liverpool who have ceretainly looked like a better outfit altogether away from Anfield, with a win away to Chelsea this season and running Man city close as well for example. After an ordinary start to the 2011-2012 campaign, the reds are undefeated in their last 12 games and confidence must really be a high in the camp. In fact, Liverpool or on a winning streak of 5 straight games in all competitions. The steady progress up the table has been hidden by all the attention currently on the Manchester sides, but there are more and more shrewd punters who are looking towards the Merseysiders.

However, Liverpool has looked like a much better side when facing good opposition and has dropped a few surprising points against weaker sides. Swansea and Sunderland have both come away from Anfield with points. This should suit Fulham down to the ground and they will be looking to maker life as difficult as possible for the visitors and to get as far away as possible from the relegation dogfight. Fulham haven’t been the happiest side in front of goal so far and against Liverpool’s defence this is unlikely to change, with only fifteen goals in thirteen outings and a goal difference of minus 1. Liverpool have only scored 17 times in the Premier league themselves, but have been far more solid at the back and have a goal difference of +5. With only 12 goals conceded, they top the league. Given all this, it doesn’t look like being a high-scoring encounter and it is worth taking a closer look at the unders markets to see what sort of value is there.

On the injury front, the loss of Lucas Leiva looks to be a big blow for Liverpool. His knee injury against Chelsea has almost certainly spelt the end of his season and will no doubt give Kenny Dalgleish a headache or two. Lucas has been pivotal in most of the good football played by the reds so far and it will certainly take a few matches to find the best way of replacing him. However, in Suarez, Liverpool have a real matchwinner. Although he hasn’t scored as often as he (or the club) would like so far, it seems to be just a matter of time. The team have carved out plenty of opportunities, and Suarez will inevitably start putting them away. The big question remains, is it going to be this Monday night against Fulham?

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