Liverpool must take Fulham’s threat seriously if they wish to avoid dropping crucial points in the title race, as Arsenal did against Marco Silva’s side last weekend, according to football expert David Lynch.

The Reds currently hold a four-point lead over second-placed Chelsea, a six-point advantage over third-placed Arsenal, and an eight-point cushion ahead of fourth-placed Manchester City, while also boasting a game in hand.

Arne Slot’s team are set to host Fulham at Anfield on Saturday afternoon. While Liverpool are expected to be favourites, the Cottagers recently held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw on 8th December. Lynch has warned Liverpool against complacency.

Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch explained:

“Defensively, Fulham are very solid and will pose a real challenge for Liverpool. You only have to look at how Liverpool struggled to break down Girona’s low block recently. Fulham are just as capable of setting up that way.

“They restricted Arsenal to just 0.3 expected goals from open play in their game, which is a phenomenal defensive effort. This shows how difficult they will be to break down. Moreover, their counter-attacking threat is dangerous, especially with players like Adama Traoré, who is incredibly quick. While his end product can be inconsistent, his pace alone is a significant threat.

“Fulham also have quality players such as Harry Wilson and Raúl Jiménez, who can hurt Liverpool. However, Liverpool playing at Anfield is a big advantage, as the atmosphere and familiar conditions always help.”

Despite Arsenal producing over 2.0 expected goals against Fulham, most of this came from set-pieces, highlighting just how challenging the Cottagers are to break down from open play.

Concerns Over Darwin Núñez

Darwin Núñez has faced criticism this season, scoring just two goals in 11 Premier League appearances, raising concerns about his form ahead of Fulham’s visit to Anfield.

Luis Díaz has occasionally been deployed as a false nine this season, with mixed results, but Liverpool could be boosted by the potential return of Diogo Jota.

However, Lynch has cautioned against expecting Jota to start, stating:

“One thing about this regime is how cautious they are when bringing players back from injury. Whether it’s a muscle injury or something else, they’re extra careful. Even with Alisson, we’ve seen a more patient approach.

“Jota has been back in training, but we don’t know the full extent of his readiness. He didn’t travel to Girona, so it’s unclear if he’ll feature. Even 10 minutes off the bench could help. Liverpool need him back, especially since Núñez’s current form is starting to hurt the team. Slot may have to consider giving Núñez a break, but it all depends on Jota’s readiness.”

Jota’s return would provide a boost, as he is not only prolific in front of goal but also adept at linking play, a skill Núñez has struggled with at times this season.

The Impact on the Title Race

Although Liverpool have played one game fewer than their title rivals, dropping points to Fulham could reduce their lead and potentially affect the team psychologically.

David Lynch, however, believes Liverpool remain in a strong position and doubts the credibility of their rivals as serious title contenders. Speaking about the chasing pack, he said:

“I don’t want to completely write anyone off, but I don’t see Chelsea as genuine title contenders right now. Their defensive issues are too significant, and they are likely to drop points frequently.

“As for Arsenal, Liverpool still have the chance to go nine points clear of them at some stage. If the team feels under pressure with a gap reducing from nine to four points, then they’re probably not title-worthy anyway. The lead will fluctuate throughout the season – that’s normal.

“Liverpool’s focus should be on winning matches, not worrying about the gap. If they keep doing that, the rest will take care of itself.”

Liverpool may also gain an advantage this weekend as their match against Fulham coincides with Arsenal’s fixture against Everton. This scheduling ensures that Arsenal cannot capitalise psychologically should Liverpool drop points.

Liverpool will hope to maintain their momentum and strengthen their grip on the title race as they prepare for this crucial encounter.