What a performance by Liverpool on Saturday. One of the best three performances we have had this season, the other two being the 5-0 thrashing of Spurs and the 4-0 demolition of Everton. I must say as well, I took a unique sense of personal joy from the 5-1 mauling of the (at that time) league leaders. On Friday evening, I received a tweet from an Arsenal fan in Nigeria who felt the need to criticise my views and to claim Arsenal are going to demolish the Reds. You bet your bottom dollar, I had the last word on that twitter conversation.
But back to the football. Liverpool being able to produce performances like we did against Arsenal shouldn’t be a surprise. We are the best football playing team in the premier league. Our problem though, is consistency. We followed up a beating of Everton with a tepid draw at WBA. We can not follow up a performance like our latest, with a lack-lustre display against Fulham.
So how do we beat them?
In the reverse fixture this season, we beat the Cottagers 4-0, with two goals by Suarez, one by Skrtel and an own goal. Fulham will be bouncing after a gritty, resolute display against Manchester United to earn a point at Old Trafford. Fulham though put out a pretty new team against Manchester United and may not be the same push overs they were. However, I think we may have the advantage because of two factors. The first, Fulham is playing at home. They are propping up the bottom of the table and need to start collecting maximum points if they want to remain in the premier league. They will be targeting their home matches to get three points. This means they will not be as defensive against Liverpool as they were against Man U. This could play into our hands as it will mean our attacking players have more room to play in. The second factor is that they left everything they have on the Old Trafford pitch. I think the visit of Liverpool will be a day or two too soon for their team to fully recover. Remember, Rodgers pulled Gerrard, Sturridge and Suarez off early in the match against Arsenal. Our key players will be fresher.
We need to play this game with the same intensity as we played the Arsenal game. If we do, we will get the points. I doubt if Rodgers will change the back four, but once again, I will make the call for Cissokho to be dropped in favour of Kelly. The remainder of the team should stay the same. And let me just add, Coutinho was phenomenal against Arsenal. The player of the match in my opinion. I see Liverpool producing a 3-0 win.
And our competitors…
West Brom are hosting the new league leaders in Chelsea. Chelsea put in a very professional display in dispatching Newcastle at the weekend to take over the top spot. WBA are in a relegation battle. However, I do not believe this will be a simple win for Chelsea. Remember, WBA should have ended Mourinho unbeaten home record. They also held Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal at home and scored two goals against Man City. Matic has looked like a giant since his arrival though and may prove to be the difference. But for me, I think WBA will get a point from this game. Man City are hosting Sunderland and this is the banker of the round. City will not go three matches without scoring. It is impossible. They will keep all three points in this match. Everton should also prove too strong for Palace and keep the points on Merseyside. Newcastle host Spurs, and I see another, yet smaller upset here. Newcastle will need to respond after two poor results and Spurs have not looked too impressive of late. I think Pardew’s men will get the win. And lastly, the Gunners host Manchester United. Both teams were embarrassed on the weekend, but I think Arsenal have get a better team spirit and can respond positively to the set back, especially because they are at home. I, being a gambling man will be looking for the best odds of Robin Van Persie getting a red in this match. It almost seems inevitable to me. If both teams could lose, I would be ecstatic, but I see an Arsenal win here.