When a team comes up you never know how they’re going to do on opening day – we’ve seen plenty of shock results from promoted sides in the past and Fulham might surprise a few people this season – but you wouldn’t expect anything other than a Liverpool win on Saturday.
Liverpool have brought in Darwin Nunez this summer. I saw him play for Benfica a few times last season and he looks a class act. He’ll hit the ground running in the Premier League I’m sure.
If Mo Salah had left as well as Sadio Mane that could’ve really hurt them as you’ve already lost 25 goals out of your team after his move to Bayern.
Both leaving would’ve been too much for them to deal with.
But Salah’s signed his new contract and the Community Shield showed they’re still very much in the race for the title this season.
Notoriously, Jurgen Klopp has taken his time to bed in new players generally. There are a few exceptions – Luis Diaz last season springs to mind – but with the players he still has for the front three positions, he can play an of them and it won’t weaken the team. We saw that towards the end of last season when he knew exactly who to rest for which game.
Any of Firmino, Jota, Diaz, Salah and Nunez can start so I’m not certain he’ll put his new striker in from the off on Saturday.
The manager’s spoiled for choice on Saturday. You would expect Salah to be in the team, and I could see him get off to a flier, scoring once or possibly more, and Nunez might come off the bench and nick one too.
Most of Liverpool’s creative spark comes from the full-backs, as well as Virgil van Dijk’s long passes to Salah or Diaz, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is the clearest source of creativity, so you’d expect him to lay on a goal for one of the forwards if Liverpool get a few.
Aleksandar Mitrovic terrified defences in The Championship last season, but until he hits those levels in the Premier League you can’t really count on him for goals this year.
He struggled last time they were up too, but the confidence he has from the promotion run could see him get it together at the top level, and they play to his strengths more now too. I’ve always liked him as a player for his aggressive approach, so if anyone is likely to score for Fulham it’s him but I don’t see it happening on Saturday.
He’s more likely to get bottled up playing that lonely role up top against Van Dijk and Joel Matip. I’ve done it before and it can be very frustrating as you might not see much of the ball or get many chances.
You can lose your head sometimes – and Mitrovic is very good at losing his – so he might be one to watch if the ref gets his cards out.
Crouchy’s Shouts: Salah to lead Liverpool past Fulham on Saturday
The big man has his say on Fulham v Liverpool
By Peter Crouch / Football Tips, Premier League / 2 weeks ago
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Crouchy’s Shouts
Saturday 12:30pm: Fulham v Liverpool
TV: BT Sports 1 from 11:30am
When a team comes up you never know how they’re going to do on opening day – we’ve seen plenty of shock results from promoted sides in the past and Fulham might surprise a few people this season – but you wouldn’t expect anything other than a Liverpool win on Saturday.
Liverpool have brought in Darwin Nunez this summer. I saw him play for Benfica a few times last season and he looks a class act. He’ll hit the ground running in the Premier League I’m sure.
If Mo Salah had left as well as Sadio Mane that could’ve really hurt them as you’ve already lost 25 goals out of your team after his move to Bayern.
Both leaving would’ve been too much for them to deal with.
But Salah’s signed his new contract and the Community Shield showed they’re still very much in the race for the title this season.
Notoriously, Jurgen Klopp has taken his time to bed in new players generally. There are a few exceptions – Luis Diaz last season springs to mind – but with the players he still has for the front three positions, he can play an of them and it won’t weaken the team. We saw that towards the end of last season when he knew exactly who to rest for which game.
Any of Firmino, Jota, Diaz, Salah and Nunez can start so I’m not certain he’ll put his new striker in from the off on Saturday.
The manager’s spoiled for choice on Saturday. You would expect Salah to be in the team, and I could see him get off to a flier, scoring once or possibly more, and Nunez might come off the bench and nick one too.
Most of Liverpool’s creative spark comes from the full-backs, as well as Virgil van Dijk’s long passes to Salah or Diaz, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is the clearest source of creativity, so you’d expect him to lay on a goal for one of the forwards if Liverpool get a few.
Aleksandar Mitrovic terrified defences in The Championship last season, but until he hits those levels in the Premier League you can’t really count on him for goals this year.
He struggled last time they were up too, but the confidence he has from the promotion run could see him get it together at the top level, and they play to his strengths more now too. I’ve always liked him as a player for his aggressive approach, so if anyone is likely to score for Fulham it’s him but I don’t see it happening on Saturday.
He’s more likely to get bottled up playing that lonely role up top against Van Dijk and Joel Matip. I’ve done it before and it can be very frustrating as you might not see much of the ball or get many chances.
You can lose your head sometimes – and Mitrovic is very good at losing his – so he might be one to watch if the ref gets his cards out.
Crouchy’s Shouts for Fulham v Liverpool
*Crouchy’s Shouts combined in a Bet Builder come to odds of approximately 21/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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