Liverpool FC visits Fulham on Sunday in a match-up of two teams that reside at opposite ends of the Premier League spectrum. The Reds sit second and still have everything to play for, while the Craven Cottagers are second from bottom and essentially staring at a 99.999% chance of getting relegated.
Safe to say they have nothing left to play for but pride in this one. This series has been extremely one-sided recently with Liverpool winning the last five, out-scoring the London side 16-3 on aggregate.
Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both clubs, starting with the hosts. Andre Schurrle could be available again after successfully battling a virus, but we may not know until closer to kickoff.
Also, Alfie Mawson and Marcus Bettinelli remain sidelined due to injury.
Turning to Liverpool, team captain Jordan Henderson is ruled out while Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should be available again after the international break.
Elsewhere, midfielder Naby Keita faces a late fitness test.
Klopp said today that Keita’s situation was: “positive until now but we have to see if it stays positive when he goes outside.”
Of Henderson he said: “The international break will hopefully be long enough to bring him back. It is to do with his ankle. It’s the best it can be but still not good enough, it’s OK though.”
Regarding the Ox he added: “I heard nothing new but there’s no rush now, before the weekend. After the international break, he will be 100 per cent fit.”
Liverpool FC at Fulham FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, March 17, 2:15 PM local, Craven Cottage
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Form Guide: Fulham- LLLLLL Liverpool- DDWDWW
Odds to qualify via Sky Bet: Liverpool win 1/4, Draw 5/1, Fulham win 10/1
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win 76%, Draw 17%, Fulham win 7%
Prediction: Liverpool 4, Fulham 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.