Liverpool set sights on top spot in Super Sunday double-header
It’s Merseyside versus West London in the Premier League on Sunday as Liverpool get the chance to go top away at Fulham and Everton host Chelsea at Goodison Park. Here at InterBet we’ll preview both games on another marvellous Sunday of football.
Fulham vs Liverpool (14:15pm)
With Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, Liverpool have the chance to return back to the Premier League table. Top leapfrog the current league leaders, Liverpool will need to claim all three points at Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds are heavy favourites to win at Fulham and have, in fact, won each of the last five meetings between the sides. A win on Sunday will give Liverpool a third consecutive top flight win away at Fulham for the first time.
Liverpool have equalled their best ever points return after 30 games this season but one ray of light for the home side on Sunday will be a recent dip in form on the road. Klopp’s Liverpool won eight of their first ten away league games this season but have won just one in five since.
The Reds will be buoyed by their recent win away at Bayern Munich but it will be interesting to see what impact that game has on the fitness of the Liverpool players. Most of those that started away in Munich on Wednesday are likely to feature at Craven Cottage. Naby Keita could return after missing their Champions League win but one player certain to miss out is captain, Jordan Henderson. The Liverpool captain limped off in Munich and has been ruled out of the trip to Fulham with an ankle injury.
Liverpool’s man of the match at Bayern Munich was two-goal hero, Sadio Mane. The Senegalese international is in excellent goal-scoring form, scoring eight goals in their last eight games. You can back Mane at 3/1 to score first or 3/4 to score at any time at Craven Cottage.
Fulham’s defensive woes have been their undoing this season. Their record of 68 goals against is considerably worse than any other top-flight side. They are also closing in on the record for most games lost by 2 or more goals. Fulham have lost 17 league games this season by at least two goals; two shy of their own Premier League record set in 2013/14.
Liverpool have scored exactly three goals in each of their past two visits to Craven Cottage. If you fancy them to make it three in a row then back Liverpool to score exactly three goals at 271/100.
Ahead of the visit of Liverpool, Fulham are already 13 points from safety in the battle to beat the drop. They are now near-certainties to make an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship. One man who has not yet given up the fight for Premier League survival is new caretaker boss, Scott Parker.
Parker, Fulham’s third manager of the season after Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri, claimed in his pre-match press conference,
“I believe we can stay up. I see the quality in this team, but I know and understand it will be very difficult. While there are still points available, it’s possible.”
He added, “We have some very good footballers and we need to start getting the best out of them. The attitudes and standards are rising on a daily basis. They have a chance at the weekend to prove how good they are.”
Match Odds
Fulham – 11/1
Draw – 11/2
Liverpool – 2/9
Everton vs Chelsea (16:30pm)
In the second Merseyside versus West London fixture of the day, Chelsea have the chance to continue their push for Champions League qualification away to under-performing Everton.
Before the season started, Everton were backed by many to put the Premier League’s traditional ‘Big Six’ under pressure and make a serious challenge for European qualification. However, a disappointing season has left them languishing in 12th in the league. Sunday’s opponents, Chelsea, currently sit sixth in the Premier League and are a massive 20 points above Everton.
Sunday’s game at Goodison Park could be a tough on to call and you could struggle to make a strong case for either side to win. The advantage there is that any winning bet will offer excellent value for money!
Chelsea have lost three of their last four games on the road and have kept a clean sheet just once in their past nine away league games. Additionally, their Europa League exploits mean several players set to start on Sunday would’ve had just three days’ rest. In contrast, it is now eight days since Everton last played – a 3-2 defeat away to Newcastle United.
If you want to make a case for Chelsea to win then a return of three wins in their last five indicates an improvement in form. In head-to-head meetings with Chelsea, Everton have earned just one win in their last ten attempts, losing six.
Everton have failed to score in any of their last five matches against Chelsea and the last two games have finished goalless. With Gonzalo Higuain potentially absent through illness, another 0-0 draw could prove popular. Back a bore draw at 97/10 with InterBet.
Eden Hazard will be fresh having sat out Chelsea’s mid-week Europa League win against Dynamo Kiev. The Belgian international has 13 Premier League goals already this season. Back Hazard at 7/2 to score first or 23/20 to score at any time on Sunday.
Match Odds
Everton – 16/5
Draw – 251/100
Chelsea – 22/25
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