The ECHO's Liverpool FC writers pick their teams for Sunday's visit to Fulham in the Premier League
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro
Rio Ngumoha could earn a start at Fulham(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool return to action on Sunday when they are entertained by Fulham at Craven Cottage. The Reds were beaten 3-2 on their last visit to that corner of west London but that was just the second defeat of last year's four and the Premier League title was already well on its way to the Anfield trophy cabinet by then.
It's fair to say things are considerably different this time around, however, but Arne Slot is at least attempting to make it nine games unbeaten when his side are hosted by Marco Silva's on the day.
As ever, the ECHO's dedicated Liverpool FC reporters have picked their teams for the game. Here's what they think can get the job done at Fulham.
Paul Gorst
Having succeeded in seemingly going back to a more durable and defensively sound Liverpool, the task for Arne Slot now is to get them purring in an attacking sense.
The Reds have shipped 12 goals via set-pieces - and that is very much their Achilles' Heel right now - but they have tightened up in general play and kept a fourth clean sheet in their eight-game unbeaten run in the goalless affair with Leeds United.
That being said, Slot has to find a solution to the staleness that hung all around that 0-0 draw with Leeds on New Year's Day and with Alexander Isak sidelined and Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Reds' head coach will have to earn his corn to get his team firing.
The key issue is what to do with Florian Wirtz, who is at risk of a hamstring injury, according to Slot. I am going to drop out the Germany playmaker for this one and give Cody Gakpo the nod. The Netherlands forward has been way off it this season but this is a chance to take at Craven Cottage.
I am ignoring the claims of a returning Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez wins the battle at left-back. Alexis Mac Allister remains on the bench as Jeremie Frimpong keeps his place wide on the right of the front three. Frimpong was a rare bright spot against Leeds, so he gets the chance to show what he can once more.
My team (4-3-3): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai; Frimpong, Ekitike, Gakpo.
Ian Doyle
We are now into the worst month of the year - and it traditionally hasn't been great for Liverpool either.
Over the past decade, the Reds have won less than half of the games they have played in January and have lost almost a third of them.
And after not a great start against Leeds United on Thursday, it's a trip to Fulham up next for some tiring legs.
What, then, is Reds boss Arne Slot to do?
He's going to have to rotate. But not in goal - that's Alisson Becker. Left-back, though, sees a change with Milos Kerkez coming in, although Conor Bradley remains right-back and Ibrahima Konate still partners skipper Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister can return to the base alongside Ryan Gravenberch, while Dominik Szoboszlai is the number 10.
And there are switches up top, with Cody Gakpo down the middle and Rio Ngumoha given a first Premier League start on the left. Jeremie Frimpong is on the right.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo.
Mark Jones
It is the time of the season where you need to utilise your squad strength but Liverpool still feel as though they are scratching around for full fitness with several of their players, with some in dire need of a rest.
After playing 90 minutes against Wolves and then a further 84 against Leeds I'd be wary of starting Jeremie Frimpong again, while Florian Wirtz came off in the second half against the Yorkshiremen with what Arne Slot has described as a hamstring worry. I'd do my best to keep him in cotton wool for Arsenal, even though he could still be needed off the bench.
Alexis Mac Allister can come in for Frimpong - another who will be useful off the bench - with Dominik Szoboszlai moving to the right, while Cody Gakpo can take up his position off the left in support of Hugo Ekitike, who also needs a rest but I'm not going to give him one.
Milos Kerkez for Andy Robertson at left-back would be the third of the three personnel changes I'd make, leaving a side that looks fairly physical and capable of controlling a game against Fulham outfit who remain an enigma.
My team (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Ekitike