Premier League: Fulham v Liverpool match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage.

Mark Schwarzer of Fulham and Luis Suarez of Liverpool compete (Getty Images)

Fulham can ensure that the 2013/14 season will be their 13 consecutive campaign in the Premier League by beating Liverpool on Sunday.

Following Wigan’s 3-2 defeat to Swansea, the Cottagers now lie five points clear of the relegation zone with just two games to go and as a result of their superior goal difference over the Latics, a point may well also be enough for them to head into the final day with no worries.

When Fulham beat QPR 3-2 on April 1 they had 39 points from 30 games and must have felt safety was virtually guaranteed but a run of five defeats and one draw from their last six games may well have given manager Martin Jol a few worries.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have only tasted defeat once in their last ten league matches which came in a 3-1 defeat at Southampton.

That run has included some emphatic wins with a 5-0 win at home to Swansea, a 4-0 victory at Wigan as well as a 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle at St. James Park.

After the 0-0 draw in the Merseyside Derby last week, the Reds have little left to play for as they are seven points clear of eighth place West Brom although mathematically they still have to a chance to overtake Everton who have a five point gap on their neighbours.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Liverpool 4 (Skrtel, Gerrard, Downing, Suarez) Fulham 0, Premier League, December 2012

Liverpool 0 Fulham 1 (Skrtel og), Premier League, May 2012

Fulham 1(Dempsey) Liverpool 0, Premier League, December 2011

STATS…

Fulham are without a win in their last six games having lost five and drew one of those. Their last win came against QPR on Monday April 1 with a 3-2 victory.

Dimitar Berbatov’s 13 Premier League goals this season make him Fulham’s clear top goalscorer with both Mladen Petric and Bryan Ruiz next with just five.

Liverpool’s 3-1 loss at Southampton is their only defeat from their last ten Premier League games. 

Only Manchester United have scored more goals than Liverpool on their travels this season having scored 36 compared to Liverpool’s 35.

ODDS…

Fulham to win: 4.1

Liverpool to win: 2.04

Draw: 3.65

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

Liverpool’s victory over Fulham in the 1986/87 League Cup Second round allowed them to break the records of both the biggest win and biggest aggregate win in the history of the competition.  The Reds ran out 10-0 victors at Anfield with four goals coming from Steve McMahon, two from Ian Rush and John Wark, with Ronnie Whelan and Steve Nicol also getting on the scoresheet. They also won 3-2 in the second leg to progress 13-2 on aggregate.

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm