Premier League action continues this week as Fulham hosts Liverpool at Craven Cottage on Wednesdaya matchup featuring two sides navigating key absences and seeking to solidify their positions in the top flight. Fulham, enjoying a recent upswing in form, aim to upset the fourth-place liverpool, who are looking to maintain their momentum after a seven-match unbeaten runthough recent dropped points have highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly away from Anfield. This contest promises a compelling tactical battle as both managers contend wiht international duty impacting squad selection and seek to capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses.
Fulham enters this match in strong form, currently holding the 11th position and enjoying one of their best stretches of the season. Since late November, their performance has markedly improved, securing victories in 5 of their last 8 Premier League games – a run that has instilled confidence and stability within the squad. Even in defeat, they’ve demonstrated resilience, notably in a thrilling 4-5 loss to Manchester City where they nearly completed a remarkable comeback from a 1-5 deficit. Craven Cottage has proven to be a difficult venue for opponents, with losses coming only against top-tier sides like Arsenal and City.
Liverpool has only secured one victory here since 2020.
Liverpool currently sits 4th in the league and is experiencing a period of stability after overcoming a significant mid-season crisis. They are on a seven-match Premier League unbeaten streak, a positive sign, though their overall performance continues to draw scrutiny. After closing out the year with three consecutive wins, they’ve recently dropped points, including a home draw against Leeds. Away from home, Liverpool has struggled to replicate their best form this season, displaying inconsistency and vulnerability in challenging matches. While trending upwards, Liverpool needs to solidify their reliability, particularly on the road.
Fulham has several key players facing uncertainty regarding their availability. Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Rodrigo Muniz were all unavailable for the last match, with Iwobi and Bassey participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and Muniz sidelined with an injury – their participation remains in doubt. Despite these absences, Fulham boasts a competitive squad. Bernd Leno stands out in goal as one of the Premier League’s most dependable keepers. Captain Joachim Andersen anchors the defense, supported by attacking full-backs Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete. Sander Berge and Saša Lukić control the midfield, while Emile Smith Rowe, Harry Wilson, and Raúl Jiménez provide attacking firepower.
Andersen is the player with the most accurate long balls per game in the tournament, averaging 5.9 per match.
Liverpool also faces notable absences. Mohamed Salah remains with the Egyptian national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, and Diogo Jota continues to recover from injury, leaving the team short-handed in attack. Nevertheless, the quality within the squad remains high. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté lead the defense, with Alisson Becker in goal. Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones feature in midfield, while Jeremie Frimpong adds width on the right flank. The attacking burden will fall on Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Hugo Ekitike, though the team clearly misses their Egyptian star.
The circumstances point to a more open match than initial predictions suggest. Fulham is in good form, strong at home, and consistently competitive against top opponents. Liverpool, despite their quality, continues to show defensive vulnerabilities and concedes opportunities too easily, especially away from Anfield.
Recent encounters between the two teams have been high-paced and featured goals at both ends. Neither side typically dominates for extended periods, and with current defensive and offensive absences, an exchange of goals appears the most likely scenario.
With odds of 2.10 on Codere, our prediction for Fulham – Liverpool: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score.
