Liverpool look primed for lively start against free-falling Fulham

Premier League
BT Sport 1, midday Sunday

There are four odds-on home sides in the Premier League who will form the cornerstone of Sunday accumulators and the shortest-priced side of those should start the multiple rolling with a comfortable success at Anfield.

Liverpool host Fulham in a game that looks a massive mismatch just as the odds suggest with a colossal difference in quality between the teams.

Given the prohibitive prices offered about a Reds romp punters will have to look outside of the main markets to find an angle to support Jurgen Klopp's side and the Merseysiders are fancied to find their range early.

The midday start may be seen as a negative for those aiming to back Liverpool for an early breakthrough, but Klopp has recognised the potential for a sleepy start by asking the fans to be up for the game from the first whistle and the team can respond by leading at the 30-minute mark.

Liverpool are always at their best when they come flying out of the traps and this looks the perfect opportunity for them to shake off Tuesday's shock 2-0 Champions League defeat away to Red Star Belgrade.

That loss means Klopp's side have won only three of their last nine matches, although it has been a difficult period with two games against Chelsea as well as fixtures against Napoli, Manchester City and Arsenal.

When Liverpool have been dropped in grade at home they have responded with easy wins against Red Star and Cardiff, leading after 20 minutes and ten minutes respectively.

If you take out the EFL defeat to Chelsea, when Klopp selected a weakened team, Liverpool have played seven matches at Anfield this term and in five of those they were ahead at the half-hour mark.

It took them exactly 30 minutes to break down Paris St-Germain, and City got a 0-0 draw, but Fulham's ability is more in keeping with West Ham, Brighton, Southampton, Red Star and Cardiff, who were all behind after half an hour, than two of the world's wealthiest clubs.

Not that Fulham are skint, far from it, but their summer spending spree has been a terrible failure and the Cottagers have lost their way following last season's promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side have a goal difference of minus 18, conceding 29 goals in 11 fixtures, and defensively they are a long way short of looking resolute enough to deny space for the Liverpool front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Fulham have taken only one Premier League away point and seem to lack the nous to frustrate Liverpool.

Recommendation
Liverpool to be leading after 30 minutes
1pt 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Liverpool
Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri return to the squad after missing Tuesday's defeat to Red Star Belgrade.

Fulham
Kevin McDonald and Joe Bryan are struggling to be fit.

Key stat
Fulham have conceded 19 goals in eight away games this season.

Read every day for no-nonsense previews and expert sports betting tips

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport