Liverpool forward Luiz Diaz is set to start at Anfield as Liverpool play host to Fulham today at the start of a busy December for Jurgen Klopp’s side across multiple competitions before 2023 is out.
As much as Arsenal go into the weekend top of the league and Aston Villa are level on points with Liverpool, the reality for the Reds is that Manchester City are their primary target.
A win over Fulham at Anfield on Sunday will see Jurgen Klopp’s side overtake the defending champions before City host Tottenham Hotspur later in the day.
The Reds’ next two games after this are on the road, at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, so while they will be expected to win those matches, they will want to make use of the Anfield factor here.
Marco Silva’s side come into the game on the back of just their fourth win of the league campaign, so they should be feeling confident.
The Cottagers will also welcome back Joao Palhinha from suspension, and his contribution since the start of 2022/23 has been sizeable.
As much as these factors should help the visitors, the fact remains they have gone six away league games without a victory.
Liverpool have played 48 league games on home turf, winning 37, drawing 10 and losing just once, to Leeds United in October last year.
Such strong runs must come to an end eventually, but this is unlikely to be the match responsible, especially when Liverpool are setting club records.
By beating LASK 4-0 on Thursday night, the Reds won their 10th consecutive home game by at least a two-goal margin, the first time they have ever had such a run of that length.
While not flawless defensively in those matches, Liverpool have won to nil in four of their six home league games this season.
Aside from that Fulham victory two years ago, four of the last five Anfield meetings of these teams have seen the Reds win to nil.
With Silva’s side being the joint-fourth lowest scoring team in the division, that could be the outcome once again.
