Liverpool vs. Fulham: 5 Key Battles to Watch at Anfield

Liverpool have an immediate chance to wipe the home defeat to Aston Villa from their collective memory banks this coming weekend as they face Fulham at Anfield, with the Reds looking to bounce back into the top half.

Fulham are currently placed just one spot below the Reds in the Premier League, lying 13th, and are two points behind their hosts.

Last season the Cottagers did the double over Liverpool, winning 1-0 both home and away so the Reds will be looking to settle one or two scores during the game. Martin Skrtel's own goal was the difference at Anfield last term, though it was a much-changed side for the home team who were preparing for an FA Cup final at the time.

This time around the Reds will be looking to start as well as they did last week against Aston Villa—but actually take advantage of their attacking performance this time instead of succumbing to a poor defeat.

Here are five key battles which could shape the outcome of the match.

Glen Johnson vs. Alex Kacaniklic

Mixed in amongst Liverpool's up-and-down performers this season has been the steadily impressive Glen Johnson.

Playing on both sides of the defence he has been a great outlet moving into the final third of the pitch, showing off his best attributes in attack and getting heavily involved in Liverpool's build-up play.

Defensively he has been strong and reliable too, and if he has made the odd error—well, haven't all the Reds' defenders this season?

Johnson is likely to stay at right-back for this game with Stewart Downing impressing at left-back again against Villa, meaning he could come up against former Liverpool youth player Alex Kacaniklic.

The Swedish attacker was moved to Fulham as part of the transfer that saw Paul Konchesky move to Anfield, along with Lauri Dalla Valle.

He has gone on to prove himself an important impact player for Fulham under Martin Jol, with his pace and trickery down the left flank a big asset to Fulham's attack.

Kacaniklic might not start the game but he could certainly figure at some point, perhaps after the break, and if so will be a real threat to the home side on the counter attack. Johnson will have his work cut out tracking back to negate the danger Kacaniklic poses.

Luis Suarez vs. Mark Schwarzer

Luis Suarez is on something of a barren run of late, though he remains Liverpool's top scorer and is the Premier League's fourth top scorer this season with 10 goals.

In the wake of several missed opportunities against Aston Villa by the whole team and the continued absence of Fabio Borini, the Reds' only other striker, Liverpool could really do with Suarez rediscovering his scoring touch from earlier in the season.

Standing in his way will be 40-year-old goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who, though a veteran of the Premier League, is still a formidable and athletic force.

Having said that, Fulham have the second-worst away defensive record in the league this season having conceded 18 goals in nine games; only Southampton have let in more.

The Reds will need to create some clear shooting chances for Suarez during the game which they didn't really manage to do in their last match.

Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel vs. Dimitar Berbatov and Hugo Rodallega

Quite frankly, Liverpool did not cope well enough with Aston Villa's infrequent attacks last week.

It wasn't merely the fault of the defence; two of the goals came as a result of a lack of challenges or tracking runners from midfield, but the centre backs didn't cover themselves in glory either.

Skrtel and Agger have been a good pairing, and they need to get back to their best this weekend to repel the interesting attacking partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Hugo Rodallega.

Fulham have only won once from their last nine league games and that win came against Newcastle a week ago, when the Colombian forward scored the winning goal.

Berbatov's skill on the ball, ability to drift all over the pitch and pick a pass and the directness, pace and aerial threat of Rodallega make them a very good potential duo, though both are prone to inconsistencies at times.

Agger and Skrtel at their best will keep them out, and that's what Liverpool need.

Lucas Leiva vs. Steve Sidwell

Lucas has started regularly for the Reds since his return to fitness and continues to improve with each match, though he is still some way from his imperious best of more than a year ago.

Against Villa, Liverpool had too many problems with the midfield not tracking runners from deep areas; the goals themselves were actually due to players that Joe Allen was (or wasn't) following but Lucas is pivotal in this role and needs to continue working hard on protecting the defence.

For Fulham, Steve Sidwell has spent much of his career floating around as a squad member at different clubs but with the departures of Danny Murphy and Moussa Dembele recently has made himself a key part of this side.

Hard-working, unafraid to put tackles in and a willingness to be the one who gets forward in support of the attackers, Sidwell has been repaid this season with four goals so far.

He'll be a danger to Liverpool with any second balls which aren't quickly won, making this a key battle when Fulham are in possession from wide areas, even though neither player has the ball.

Brendan Rodgers vs. Martin Jol

Brendan Rodgers has conceded this week via the official club website that he will need to rest the likes of Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen sooner rather than later:

"

There is no doubt Raheem is one who does need that breather. I've thought about it over the past couple of weeks. In order to do that you need to have that depth to take him out and put somebody else in. There is no doubt after working with Joe and seeing him, he's another one. If we're honest, there are a few who could do with that breather, especially mentally.

"

Whether those changes come about in this particular fixture or not remains to be seen, but Liverpool now head into a run of four games in 11 days and for sure the squad is going to be tested to the limit.

Fulham, of course, are in the same boat and Martin Jol might be looking to make his own changes and having used 18 different players in his past four league starting lineups might be a little better-placed to bring in fresh faces.

Which manager makes the most right decisions to replace tired legs, yet keep the most quality on the pitch, might be the most telling battle of all this weekend.

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