Fulham vs Liverpool

Since I'm still healing from hip replacement surgery and have nothing better to do, so I'll begin the carousel for this one.
We're going to lose, it's just a matter of by how much. All of scousers' big scoring threats are fit and back on the pitch again, and their recent woes may have been cured by the 4-2 result against Burnley at Anfield. That score is a bit misleading, because Burnley scored first and pulled back to make it 3-2 late before Sane got a late one to make it comfortable for the Reds. It wouldn't surprise me to see Klopp rest a couple of regulars against us, because there's no reason to believe they'll need all their weapons to get a result against us. The best we can hope for is not to be embarrassed.

How's everybody doing, by the way?

 

To think, if Liverpool was still in the FA Cup, we could have had 2 weeks off! (psa: next week is an international break)

We're going to lose, but I'd like to see something different/more experimenting with our formation. Maybe try 2 up top. Maybe put Chambers back to CB. Maybe start Zambo, Seri, and Cairney together.

 

Whatever happens, I’m not sure there’s much point in using players that we know are not going to be here next season. Of course, there’s not much to be gained by that strategy when it’s uncertain who the manager will be next season. Echoing Tim’s sentiments, ir’s time to try something different, but not “different” like Ranieri playing Cairney on a Wing. Don’t have a problem moving Chambers back, but would really like to see some more of the youngsters, especially Steven Sessegnon and Aaron Davies. Maybe give Fabri another shot in goal, since he’s ours for a while. Would also like to see Neeskens Kebano again. I think we’ll continue to see Ayité and K-Mac. Is Kebano hurt?

 

Maybe the Scousers will play 120 minutes in Munich today (doubtful since its 0-0 on agg), lose on PKs, and come in flat...Or...they advance over Bayern, party like its 1999 and come in flat & hungover.

Let’s be honest, after a huge European night in Germany mid-week then playing the 19th place team w/an historically bad defense on the weekend you have to expect them to not be at their peak. We’ll still lose, but I don’t see a 4 or 5 goal beatdown.

 

Forgot to note at the beginning, this one's on Sunday at 9:15 a.m. Sunday.

 

I fear this is going to get this Sullivan's St. Paddy's day off to a disappointing start. As much as I want to select the option for triple points for my captain Salah in my fantasy league...I just can't do it. Its not a money league...but if it was...I would have had a serious conundrum. No way we win this or draw (I so hope someone is quoting me on Sunday for being completely wrong!) My only hope is that I was in Myanmar last week at a Buddhist Pagoda offering water to my "day", Thursday, the day I was born on . It is supposed to bring good karma. We shall see if it works.

 

Pretty much every way you look at it we have no chance. Thus, it's the perfect time for a Fulhamish result!

COYW!

I'll be recording the game also. The idea of getting up at 6:15 in the morning to do something fun -- there's just too much of a paradox there.

 

This is correct for those of you living in the central time zone. I will have to wait until 10:15 though.

I'm trying to think of other things that I can accomplish while "watching" this one. It's hard to imagine committing my full attention to what is sure to end up as an old fashioned beat down.

 

How do you know when it's been a terrible season? When the GK braincramps and gifts the match winning penalty for Liverpool late on and the biggest takeaway is you're happy Fulham wasn't demolished

 

I’ve only seen snippets of the action, but at least we weren’t embarrassed. Sounds like Rico cost us this one. When it rains...

 

They gifted us a a goal and we returned the favor. I'm all for playing Fabri the rest of the year to see if he's worth keeping. On a brighter note, my beloved Billikens surprisingly won the A-10 tourney and made my Sunday much better.

 

Chambers and Ream looks like what we've been looking for. Too bad we didn't figure that out sooner. And I agree that if I don't see Rico for the rest of the season, that's fine with me.

 

Fulham FINALLY played the 4-1-4-1 formation I've personally wanted to see since October and guess what: it went ok! Too bad we've suffered through a manager who refused to organize a defense, and then another manager who stopping giving a sh*t 6 weeks into the job, because this formation and approach could have won us several games several months ago.

I'd also be fine with Fabri in net for the rest of season. He's still under contract next season, and with Betts recovering from knee surgery, there's no harm in building for the future.

 

Random thoughts...

It's starting to make sense why Rico was available for loan in the first place.

Apparently Van Dijk's weakness that Babel spoke of last week is headed passes back to the keeper. Thankfully Babel took advantage.

It's unfortunate that Fulham's first tendency is to kill all attacks with hold up play or back/side passes.

Why is Mitrovic caught offside coming back to the ball at least 25% of the time? This seems like laziness to me.

Fosu-Mensah still plays with a club at the end of his left leg and Christie still cannot provide a decent cross.