Today’s early match pitches Marco Silva’s newly promoted Fulham side against Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League runners-up Liverpool. In the last meeting, Fulham won 0-1 at Anfield, so if history was to repeat itself and see Fulham get back-to-back 1-0 wins as they did in 2011/12, we’ll be in for a shock. It’s the premier league and if shocks like this are to happen, it’s early in the season that offers the chance most.
After topping the Championship and netting 106 times last season, Fulham’s opening home PL game couldn’t be tougher, and they aren’t going to be railroading this affair. Although adding to the squad with Mbabu, Palhinha and Solomon I can’t see this being enough to get Fulham out of the repetitive relegation/promotion loop they seem to be stuck in, this is a huge jump in class despite the summer signings, no tougher place to start for the men in black and white.
Liverpool comes to Craven Cottage in high spirits having won the community shield 3-1 against Man City and that should go some way to getting the Madrid monkey off their back. There looked to be a little hangover from the summer disappointment as Klopp and his men returned to normal service.
From the 30 Premier League H2Hs Fulham has won 7 to Liverpool’s 18 and there have been 5 draws.
Pre-season for Fulham started with a 0-2 away win (both penalties) at Nice, then a 5-1 drubbing at Benfica, a 1-3 win at Estoril was next followed by a 1-1 draw with Villarreal at home.
Liverpool’s pre-season was indifferent 2W,2L but a great win against City will definitely boost morale, 19y/o Fabio Carvalho must have impressed Klopp with his 10 goals and 8 assists last season for Fulham and was a bargain for £5m + £2.7m in addons, not sure he’s a regular starter yet but his potential holds no bounds.
Key stats
* 60% of last 10 H2Hs have been a win to nil results
* Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League this year
* Fulham had on average 18 shoots in every home game last season
Verdict Fulham 0 Liverpool 2, I just can’t see this going any other way and I doubt Liverpool will need to get out of third gear to take home 3 points. I’m thinking Nunez to score in the 2nd half if he doesn’t make the starting line-up, Liverpool to win & under 2.5 goals.
