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Fulham at home to Liverpool ~ Match Preview
last updated Friday 02nd December 2011, 2:37 PM
Fulham manager
Martin Jol
Fulham are yet to really get going under former Tottenham boss Martin Jol. Just two wins so far this season testify to that, though the Cottagers did come away from Arsenal's Emirates Stadium with a 1-1 draw last weekend and have a stable squad packed with experienced players such as Danny Murphy, Brede Hangeland, Clint Dempsey and Bobby Zamora. Relegation, surely, is not a genuine worry.
After a late FC Twente winner on Thursday, Fulham - the 2010 Europa League finalists - must now win their final group game to guarantee progression to the last 32. Failure to do so may not be a disaster if the extra rest it would afford allows Fulham's Premier League form to seriously pick up next year.
Eleven months after he returned to the club as manager following a 20-year absence, Anfield idol Kenny Dalglish is still thrilling Liverpool supporters with his canny guidance of their beloved club.
The stifling fear and numbing caution that briefly enveloped it under former boss Roy Hodgson has disappeared amid a tornado of positivity and energetic forward-thinking, both metaphorically and literally.
The Reds would be sitting pretty in the Champions League spots but for some inspired goalkeeping at Anfield of late, where five of their seven Premier League home games have been drawn. It's surely a matter of time before the searing form of Luis Suarez is properly rewarded.
Liverpool beat Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage in this fixture last season, Maxi Rodriguez scoring his second hat-trick in three games.
Fulham have failed to score in six of their last eight Premier League games against Liverpool.
In 20 Premier League games between the two clubs (going back to 2001), Fulham have won just three.
Liverpool beat Fulham 10-0 in a League Cup second-round match at Anfield in 1986.
Fulham have won just one of their last eight Premier League games at Craven Cottage (W1 D4 L3), a run which started with that 2-5 defeat by Liverpool in May.
This is Fulham's joint-worst record, in terms of points gained, after 13 games. Their 12 to date ranks alongside their total in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.
Headers account for just 7% of Fulham's goals. That is the lowest percentage in the Premier League.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions.
They have allowed their opponents fewer shots on target against them than any other team in the Premier League (44).
Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez averages 8.2 touches per game inside the opposition penalty area, more than any other top-flight player.
Source BBCSport