Fulham manager Martin Jol expected to return for Liverpool match

Jol defended his club's ambition (Getty Images)

Martin Jol was today set to return to the Fulham dugout tomorrow for their second match on Merseyside in four days.

Jol did not travel with the Cottagers squad today for their Barclays Premier League game at Liverpool after missing Saturday's defeat at Everton with a chest infection.

But Press Association Sport understands the Dutchman has been given the all clear to link up with them tomorrow ahead of the match at Anfield.

Jol's presence appeared to be badly missed at Goodison Park as Fulham crashed to their heaviest away defeat since he was appointed manager summer, with first-team coach Billy McKinlay handed the reins.

Regardless of who is in the dugout, Fulham's players are determined to make amends tomorrow for Saturday's defeat, which was a huge blow to their hopes of finishing above Liverpool in the table.

The sides had been level on points and almost level on goal difference before the weekend but the ninth-placed Cottagers will need to produce their first ever victory at Anfield to move back to the same points tally as their opponents tomorrow night.

There has arguably never been a better time to go to the home of the five-time European champions, who have endured a miserable time in front of their own fans this season.

Fulham's Belgian playmaker Mousa Dembele believes a famous scalp is there for the taking and well as an immediate chance to put things right on Merseyside.

"We can go level on points with Liverpool with a win, which is why I am so hungry to beat them," he told the Cottagers' official website, www.fulhamfc.com.

"We want to prove ourselves when we go back up to Liverpool because the Everton game was not our best performance.

"We still aim to finish above Liverpool so now is our chance to show them that we can.

"If we want to do that, we have to win this game and give ourselves the best chance of catching them in the league."

Liverpool could alos rest several players tomorrow ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

But Dembele was not interested in playing a weakened side, insisting Fulham were good enough to shock their top stars.

"I want to play against the best Liverpool team, but if they don't play the best Liverpool team, we will still do our best to beat them as well," he said.

"For me, I hope they play with their best players possible so we can show we can beat them."

Dembele was also itching for the chance to banish the memories of Saturday's defeat, insisting he was more than happy to be playing again four days later.

"It's not disappointing that we have another game so quickly after the Everton match," Dembele said.

"I'm happy to have the chance to play and forget about the Everton game and we can have a good feeling about the Liverpool game if we win this game, or play very well."

PA