Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will have a fully-fit squad to choose
from as he sets about plotting another 'Big Four' casualty when
Liverpool visit Craven Cottage.
Subsequently, ever-present midfielder Danny Murphy should once
again start in the centre of the field to face his former
employers.
Murphy spent seven years at Anfield, representing the club
almost 200 times, but all former ties will be put aside when the
Cottagers captain takes to the pitch on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer intends to do his part in aiding
Fulham's surge up the Premier League ladder by keeping a sheet
clean against Liverpool.
The west London outfit downed Manchester United by a two goal
scoreline without one riposte from Sir Alex Ferguson's men in their
last match, and the Fulham glovesman is hoping Rafael Benitez's
Reds will be dealt a similar fate.
"You want to play well against a team like Liverpool because
they're quite rightly regarded as one of the best teams in the
world,'' Schwarzer said.
"We have a lot of respect for them, but we want to get one up on
them as well.
"There are eight games to go and we've got some very difficult
games to come and we'll take each game as it comes but we
definitely want to finish in the top half of the table.
"If we can continue our current form over the coming games who
knows what will happen,'' he concluded.
Liverpool are likely to be without defender Sami Hyypia and
midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Hyypia returned from international duty with a knee injury and
Benayoun, also on World Cup quali
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has signed a two-year extension to
his contract, tying him to the Merseyside club until at least
2012.
The 28-year-old Holland international's current deal was due to
expire at the end of next season and manager Rafael Benitez is
delighted Kuyt has joined captain Steven Gerrard in committing his
long-term future to Liverpool.
He told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "This is another great piece of news
for the club.
"Dirk had one year left on his contract and we were keen for him
to stay. He is a player with great quality who has a big part to
play in our future. We are delighted to have reached an
agreement.
"To have announced new deals for Steven and Dirk on the same day
shows how hard everyone is working and that we are moving forward
quickly as a club. These are very positive messages and I am very
happy.''
Liverpool announced earlier that Gerrard had signed a deal which
will keep him at Anfield until 2013.
Kuyt joined Liverpool from Feyenoord in the summer of 2006 and
has been transformed from a striker into a right-winger.
He has scored 10 goals in 41 appearances for the Reds this
season and has emerged as a key figure in Benitez's title-chasing
team.
Liverpool are currently one point behind Barclays Premier League
leaders Manchester United having played a game more than their
bitter rivals.
Jamie Carragher wants Liverpool to be top of the Barclays
Premier League to put maximum pressure on champions Manchester
United.
Defender Carragher said: "We have got an opportunity to go top
of the league with United playing on Sunday and it is one we have
got to take.
"We have got to try to pick up three points in every game and
try to catch United. A draw is probably not a great result, even
though we can go top with a point because of the goal
difference.
"But when the game is finished on Saturday, we want to be top of
the league.''
The 31 year-old knows it is vital that Liverpool take maximum
points from all their remaining fixtures to put maximum pressure on
the champions.
He said: "You would not have expected United to lose two games
on the bounce. That is the way the title race is in England,
though.
"Every game is very difficult and it just goes to show how well
we have done this season when United lose two games in a week, but
we've only lost two league games all season.
"We are only one point behind now, but United still have a game
in hand, but between now and the end our aim is to try to win every
game so their extra game doesn't count.''
