Liverpool should edge this one. They have more depth even without Salah. Their attackers will likely be too much for a Fulham defence that’s missing Calvin Bassey. Expect Liverpool to find a way to win a close one
Match info: Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage, London
Date: Sunday, 4th January 2026
Time: 4 pm Nigerian time
With pessimism present around the red half of Merseyside again, Liverpool trek down to the capital for Sunday's Premier League date with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Reds' four-game winning run came to an end in Thursday's goalless draw with Leeds United, and the Cottagers lost their own victorious sequence in a 1-1 stalemate vs. Crystal Palace.
Head-to-head:
- Fulham have won eight of the 36 Premier League meetings between the two teams.
- Liverpool recorded 21 victories.
- The remaining seven clashes ended in draws.
- They’ve scored 21 goals between them in their last five meetings.
- Liverpool usually struggle to keep a clean sheet at this stadium. Their las was in 2019.
- This fixture often changes in the final minutes. The result is rarely settled until the very end.
- Six of their last eight encounters produced at least three goals.
Form:
- Fulham in the league: L-W-W-W-D
- Fulham in all competitions: W-L-W-W-D
- Liverpool in the league: D-W-W-W-D
- Liverpool in all competitions: W-W-W-W-D
Team News:
- Fulham are without Giovanni Leoni and Rodrigo Muniz. Ryan Sessegnon is a doubt, while Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze are all away playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Liverpool, on the other hand, will be without Alexander Isak, Joe Gomez, Stefan Bajcetic, and Wataru Endo due to injury, while Mohamed Salah is with Egypt at AFCON.
Player(s) to watch:
- Emile Smith Rowe finds those small gaps between the midfield and defence. He is the one who sets the pace for Fulham. His sharp turning radius and instinctive one-touch passing allow Fulham to transition rapidly. They can move from deep defensive blocks into dangerous counter-attacks. If he gets going against Liverpool’s press, he will be the link that gets Fulham’s attackers into the game. Rowe is their best bet for an upset. He has scored three goals in 18 Premier League matches so far this season.
- Hugo Ekitike has to step up as the main threat while Salah is out on national duty. Fulham will have to build their whole defensive plan around stopping his mix of power and skill. Ekitike is big but surprisingly quick. He is great in the air and a good target for through balls. Ekitike is very good at finding space in the box and usually reacts faster than the defenders when a cross comes in. Arne Slot is counting on Ekitike to finish chances when the pressure is on. He’s already got eight goals and two assists in 17 games this season, showing he can deliver when it matters. With his directness, he is the most likely player to break the tie in what should be a tight game.