Fulham have been handed a tough opening test on their return to the Premier League, facing last season’s runners-up Liverpool at Craven Cottage.
The visitors will have ambitions of winning the title after missing out in agonising fashion last season and will have a familiar face in their ranks, following the signing of Fabio Carvalho from Fulham this summer.
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Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash in the capital.
Form
Fulham
Last season’s Championship winners have turned out on four occasions across pre-season, beginning their summer tour of Portugal with a 2-0 win over French side Nice.
Marco Silva’s side were then on the wrong end of a 5-1 thrashing to Benfica, before beating GD Estoril Praia 3-1 courtesy of Aleksandar Mitrovic’s brace of headers from two corners and summer signing João Palhinha’s first goal for the club.
Marco on Mitro: ????
"He is really confident. If you create for him, he will score. He has the ability and the capacity to score. He will work and he knows what I demand from him."#FULLIV pic.twitter.com/rU2Qhv9DBU
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 5, 2022
Fulham concluded their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal at Craven Cottage, with Mitrovic – scorer of a record-breaking 43 goals in the Championship last season – again on the scoresheet.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s pre-season campaign has been one of mixed results, as Jurgen Klopp has rotated his squad and handed minutes to a wealth of senior stars and emerging prospects.
After beginning with a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in Bangkok, the Reds responded with wins over Crystal Palace (2-0) and RB Leipzig (5-0), with Darwin Nunez coming off the bench to score four goals in the latter win.
Next up… our @premierleague opener ✊???? #FULLIV pic.twitter.com/cdlYBoKBiV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 3, 2022
A disappointing defeat to Red Bull Salzburg followed six days later, before an impressive performance brought the first silverware of the campaign as Manchester City were beaten 3-1 in the Community Shield.
Klopp’s side were well-beaten 3-0 in a friendly fixture against Strasbourg the following day, though were without the senior names who had beaten City at the King Power Stadium.
Last Meeting
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham, March 7 2021
Liverpool’s disappointing title defence reached a new low after a loss to Fulham in March 2021, as the champions slumped to a sixth consecutive home defeat.
Serious injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip had depleted the Reds of senior names at centre-back and the consequences were a disastrous run of form following the turn of the new year.
Finding corners! ???? @LeminaM_13 strikes first. ????#LIVFULpic.twitter.com/mGcUIyFYTj
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 7, 2021
Liverpool had gone 68 home league matches unbeaten, before a January defeat to Burnley was followed by consecutive losses to Brighton, Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea and Fulham at Anfield.
Mario Lemina hit a late winner to secure a 1-0 win for Fulham, with Klopp describing the defeat as one of his ‘lowest moments’ in management.
Predicted Lineups
Fulham: Leno; Mbabu, Ream, Adarabioyo, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed, Pereira; Solomon, Kebano, Mitrovic.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
Who is the referee?
Andy Madley.
What channel is Fulham v Liverpool on?
UK and Irish fans can watch the game on BT Sport 1.
What time is kick off?
Saturday 6th August, 12:30pm BST.
Odds
Fulham – 10/1
Draw – 5/1
Liverpool – 1/4
Read – Our writers’ Premier League predictions for 2022/23
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