Fulham vs Liverpool – 06/08/2022
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Newly-promoted Fulham host last season’s Premier League runner-up Liverpool on opening day at Craven Cottage. After topping the Championship last season, Fulham make the step up to the top flight once more.
Fears of relegation back to the Championship abound at Craven Cottage after a quiet summer in the transfer market at Fulham.
Next up… our @premierleague opener ✊? #FULLIV pic.twitter.com/cdlYBoKBiV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 3, 2022
There is hope that the squad that won the Championship is good enough under manager Marco Silva to remain in the Premier League.
Liverpool have already won a piece of silverware this season. The Reds defeated reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield 3-1.
The Reds looked fantastic and were on top for nearly the entire 90 minutes. Jurgen Klopp could unleash club record signing Darwin Nunez against Fulham. The Uruguayan won a penalty and scored a header against Man City to send the Reds to the win.
Injuries are a worry for Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Premier League start. Alisson Becker missed nearly all of preseason with an abdominal injury. He missed the Community Shield with third-choice Adrian making a number of key saves to help with the win.
Alisson is expected to return versus Fulham, but could start on the bench. There will be no Diogo Jota for Liverpool. He missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury and is set to miss most, if not all, of August. The same goes for Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.
Caoimhin Kelleher is ruled out of the match, but there is hope Kosta Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita, and Curtis Jones will be able to shake off their injury issues to take part. Klopp should use the same XI that started against Man City, but replace Roberto Firmino with Nunez.
For Silva, Joe Bryan is a doubt following a metacarpal fracture. Nathaniel Chalobah is a major doubt, while former Liverpool academy player Harry Wilson is ruled out with a knee problem.
Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will be nailed on to start after scoring 43 goals in the Championship last term. Mitrovic’s best Premier League goal return was in 2018-19 with 11 goals.
These teams last met in the Premier League in 2020-21 when Liverpool suffered a number of injuries to key players. Fulham were able to snatch a 1-1 draw at home before winning 1-0 at Anfield.
Despite those positive results, Liverpool have a stronger head-to-head record with 4W-1D-1L against Fulham. Three of the last six games ended with over 2.5 goals.
Saturday’s early kick off should go to Liverpool with the Reds posting a 3-0 win. Mohamed Salah looked great in the Community Shield and he could get on the scoresheet for Liverpool against Fulham after bagging 23 league goals last term.
