SM
Brighton vs. Man City: 11 hrs 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Champions League | Round of 16
Mar 13, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
LL

1-3

Matip (39' og.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mane (26', 84'), van Dijk (69')

Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum

:Headline: Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum: ID:353613: from db_amp
Liverpool can take the initiative in the Premier League title race if they beat Fulham.

Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes Liverpool will have to make sure they are switched on as they return to domestic action after their midweek Champions League high in Germany.

The 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena was rightly hailed as an impressive performance but with the quest to end a 29-year wait for the Premier League title still ongoing, there is no time to bask in the glow of making another European quarter-final, where they face Porto.

In fact, Wijnaldum believes Sunday's opponents Fulham, second-bottom of the table, may present an even more difficult proposition than five-time European champions Bayern.

Jurgen Klopp's side capitalised from their Bundesliga opponents, behind on away goals, having to chase a second with the score at 1-1 and leaving gaps to exploit.

The struggling Cottagers are unlikely to offer the same amount of space.

"I think it will be even harder at Fulham," said Wijnaldum.

"They are struggling, fighting to survive and that is always difficult to play against, those teams.

"Fulham will make it as difficult as possible and we have to be focused."

Sadio Mane heads in the second of his two goals against Bayern Munich (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Liverpool go into the game boosted by their impressive display in Germany and no one is flying higher than forward Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international scored twice in Bavaria to take his tally to 10 goals in as many games.

His form has taken some of the pressure off Mohamed Salah, who is enduring his longest goalscoring drought – six matches – since arriving at the club in the summer of 2017.

But despite scoring just three over the same period Klopp is satisfied with the Egypt international's performances and believes he has just been unlucky in front of goal.

"It is good that we split the goals, absolutely. We have 73 points: each goal we scored brought us there and from time to time it is clicking for one (player)," said the Reds boss.

Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's barren spell (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

"There was a very good moment in the Bayern game to explain the situation of Mo a little bit – because I think he is in an outstanding shape – when Niklas Sule in the last second came because that was a goal.

"For Sadio it is different, thank God. All the goals the boys score us are so important. Who scores is not too important but of course it helps if the boys are confident and know what they do.

"The first goal that Sadio scored in Munich, if he had not scored for five or six games he probably would not have scored but it was completely natural.

"At the end everyone criticised (Bayern goalkeeper Manuel) Neuer but it was just world-class from Sadio.

"He's in a good moment and hopefully it stays like this, that's the most important thing for us.

"The goals we have scored are important but not as important as the goals we will score until the end of the season."

amp_article__353613 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-16 10:18:12:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 04:49:42 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Georginio Wijnaldum

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .