Key events
I’m going to write these down, then we’ll reflect on what we might see.
Teams!
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Iwobi, Pereira, Sessegnon’ Muniz. Subs: Benda, Tete, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Traore, Willian, Jimenez.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister’; Salah, Jota, Gakpo. Subs: Jaros, Endo, Diaz, Nunez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Preamble
Sixteen years ago, almost to the day, Liverpool visited Craven Cottage and, when Yossi Benayoun scored the winning goal in injury-time to send his team two points clear at the top of the table, the away end could contain itself no longer. “And now you’re gonna believe us, and now you’re gonna believe us,” resounded the chant, “we’re gonna win the league!” Bereft of the title since 1990, relief was palpable.
The problem was, Manchester United had two games in hand. The first, the following day, climaxed with Martin Tyler’s “Machedaaaaaaa” moment, and the second at Wigan, six straight wins later, effectively settled things. Anfield would have to wait a further 11 years to see the Premier League trophy – and even that was disrupted by the pandemic.
This season, there will be no such mishaps. Liverpool have been, by some distance, the best side in the country – a low bar, yes, but also one they’ve sailed over – and all that remains now is for them to indulge in six weeks of parties, starting today. Only they who have suffered can know true joy.
Fulham, though, won’t want to be their patsies – especially after the resounding disappointment of last weekend, a 3-0 home tousing, to Palace, in the last eight of the Cup. With all the noise made elsewhere, it’s easy to overlook the excellence of Marco Silva’s work, but taking a side up from the Championship and immediately establishing them in the middle of the Premier League – without wild spending – is a task proving beyond almost every manager attempting it, and one for which he deserves much praise. The neutrals among us might forgive his side if they mentally check out, but we can be certain that he will not.
Kick-off: 2pm BST