Fulham v Liverpool
FULHAM resume the battle for top flight survival against a jubilant Liverpool side, bound for the Champions League final in Athens in just over two weeks time. The west Londoners were a top half team in early December, but have been in free fall of late and go into this match two places and one point above the trap door. Match day will be the 25th since Lawrie Sanchez took over from Chris Coleman in a caretaker capacity. The Cottagers have drawn one and lost two under Sanchez, and have picked up four points from a winless 10 matches since victory over Newcastle on 3 February. They're never finished a Premier League campaign lower than 14th place, nor accumulated fewer than 44 points. The best they can get this time around is 42.
The Cottagers won last season's corresponding fixture 2-0. It was their first win in six matches against Liverpool and a fitting way to bid farewell to Fulham legend Johnny Haynes, who sadly passed away earlier in that week.
LIVERPOOL have managed five top three finishes in their 14 Premiership seasons prior to this. They go into this penultimate League match, and last on the road, one point ahead of Arsenal in fourth. They are already guaranteed a place in the qualifying rounds for the next seasons Champions League, but Rafael Benitez will want his side to go directly into the group stages by beating AC Milan and winning the competition for the second time in three seasons on 23 May.
The Merseysiders missed the opportunity to become the fourth club to top 1,000 Premier League points, when beaten away to Portsmouth last Saturday. Currently on 998 points, a maximum at Craven Cottage will see them joining Manchester United (1,228 points), Arsenal (1,079) and Chelsea (1,010) on four figures.
The Reds have won four of the last five Premiership matches against Fulham, scoring a total of 16 goals in the quartet. The Merseysiders dominated the first half of this season's reverse fixture, but needed a three goal blitz in 12 second-half minutes to seal the points. They eventually won 4-0 and are now looking to 'double' the Cottagers for the second time in three seasons.
REFEREE
FULHAM resume the battle for top flight survival against a jubilant Liverpool side, bound for the Champions League final in Athens in just over two weeks time. The west Londoners were a top half team in early December, but have been in free fall of late and go into this match two places and one point above the trap door. Match day will be the 25th since Lawrie Sanchez took over from Chris Coleman in a caretaker capacity. The Cottagers have drawn one and lost two under Sanchez, and have picked up four points from a winless 10 matches since victory over Newcastle on 3 February. They're never finished a Premier League campaign lower than 14th place, nor accumulated fewer than 44 points. The best they can get this time around is 42.The Cottagers won last season's corresponding fixture 2-0. It was their first win in six matches against Liverpool and a fitting way to bid farewell to Fulham legend Johnny Haynes, who sadly passed away earlier in that week.
LIVERPOOL have managed five top three finishes in their 14 Premiership seasons prior to this. They go into this penultimate League match, and last on the road, one point ahead of Arsenal in fourth. They are already guaranteed a place in the qualifying rounds for the next seasons Champions League, but Rafael Benitez will want his side to go directly into the group stages by beating AC Milan and winning the competition for the second time in three seasons on 23 May.
The Merseysiders missed the opportunity to become the fourth club to top 1,000 Premier League points, when beaten away to Portsmouth last Saturday. Currently on 998 points, a maximum at Craven Cottage will see them joining Manchester United (1,228 points), Arsenal (1,079) and Chelsea (1,010) on four figures.
The Reds have won four of the last five Premiership matches against Fulham, scoring a total of 16 goals in the quartet. The Merseysiders dominated the first half of this season's reverse fixture, but needed a three goal blitz in 12 second-half minutes to seal the points. They eventually won 4-0 and are now looking to 'double' the Cottagers for the second time in three seasons.
REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
FULHAM
Fixtures 16th 36 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 15thLowest could fall: 18th
1. Drawn four and lost six of the last 10 Premiership matches, since beating Newcastle 2-1 at home on 3 February.
2. Won only one of the last 18 top flight encounters.
3. Won seven Premiership matches this season. Only Watford (four) have won fewer.
4. Kept six top flight clean sheets - only Spurs have fared less well (five block outs).
5. On the longest current run of 10 matches since scoring more than a single goal in a Premiership game (2-1, home to Newcastle on 3 February). Also on the longest such sequence since winning by more than a single goal. It's now 48 League matches since the 6-1 success, home to West Brom on 11 February 2006.
6. Drawn 15 times in the highest League. Only Aston Villa have finished level more often (16 times).
7. Second bottom in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with two points from the possible 18. (Liverpool are third top, 13 points).
8. Striving for a first home win in six League fixtures, having drawn three and lost two since the victory over the Magpies. Scored 17 times in Premiership matches by the banks of the Thames. Only Manchester City have netted fewer home Premiership goals (10). Gained 25 of their 36 points at the Cottage.
9. Already been 'doubled' by Manchester United, Manchester City and Reading.
10. End the season away to Middlesbrough on Sunday, 13 May.
LIVERPOOL
Fixtures 3rd 67 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rdLowest could fall: 3rd
1. Lost one of the last seven Premiership matches.
2. Won 13 more top League games than Fulham (20 to seven).
3. Only Manchester United (27) and Chelsea (24) have won more top tier encounters, and conceded just 24 Premiership goals. Only Chelsea have shipped fewer (22).
4. Kept 20 clean sheets in the highest echelon. Only Chelsea have managed more (21).
5. Lost nine times in the top tier this term. Only Chelsea (three), Manchester United (four) and Arsenal (eight) are also still in single figures in the "lost" column.
6. Conceded two first half goals against Portsmouth last time out - only the second match in 24 Premiership outings that their goal line has been penerated in the first 45 minutes.
7. Hold the best disiplinary record in the highest League with just 41 yellow cards picked up during the 36 fixtures.
8. Won six matches and scored just 18 goals on their top flight travels with this one fixture remaining. Last season they managed 10 away wins and scored 25 goals.
9. 'Doubled' Tottenham, Watford, West Ham, Reading and Wigan so far.
10. Finish the League campaign home to Charlton on Sunday, 13 May.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Fulham 2-0 Liverpool22 October 2005 - Ref: Martin AtkinsonFulham scorers: John 30, Boa Morte 90
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 4-0 Fulham9 December 2006 - Ref: Uriah RennieLiverpool scorers: Gerrard 54, Carragher 61, Luis Garcia 66, Gonzalez 90
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and awayLeague: Fulham 6 wins, Liverpool 22, Draws 11Prem: Fulham 2 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 2
at Fulham onlyLeague: Fulham 6 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 6Prem: Fulham 2 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 0
The "League" figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
FULHAM
Fixtures 16th 36 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 15thLowest could fall: 18th
1. Drawn four and lost six of the last 10 Premiership matches, since beating Newcastle 2-1 at home on 3 February.
2. Won only one of the last 18 top flight encounters.
3. Won seven Premiership matches this season. Only Watford (four) have won fewer.
4. Kept six top flight clean sheets - only Spurs have fared less well (five block outs).
5. On the longest current run of 10 matches since scoring more than a single goal in a Premiership game (2-1, home to Newcastle on 3 February). Also on the longest such sequence since winning by more than a single goal. It's now 48 League matches since the 6-1 success, home to West Brom on 11 February 2006.
6. Drawn 15 times in the highest League. Only Aston Villa have finished level more often (16 times).
7. Second bottom in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with two points from the possible 18. (Liverpool are third top, 13 points).
8. Striving for a first home win in six League fixtures, having drawn three and lost two since the victory over the Magpies. Scored 17 times in Premiership matches by the banks of the Thames. Only Manchester City have netted fewer home Premiership goals (10). Gained 25 of their 36 points at the Cottage.
9. Already been 'doubled' by Manchester United, Manchester City and Reading.
10. End the season away to Middlesbrough on Sunday, 13 May.
LIVERPOOL
Fixtures 3rd 67 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rdLowest could fall: 3rd
1. Lost one of the last seven Premiership matches.
2. Won 13 more top League games than Fulham (20 to seven).
3. Only Manchester United (27) and Chelsea (24) have won more top tier encounters, and conceded just 24 Premiership goals. Only Chelsea have shipped fewer (22).
4. Kept 20 clean sheets in the highest echelon. Only Chelsea have managed more (21).
5. Lost nine times in the top tier this term. Only Chelsea (three), Manchester United (four) and Arsenal (eight) are also still in single figures in the "lost" column.
6. Conceded two first half goals against Portsmouth last time out - only the second match in 24 Premiership outings that their goal line has been penerated in the first 45 minutes.
7. Hold the best disiplinary record in the highest League with just 41 yellow cards picked up during the 36 fixtures.
8. Won six matches and scored just 18 goals on their top flight travels with this one fixture remaining. Last season they managed 10 away wins and scored 25 goals.
9. 'Doubled' Tottenham, Watford, West Ham, Reading and Wigan so far.
10. Finish the League campaign home to Charlton on Sunday, 13 May.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Fulham 2-0 Liverpool22 October 2005 - Ref: Martin AtkinsonFulham scorers: John 30, Boa Morte 90
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 4-0 Fulham9 December 2006 - Ref: Uriah RennieLiverpool scorers: Gerrard 54, Carragher 61, Luis Garcia 66, Gonzalez 90
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and awayLeague: Fulham 6 wins, Liverpool 22, Draws 11Prem: Fulham 2 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 2
at Fulham onlyLeague: Fulham 6 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 6Prem: Fulham 2 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 0
The "League" figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches
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