Liverpool v Fulham Premiership Preview – Gerrard Doubtful, Torres & Keane Could Start v Resurgent Cottagers

Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool will look to continue their strong progress in the Premiership when they take on Roy Hodgson’s Fulham, who are buoyed after their back-to-back wins, at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds are going neck and neck with leaders Chelsea with the only difference between the two sides being the number of goals. As such, the Merseysiders will be keen to pick up full points against the visiting Cottagers, who downed Tottenham Hotspur in the last game to lift themselves up into mid-table position.

Liverpool, who are unbeaten at home this season, are likely to be without injured skipper Steven Gerrard, who had to pull out from England duty this week due to groin strain.

However, Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is expected to be fit after a shoulder problem and start along side Spain ace Fernando Torres up front.

For Fulham, there are no fresh injury problems while the west-Londoners are raring to go against the Reds after having tasted back-to-back wins against Newcastle United and Spurs.

Looking forward to the encounter, US international attacker Clint Dempsey said: “We’re looking to play well and the goal has to be to get at least get a point. It would be great to get a win but we’re hoping we can get something out of the game – especially being in the form that we’re in at the moment.

“You don’t want to stop getting the points because once you lose a game it’s like taking a step backwards. Coming off the result we had against Tottenham, the players will have the belief that something can be done.”

The teams

Liverpool (from): Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Arbeloa, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Keane, Torres, Pennant, Benayoun, Riera, Cavalieri, Agger, Aurelio, Kuyt, Lucas, Insua, N’Gog, Plessis, Nemeth, El Zhar, Spearing, Itandje.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Konchesky, Paintsil, Hangeland, Johnson, Zamora, Nevland, Gera, Stockdale, Murphy, Gray, Hughes, Zuberbuhler, Etuhu, Bullard, Stoor, Dempsey, Davies, Andreasen, Leijer, Milsom, Brown, Kallio, Baird, Smalling, Watts.