- Liverpool will look to return to winning ways when they face Fulham this weekend
- The Reds are on a three-game losing streak as they return to Premier League action
- Several key players are expected to miss the clash at Anfield
Arne Slot will be without a number of key players when Liverpool entertain Fulham at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, 11 April.
The reigning Premier League Champions will look to end their three-game losing streak and return to winning ways when they face the Cottagers this weekend.
They suffered a 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday (8 April) in their last outing.
A few saves from Giorgi Mamardashvili and poor finishing from Ousmane Dembele mean that the Slot’s side are still in the tie.
However, it is imperative that they produce a strong performance against Fulham and claim all three points to take some confidence into the second leg against PSG at Anfield on Tuesday, 14 April.
Liverpool to miss four players v Fulham
A combined total of seven players is expected to be sidelined for Saturday evening’s clash in L4, with the hosts receiving the harder blow.
Wednesday’s clash with PSG saw Alexander Isak make his first appearance in four months, but Slot is still without four key players heading into the fixture against Marco Silva’s side.
Alisson remains sidelined with an injury, although Slot has said that he is ‘working hard’ to regain full fitness.
The Brazilian is expected to be back fit at the end of the month, but that is not the case with Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo, who are ruled out with long-term issues.
It is also worth noting that the Dutchman expressed concerns over Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez‘s workload in his pre-match press conference on Friday, 10 April.
Silva provides injury update
Fulham also have a few injury headaches ahead of their trip to Merseyside, with Silva providing a squad update on Thursday evening (9 April).
Harrison Reed is ruled out of the game this week after picking up a knock to his knee, while Kevin remains on the treatment table since suffering a metatarsal injury against Sunderland in February.
Silva has admitted that he is not sure if the attacker will be able to feature again for the London outfit this season.
Meanwhile, Kenny Tete will also miss the fixture due to a foot injury of his own.
The verdict:
Liverpool’s depth will be pushed to the limit. With Frimpong and Gomez facing late fitness tests, the reliance on Giorgi Mamardashvili to repeat his heroic midweek form could be the difference between a clean sheet and a further slip-up.
With a defining week in both their domestic and European campaigns now upon them, Liverpool find themselves at a critical crossroads in the Arne Slot era.
The task at hand is twofold: they must overcome a significant injury crisis that has depleted their defensive ranks, while simultaneously rediscovering the ruthless streak that saw them crowned champions last season.
Fulham arrive at Anfield well-rested and sensing blood, but the Reds have a history of leaning on the “Anfield factor” when their backs are against the wall. Whether through the leadership of Virgil van Dijk or the return of Mohamed Salah to the lineup, Slot needs his available stars to step up.
A victory on Saturday does more than just stop the bleeding it provides the psychological momentum required to overturn a 2-0 deficit against PSG.
