Liverpool are getting ready to move to a Fulham crew who’ve misplaced momentum lately, as Mohamed Salah prepares to face a famously robust opponent.
The Reds beat Everton 1-0 at Anfield midweek and subsequent up is a visit to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.
Forward of the sport, we spoke to Fulham fan and journalist Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) to debate his facet’s season, Liverpool goal Robinson and the important thing battles this weekend.
How would you assess Fulham’s season general since we final spoke?
Fulham have had a robust but often irritating season.
It’s rather a lot to count on extra from a membership of this stature that’s difficult for a European place, however once you have a look at the style of defeats at numerous phases, it’s exhausting to not end up wanting extra.
An ideal instance is the current 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace within the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The remaining members offered an infinite alternative for a uncommon trophy problem, and but they managed to throw it away in a heavy house defeat to a different mid-table membership.
And that one is much from the one instance.
We’ve come so near some key outcomes, solely to be crushed by particular person errors or late targets.
The three-2 defeat to West Ham in January; the 2-2 draw with Liverpool the place they led twice; the current 2-1 loss to Arsenal the place they had been a missed header from an enormous level; each 1-0 defeats to Man United – the record goes on.
We’re having a terrific season, and should nicely qualify for Europe, nevertheless it’s exhausting not to have a look at all of the meat left on the bone.
Are you continue to pleased with Marco Silva as supervisor?
Completely. Marco Silva’s capacity to do extra with much less is astonishing.
I imply no disrespect to the gamers, who’ve been unbelievable this 12 months as they problem for a European place, however have a look at what he’s started working with.
He has managed to carry Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed into viable Premier League midfielders, which in and of itself is a Herculean job.
He has revived each Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore, has restricted the injury Issa Diop has brought about on the again and developed Antonee Robinson into one of many world’s finest left-backs.
That is an unimaginable managerial job given what he has at his disposal.
He stays among the best Premier League bosses who has discovered himself within the good place to maximise his personal abilities and people round him.
Who’ve been Fulham’s three finest gamers? Who has struggled?
Fulham’s finest participant is Robinson, who I STRONGLY imagine is a prime 10 left-back on the earth.
For those who can identify 10 on the earth higher than Jedi, I’ll name you a liar.
It’s astonishing to me that no greater membership has snatched him up but and I imagine this summer time will probably be his final probability to make such a transfer.
He’s 27 now and will probably be 28 initially of subsequent season, with three years left on his contract. If not now, by no means.
Bernd Leno stays a key participant, however he’s exhibiting indicators of regression this season, and at 33 years of age, you surprise if he’s not the goalkeeper that after carried this crew via a number of seasons.
Fulham‘s third-best participant might be Sander Berge, with Alex Iwobi and Joachim Andersen shut behind, though the latter has had a little bit of a disappointing first season again on the membership.
Emile Smith Rowe needs to be the most important disappointment.
He missed a while because of harm however even on condition that, 4 targets and two assists in 1,800 league minutes is wholly unacceptable for a participant who arrived because the membership’s report switch.
He’s solely 24 and may enhance, however this can be a worrying first marketing campaign at Craven Cottage.
What’s the goal for the season now?
It needs to be European qualification.
Provided that the Premier League might see as many as 11 golf equipment into Europe subsequent season, now could be the possibility to capitalise on such a wonderful alternative.
They’ve already thrown away the possibility to problem for the FA Cup, so now they need to be eyeing a spot in Europe.
There are lots of groups within the combine, however the Whites have an actual probability. Let’s get it achieved.
How do you assess Liverpool’s season? Title achieved?
The title is completely achieved, and congratulations to Liverpool!
In a season the place all the massive golf equipment within the Premier League have faltered at each alternative to offer chase, the Reds have remained steadfast.
Their first half is one for the ages, and whilst they’ve slowed via the latter phases of the season, they continue to be probably the most persistently glorious membership in England.
It’s a disgrace that Liverpool had been ousted so early within the Champions League as a result of that they had an actual probability to get much more out of this season, however they ran right into a buzz noticed in PSG.
Mohamed Salah in all probability misplaced the Ballon d’Or together with his disappearing act in that two-legged matchup, however he’s nonetheless had a sensational season and deserves all of the plaudits coming his approach.
What’s your favorite and worst reminiscence from video games in opposition to Liverpool?
These two sides have performed some entertaining matches in current reminiscence.
The sport earlier this season was thrilling, however there was little general for Fulham followers to cling to from this fixture.
I feel I most loved the Aleksandar Mitrovic objective in opposition to Liverpool in August 2022, en path to a 2-2 draw.
It was a basic Mitrovic header from when he was really on fireplace.
The worst reminiscence is far simpler to recall — final season’s 4-3 defeat at Anfield.
That stung for a very long time, with Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold scoring targets one minute aside on the finish to show a 3-2 win right into a gut-wrenching defeat. Ouch.
Waiting for Sunday, the place are the important thing battles?
The important thing battle goes to be Salah in opposition to Robinson. Fulham’s solely probability on this match will probably be their capacity to comprise him with out shedding all attacking presence.
Jedi had two assists in opposition to Liverpool the final time they performed, nevertheless it got here whereas they had been a person up, and nonetheless at a value.
Salah had 4 photographs and in addition picked up an help, and if he has that sort of manufacturing whereas Liverpool are at full energy, Fulham are sunk.
Jedi is a wonderful two-way participant, however that is as robust a check as they arrive.
Wanting past that, Diop has to stay steadfast marking Cody Gakpo if he performs. He has been a formidable ahead this season.
You may level to his harm absence as coinciding completely with Liverpool’s worst second of the marketing campaign.
Diop is a robust defender, notably within the air, however he’s additionally error-prone.
Lastly, what’s your prediction?
Ultimately, I fear about Fulham succumbing to the identical disappointment they’ve in opposition to many massive golf equipment this season and within the current previous.
Will probably be a really even and entertaining match, however I feel Liverpool’s high quality will shine via for a 2-1 victory, with targets from Salah and Gakpo.
