Liverpool will be hoping to put in a better performance on Sunday after boring their supporters to tears on New Year’s Day.
The Reds were dreadful against Leeds and must ensure their lethargy does not dribble into a tough-looking away clash at Fulham.
The Cottagers beat Liverpool in this fixture last season, and Arne Slot will be wary of rotating too heavily with a trip to Arsenal on the horizon.
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Injuries will be a factor once again for the Liverpool head coach, however, as he attempts to juggle the few options he currently has available.
With half an eye on entering the Arsenal game in the best shape possible, here’s the XI we expect Slot to field at Craven Cottage.
Defence
Amid the disappointment of Thursday’s game, Alisson Becker will have at least been relieved to finally collect another clean sheet for Liverpool. He’ll have the chance to go back-to-back in West London.
Michael Owen claimed Conor Bradley had one of his worst games for the Reds against Leeds, but the Northern Ireland captain is another who is likely to keep his place.
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Meanwhile, Slot is still without options at centre-back, meaning Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk are virtually certain to get the chance to continue their recent improvement.
Left-back is one area where Liverpool could rotate, with Andy Robertson chosen over Milos Kerkez for the Leeds clash. Kerkez has been in good form of late, though, and he should return here.
Midfield
Slot could also choose to do some chopping and changing in midfield after dropping Alexis Mac Allister to the bench against Leeds.
Curtis Jones was the beneficiary of that decision, but having put in a couple of poor displays back-to-back, the Scouser should fall to the bench at Fulham.
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The German has a slight hamstring issue
Ryan Gravenberch will continue amid talk of a new contract for the Dutchman, while Dominik Szoboszlai will aim to improve upon a lacklustre New Year’s Day showing.
Attack
Despite the continued absence of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak in attack, Liverpool are finally able to call upon Cody Gakpo from the start, and it would be a surprise if the No. 18 does not come back in.
Gakpo’s place in the starting XI should be made even more secure after Slot confirmed Florian Wirtz had a slight hamstring issue after Thursday’s match.
Wirtz has lived up to his ‘amazing’ reputation of late, but the Reds boss suggested that an undercooked performance against Leeds was the result of a knock sustained in the week leading up to the game. There’s no need to risk him again.
Hugo Ekitike is now two games without a goal, and the Frenchman will need to do better at Fulham, while Jeremie Frimpong should get the nod after a promising display in midweek.
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