Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow live coverage as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds get their 2022/23 campaign underway against the newly-promoted Cottagers in west London
Follow live coverage as Liverpool travel to Fulham on the opening weekend of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds came just one point and one place short of Manchester City in the title race last season and begin their battle to go one better this time around against the newly-promoted Cottagers on Saturday lunchtime.
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate has joined an injury list which already includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Diogo Jota (thigh), Curtis Jones (calf), second-choice goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher (groin) and Kostas Tsimikas (knock), with Naby Keita also missing. For the hosts, Marco Silva includes headline summer arrival Joao Palhinha for his Premier League debut while last year’s Championship top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic will hope to pick up where he left off as they bid to avoid the drop.
Follow all the latest updates from Craven Cottage:
Klopp on excitement for new seaosn
Jurgen Klopp says that his team feel the same way as most of fans now that the new season has arrived. It’s a mix of excitement, nerves and expectation.
“Ours is no different, we never know what will happen.” said the Liverpool boss, “Big expectations, dreams, all this kind of stuff. From now on we can be a bit more influential, because everything else is nice and important what we did in the last few weeks but the real test is coming now.”
Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal’s resilience after win over Crystal Palace
Mikel Arteta lauded Arsenal’s fight in their season-opening 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace but admitted much more was required from his attackers.
The Gunners walked away with all three points at Selhurst Park thanks to a first-half Gabriel Martinelli header and a late Marc Guehi own goal.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges but the Eagles challenged Arteta’s side after the restart as the visitors failed to create second-half chances in Gabriel Jesus’ competitive debut.
Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal’s resilience after win over Crystal Palace
The Gunners boss, though, admitted his side should have scored more than once before Marc Guehi’s late own goal
Milner and Thiago nearing landmarks
James Milner could make his 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool while Thiago Alcantara is one game away from bringing up his half-century.
Silva on facing Liverpool
Fulham boss, Marco Silva, believes that taking on Liverpool in their first game is the ‘best way to start’ the Cottagers return to the Premier League.
“I think it’s the best way to start.” he said before the match, “The main thing for us is to play at home, be back in the Premier League with our fans with us.
“To play against one of the best teams in the world, one of the best teams in the Premier League, I think is a fantastic way to do it. Big respect to them, but we have to trust in ourselves and do our maximum to enjoy the challenge, and let’s see the result.”
Klopp gives updates on Alisson and Keita
Speaking to reporters on Friday Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, confirmed that Alisson was fit to play against Fulham this afternoon and that Naby Keita’s illness was more serious than initially thought but the midfielder should be ready for the game.
Klopp said: “Ali [is] fine... Naby is ill, but I think he will be back today the first day.
“I underestimated it a little bit when I said he will definitely be fine. He came in yesterday and still showed some little symptoms, no Covid but it is not right. I guess he will be back today.”
Injured Harry Wilson tipped to be fit for Wales at the World Cup
Fulham boss Marco Silva believes Wales winger Harry Wilson will recover from his injury in time to play at the World Cup in Qatar.
The 25-year-old sustained a knee issue after a clash during his side’s pre-season behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa and is set to spend up to two months on the sidelines, with the World Cup starting on 21 November.
Silva, whose side host Liverpool in their first Premier League match since securing promotion on Saturday, said: “It’s difficult for us to give a timeline to you really because different things can happen.”
Injured Harry Wilson tipped to be fit for Wales at the World Cup
The 25-year-old sustained a knee issue after a clash during his side’s pre-season behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa
Early team news for Fulham and Liverpool
Fulham have been hit with two big blows as Harry Wilson and Nathaniel Chalobah both picked up injuries in the pre-season and will miss this opening fixture against Liverpool.
Joe Bryan missed the club’s final friendly with Villarreal with a hand injury and will be assessed before the match to see if he is fit to start.
Liverpool have a number of injuries too but luckily goalkeeper Alisson is back after missing the Community Shiel and Naby Keita will be assessed after an illness.
Missing the game though will be Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas who are all injured as well as Diogo Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who are in the recovery phase following injuries sustained over the summer.
New-look Arsenal show exciting signs of progress with winning start at Crystal Palace
Let’s recap the action from last night’s Premier League season opener as Crystal Palace hosted Arsenal.
A new season, a couple of new central characters, and a suggestion that this reality show may be on track for a sturdier but no less exciting ride this campaign.
A Brazilian named Gabriel did indeed open Arsenal’s Premier League account and although it may have been Martinelli who was the match-winner after finishing off a smart set-piece routine, the front line led by Jesus sparkled in this early examination of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Another recent arrival - although signed three years apart - was just as key. William Saliba made his long awaited Premier League debut and the 21-year-old was solid in defence as Crystal Palace increased the pressure and Selhurst Park rose at the hope of an equaliser late on.
This was the test that had been predicted but Arsenal did not follow the script. Instead, they held firm and Marc Guehi’s own goal, deflected past Vicente Guaita from Bukayo Saka’s cross, means the Gunners are already off to a better start than last season.
New-look Arsenal show exciting signs of progress with winning start at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli broke the deadlock before a Marc Guehi own-goal sealed the three points for Mikel Arteta’s side at Selhurst Park
Fulham vs Liverpool
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Fulham vs Liverpool from Craven Cottage.
Recently promoted from the Championship Fulham’s first match back in the top-flight could not be any more difficult as they welcome Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who are on the search for Premier League glory after missing out by a point last year.
Both teams have brought in new signings this summer with former Man Utd midfielder Andreas Pereira and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno joining Fulham. Liverpool meanwhile have a new striker in Darwin Nunez and a new attacking midfielder in Fabio Carvalho.
Who will shine and who will falter in London this afternoon?
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