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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 34
Fulham v Liverpool
Craven Cottage
London, England
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Kick-off is at 17h30
Liverpool will look to get their
Premier League title challenge back on track when they travel to the capital to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, April 21 in the late kick-off.
The Reds saw an eight-match unbeaten run come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield on April 14 which left them third in the standings on goal difference behind Arsenal.
Manchester City thumped Luton 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium one day prior to go two points clear of their title rivals, with the Gunners also losing 2-0 to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
The Cottagers boosted their hopes of finishing in the top half of the table after they beat West Ham 2-0 at the London Stadium on April 14 to move up to 12th position.
It was a first win in four games for Marco Silva's side as they closed within a point of Wolves (11th) and find themselves just two behind Brighton (10th).
Both Wanderers and the Seagulls dropped points last time out, with the former being held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, while the latter drew 1-1 with Burnley at Turf Moor.
In team news, Silva has a fully-fit squad to choose from for the fourth meeting between the two teams this season after they clashed in the EFL Cup semi-finals in January. Opposite number Jurgen Klopp has just three injuries to contend with as Joel Matip (knee), Thiago Alcantara (thigh) and Conor Bradley (ankle) are unavailable for selection.
Silva was delighted to see Andreas Pereira make a match-winning contribution with his brace against the Hammers, admitting they have been working on getting the Brazilian into more advanced areas on the pitch.
"Since he joined ourselves, he has been clearly in a different line, much more as an offensive midfielder there in the pockets, and that is something that we have been working with him on, to arrive more in certain positions," the Portuguese said.
"And I'm really pleased to see him arrive in certain areas that are important, the way he believed in the first goal that the second ball would come for him, and of course the composure in that finish was really good.
"And the way he arrived inside the box for the second goal, really pleased to see, because it's something that we demand from them and we push them to do it, but of course when the things are happening in the game, it makes them believe more and for sure it's going to be important for Andreas."
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Klopp urged his players to get back to the high pressing game that has made them one of the most feared teams on the planet after acknowledging they allowed Palace to much space inside the box for Eberechi Eze's 14th-minute goal.
"I feel really rubbish," the German told Sky Sports. "I am standing here and to talk about this game is really tricky. The first half was absolutely not good enough. We lost conviction from the last game (against Atalanta).
"We concede the goal, which is a horrible goal. A completely free player in the six-yard box, that cannot happen. If you press with 80 per cent, you better don't. It makes no sense. Curtis [Jones} was really going for it but the first line were too far apart.
"Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] and Wataru [Endo], maybe normal, did not follow. The last line was deep as well. It is not about pointing the finger at that or that or that.
"The solution is being really together on the pitch. Where we are, we got to by being an absolute machine against the ball and that is what we have to be."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Fulham wins - 1
Liverpool wins - 2
Draws - 2
Premier League Matchday 34 fixtures:
Saturday, April 20
16h00: Luton Town v Brentford
16h00: Sheffield United v Burnley
20h30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal
Sunday, April 21
14h30: Everton v Nottingham Forest
16h00: Aston Villa v Bournemouth
16h00: Crystal Palace v West Ham United
17h30: Fulham v Liverpool
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