Liverpool were excellent winners at Norwich on Saturday and will want to continue their decent form ahead of the upcoming FA Cup final.
With Chelsea at Wembley on the horizon, Kenny Dalglish will undoubtedly be tempted to rest players for the clash with Fulham at Anfield on Tuesday but the Scot will be also mindful of maintaining Liverpool’s momentum, too, and a I expect a strong home team to be named.
Dalglish, troubled by events on and off the field this year, would love to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup bagged earlier in the season and finishing the Premier League campaign strongly will also be seen as crucial.
Liverpool have struggled badly at Anfield this season, West Bromwich Albion were 1-0 victors in the Reds’ previous home match, but their key men are starting to fire once more and Luis Suarez’s hat-trick at Carrow Road was as good as you are likely to find.
The Uruguayan linked up with Steven Gerrard to devastating effect and, if that pair get the nod against the Cottagers, and are in the same mood, then a home win beckons.
I was surprised to see Liverpool available at bigger than 1.50 for the visit of Fulham, despite doubts about their strength of line up, with Martin Jol’s men remaining so inconsistent on their travels.
A spirited, narrow defeat at Old Trafford last month was followed up by an impressive 3-0 win at Bolton but Jol saw his team thrashed across Stanley Park at Goodison on Saturday and it could be more of the same on Merseyside as Fulham’s season meanders towards its climax.
Wins at the lowly trio of Bolton, QPR and Wigan are all the Carven Cottage side have to show for their efforts away from the capital and confidence is sure to be low following that 4-0 defeat against the Toffees when Fulham were second best throughout.
With the incentive of seventh place, rising above Everton in the process, for securing the maximum haul, Liverpool should be backed with a good degree of confidence to achieve it and a win would set them up nicely for another trip to Wembley in their bid to claim yet more silverware.
2pts Back Liverpool (vs. Fulham) @ 1.63 (Paddy Power)