Fulham Build-up

[Kinell]

We've been strong at home recently and can see it continuing even against an inform Fulham side.

I hope we go all out and strike a blow ahead of a possible match up again in Hamburg.

[SB]

Yeah I'm hoping that Fulham celebrated their win big time on Thursday night and will turn up at Anfield with a big hangover. 4-0 to us I'm hoping

[SB]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=269857&league=ENG.1&cc=3888

Liverpool expect Fernando Torres to be fit for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash against fellow Europa League semi-finalists Fulham.

Torres played through on through slight discomfort in his knee to score twice in Thursday night's pulsating victory over Benfica.

The Spaniard was substituted after 86 minutes and required ice treatment but the problem is not thought to be serious.

Daniel Agger could continue at left-back after filling in confidently against the Portuguese league leaders. Emiliano Insua was suspended but has also suffered a knock while Fabio Aurelio (thigh) remains sidelined.

Ryan Babel and Maxi Rodriguez are back in contention after being suspended and ineligible respectively in Europe.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants his team to carry on where they left off on Thursday as they switch focus back to domestic action.

Benitez's side produced an outstanding performance in midweek to overturn a first-leg deficit and power into the Europa League semi-finals.

Such was the manner of their 4-1 win, which secured a 5-3 aggregate success, their continuing struggles in the Barclays Premier League seemed a world away - but reality will soon return.

Last week's frustrating draw at Birmingham has left the Reds facing an uphill struggle to deliver on Benitez's "guarantee'' of Champions League qualification.

The Spaniard, however, is not giving up and feels the tone has now been set for the final five games of the campaign.

Benitez said: "I think it is important when you are playing well and scoring goals to keep the momentum. Hopefully we can keep this level.

"The fans and the atmosphere were very good and the players have an extra motivation when they can feel the atmosphere.

"We know we are in a position that it depends on others making mistakes but we have to do our job.

"We cannot be watching the others, we have to win our games.

"We have to concentrate on the next game, get three points and then get ready for the next one.

"I am still confident if we do our job we will be there.

"It is really important to score a lot of goals at home. The players will have more confidence and we know we will have to start with it against Fulham.''

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will make several changes to his side.

Bobby Zamora is doubtful with an Achilles injury and Simon Davies could miss out after he picked up a rib injury in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Clint Dempsey is ruled out with a thigh injury but David Elm could be available if he overcomes the virus which hospitalised him last weekend.

Hodgson insists he will continue with his controversial policy of resting players for Barclays Premier League matches.

The trip to Anfield will be the Cottagers' 55th game of a gruelling season which began with a Europa League qualifier against Vetra back in July.

The Cottagers' remarkable European campaign shows no sign of slowing after they beat Wolfsburg on Thursday night to set up a semi-final clash with Hamburg.

Should Hodgson's team progress to the final, they will end up playing 63 matches by the end of the season, by far the most of any team in the Premier League.

The results in Fulham's games against Wolves, Everton and Arsenal could have a significant impact on the standings at both ends of the table at the end of the season and West Ham have already lodged a complaint against Hodgson for fielding a depleted side against Hull.

A potential £25,000 fine will not deter Hodgson from sticking to his rotation policy, however.

He said: "The Wolfsburg game was our 54th of the season, so for any team that's a big ask and for a team like ours, who haven't had experience of European football, it's been very demanding on a small group of players.

"League survival was our priority. Now we have 41 points we've had a good season in the league and I honestly don't believe we'll be relegated now or reach the top places so the league must now take second place to the cup.

"We'll have to look at the situation on Sunday. We had one or two players pick up knocks in the Wolfsburg game but luckily we are getting more and more players back.''

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland is confident that fatigue will not be a problem, saying: "We have performed in league matches straight after playing in big European games so I'm confident we'll be able to do the same again on Sunday.''

[SB]

Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Torres, Kuyt.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Greening, Okaka.


Personally I'd go with

Pepe
Johnson
Carra
Greek
Agger
Maxi
Stevie
Masher
Yossi
Torres
NGog


Subs

Dirk
Babel
Insua
Lucas
Pacheco
??

[Icon]

Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Torres, Kuyt.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Gera, Greening, Okaka.


Personally I'd go with

Pepe
Johnson
Carra
Greek
Agger
Maxi
Stevie
Masher
Yossi
Torres
NGog


Subs

Dirk
Babel
Insua
Lucas
Pacheco
??

Starting with 2 strikers?

You know Rafa right?

[SB]

Starting with 2 strikers?

You know Rafa right?

I'd rather see 2 strikers at home than 2 deep mids. We need to win mate not defend in numbers IMO.

[Guest]

Starting with 2 strikers?

You know Rafa right?

Man. Utd play with one striker.

[SB]

Man. Utd play with one striker.

What's your point though? United do it so we should too?

[Bender]

Maxi will be in the starting x1 for sure

[SB]

Maxi will be in the starting x1 for sure

I agree. Only question is for Kuyt or Yossi IMO.

[Bender]

I agree. Only question is for Kuyt or Yossi IMO.

ohh now that's impossible to call.....

[SB]

ohh now that's impossible to call.....

Get off the fence and give me your staring X1.

[Bender]

Get off the fence and give me your staring X1.

ok if i must all though i was gonna post my line up at 14.59
Pepe
Johnson
Carragher
Stavros
Agger
Maxi
Stevie
Masher
kuyt
Torres
Babel

[Guest]

What's your point though? United do it so we should too?

Simply meaning that playing one striker isn't necessarily a defensive formation, which the poster alluded to. Was it that difficult to understand?

[SB]

ok if i must all though i was gonna post my line up at 14.59
Pepe
Johnson
Carragher
Stavros
Agger
Maxi
Stevie
Masher
kuyt
Torres
Babel

Well done

I think Kuyt may be rested though after his herculian efforts on Thursday.