Fulham vs Liverpool: Betting Odds & Prediction

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Josh Gillen

Fulham welcome a stalling Liverpool side to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 

The away side returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory at Atalanta in midweek but the win wasn't enough to prevent them from bowing out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage. Liverpool did pickup a thrilling 4-3 win at Anfield in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. Kick-off is set for 4:30pm UK time in West London. 

Recent Form 

Fulham

Marco Silva's side have won three of their last five home matches but suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United in their most recent outing at the venue. They have since bounced back with a 2-0 away victory at West Ham.

Nevertheless, their form at Craven Cottage is far superior to their record on the road; they've averaged 1.75 points across their 16 home outings compared to a dismal 0.82 in away games. 

Fulham have seen a positive goal difference of +13 in their home games after scoring 29 and conceding 16 so far. They've failed to score in 38%, but that same amount has also seen them keep clean sheets.

They boast an impressive 19.2% conversion rate from an average of 14.62 shots, and have scored two or more goals in half of their home games. 

Defensively, Fulham have conceded an average of exactly one goal per game at home so far. 31.25% of their home fixtures have seen them ship at least two goals. There has been an average of 2.81 total goals per game at Craven Cottage this season.

Liverpool

The away side come into the match in troubling form and have lost three of their last four in all competitions. Jurgen Klopp's men returned to winning ways in Italy during midweek though, but still suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League quarter-finals. 

Their last league outing saw a crushing 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace in a result which has severely damaged their chances at securing a second Premier League title. The result added to the woes suffered in a 2-2 draw at Manchester United the previous week. Across both matches, Liverpool averaged an expected goals (xG) of 3.65 yet were unable to secure victories in either.

Missed chances has been the theme for the Reds since the March international break, and they will need to be more clinical against Fulham if they are to keep pace with league leaders Manchester City. 

Their overall away form has been positive; an average of 1.93 points per game leaves them with the third-best record on the road, and Liverpool suffered have just two defeats in away fixtures in the Premier League so far. They've also scored in all of their away matches, and have found the net twice in 60%. 

Their defensive record of 1.06 average goals conceded in away fixtures is positive but has been hampered by their inability to convert chances at the other end of the pitch. 

Prediction

The visitors must win if they are to have any chance of winning the Premier League in Klopp's final season. Fulham won't be a pushover though and already hold home victories over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season. They have only won once since the 3-0 home win over Spurs though, and OddsNow back Liverpool to return to winning ways in the league with a hard-fought victory on Sunday afternoon. 

OddsNow's Pick: Liverpool to win with BTTS (13/8 @ bet365);