Liverpool Vs. Fulham Preview: Roy Hodgson Looks To Beat His Old Employers

Roy Hodgson’s old employers come to Anfield on Saturday, December 18^th in a match that is significantly for both sides.  Liverpool sit ninth in the Premier League table coming into this match, nine points adrift of the top four.  If hopes of reaching the top four are to be kept alive, the Christmas period will prove an important time for the club. 

Three of the next four games come at Anfield, where the team has enjoyed a good record as of late. Picking up maximum points in a majority of these games will be essential. Fulham, on the other hand, are trying to avoid the other end of the table: goal differential is all that separates them from the bottom three.

Manager Mark Hughes will be under pressure to keep his club, which Roy Hodgson managed to bring to the Europa League final last year, out of the relegation zone and close to the middle of the table.

The key in this match will be who scores first and how they approach the game from that point forth.  Fulham has look devoid of ideas in front of the net this season, averaging less than a goal a game away from home.  Liverpool, however, takes comfort in playing at Anfield and has managed to score just under two goals per game at home.  If Liverpool gets out on the right foot and get an early goal, then I think the goals will keep coming. 

Fulham will be well organized at the back and will not be easy to break down.  Counter-attacks will provide the most likely area of attack for a team that is struggling to find form.

On the injuries front, Liverpool are currently without the services of Jamie Carragher, Jay Spearing and Daniel Agger while Steven Gerrard remains questionable for the weekend fixture. Fulham will be without the services of Zamora, who is out with a long-term injury, Phillipe Senderos and Moussa Dembele.

Possible starting XI:

Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles, Maxi, Gerrard, Torres

Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Gera, Kamara, Dempsey

Players to watch:

Fernando Torres' form at the beginning of the season was very inconsistent, and he looked off the pace for considerable portions of games.  Two goals against Chelsea had Liverpool supporters thinking “El Nino” was back, but the goals have yet again stopped.  In front of a home crowd where Liverpool will have plenty of possession, Torres will be looking to get his name on the scorers sheet.

Clint Dempsey has been the man in form in front of goal for his club. Even last week, there were rumors that Hodgson could be looking at him in the January transfer market.  While I doubt the validity of the rumors, it is a sign that the American is playing well and if Fulham are to take anything from this game they will need a workhorse with an eye for goal up top, something Dempsey provides.

Prediction:

3-1 Liverpool