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EFL
Cup: Fulham vs Liverpool
Kickoff
Time: 2024-01-25 04:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/PETER
CZIBORRA
Fulham
recently faced a 1-2 defeat to Liverpool in the first leg of the EFL Cup
semi-finals, missing an opportunity to secure a positive result. In their
previous Premier League match, they suffered a 0-1 loss to Chelsea, resulting
in consecutive defeats in all competitions. This season, Fulham’s overall
performance has been satisfactory. They currently occupy the 13th position in
the Premier League standings with a record of seven wins, three draws, and 11
losses. They are not under immediate threat of relegation. Fulham predominantly
employ a 4-2-3-1 formation and are known for their continuous high-intensity
pressing style of play. One of Fulham’s notable strengths lies in their
attacking quartet consisting of Raul Jimenez, Alex Iwobi, Willian, and Andreas
Pereira, who have displayed impressive chemistry and understanding on the
field. However, they heavily rely on set pieces for scoring opportunities due
to their limited ground-based attacking capabilities. Their dependence on
physicality makes it challenging for them to exploit the weaknesses of stronger
teams.
In
the previous league match, Liverpool secured an impressive 4-0 victory over
Bournemouth in an away game. The Reds are currently in excellent form,
remaining unbeaten in their last eight matches with six wins and two draws.
They continue to lead the Premier League standings with a record of 14 wins,
six draws, and one loss. Despite their outstanding performance, Liverpool have
faced a significant wave of injuries in recent times. Key players such as
Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai, and
Tsimikas Tsimikas are currently sidelined with injuries. Additionally, Mohamed
Salah and Endo have temporarily left the team due to national team duties. This
situation has resulted in Liverpool essentially losing half of their starting
lineup. However, manager Jurgen Klopp has made targeted adjustments, including
positional changes for the forward players, which have played a crucial role in
maintaining their resilience.
Liverpool
have indeed faced challenges due to the absence of several key starting
players. However, manager Jurgen Klopp has made tactical and personnel
adjustments that have yielded positive results for them. Their recent
performances indicate that they have adapted well to the circumstances and
found a playing style that suits the squad. Considering Klopp’s ability to make
effective adjustments and Liverpool’s impressive form, it is reasonable to
expect them to maintain their strong performance against Fulham. Additionally,
when considering the recent form of both teams and their historical
head-to-head record, Liverpool’s dominance suggests that they have a good
chance of continuing their successful run.
Fulham’s
Last 5 Games: LLWWL
24-01-13
Chelsea 1-0 Fulham
24-01-11
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
24-01-06
Fulham 1-0 Rotherham United
23-12-31
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal
23-12-26
Bournemouth 3-0 Fulham
Liverpool’s
Last 5 Games: WWWWW
24-01-22
Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
24-01-11
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
24-01-08
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
24-01-02
Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle United
23-12-27
Burnley 0-2 Liverpool
Head
To Head Record:
24-01-11
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
23-12-03
Liverpool 4-3 Fulham
23-05-04
Liverpool 1-0 Fulham
22-08-06
Fulham 2-2 Liverpool
21-03-07
Liverpool 0-2 Fulham
Prediction: Liverpool to win