Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Fulham. Both sides have a point a prove having tasted defeat in their most recent outing, but the hosts certainly come into the game as favourites as they look to continue their push for a Champions League place.

We'll start with a look at Liverpool this afternoon and, even with the disappoint of last week's loss to Arsenal - and with it a realisation for many that they are still a step behind a genuine title challenge - spirits are high at Anfield after a promising start to the season.

The Reds have picked up 20 points from their opening 10 games, a tally that puts them third, only behind Chelsea on goal difference. They have only been beaten twice in the league all season, with defeat to Southampton at Anfield joining the loss to Arsenal as the only black marks on their form so far this season.

Depending on the scoreline in Chelsea's match against West Brom, a win - or even a draw - could be enough to see Liverpool move back into second. They can close the gap to top of the table Arsenal back to two points for a day at least, with the Gunners not in action until tomorrow. They have put in some impressive performances of late too, not least their last home match when Luis Suarez scored a fabulous hat-trick and Daniel Sturridge scored an exquisite chip as the Reds beat West Brom 4-1.

The loss to Arsenal was Liverpool's only defeat in their last five matches, with three wins and one draw also coming in that time. Their home form is even better, with just one defeat and five wins in six matches at Anfield this season, while the record stretching back to last season makes it just one loss in 13 home games.

It is easy to see why Liverpool have made what is their best start to a season in the Premier League era when you look at the goals scored column of the table. Only Arsenal and Manchester City - who boosted their tally with seven goals against Norwich last week - have scored more times than the Reds this season. Most of that can be put down to the form of the new SAS - Sturridge and Suarez - who have made a blistering start to the season. More on them later.

Conversely, it is also clear to see why this season perhaps comes a little too early for Liverpool to launch a serious title challenge. After a solid start of three clean sheets from their first three games, Liverpool have failed to stop the opposition scoring in the last seven Premier League matches, and eight in all competitions. They have also made more errors that have led to a goal or a shot than any other side this season, with 12.

The most important thing for Liverpool so far this season seems to be to score the first goal. They have won all six league matches in which they have done so - the best record of that kind in the top flight - while they have also been ahead at half time in seven of their 10 matches so far this season. Their second half performances have generally been below average, so it is vital that they make a good start again this afternoon.

The truth is, the fixture schedule has been kind to them here. This is exactly the type of game Liverpool need to bounce back from the Arsenal defeat, facing a Fulham side low on points, form and confidence. The pressure is building on Martin Jol, with many bookies predicting that he will be the next manager for the chop, and this is not a match that he would welcome with open arms at this stage of the season.

The Cottagers had a brief revival last month with back-to-back wins over Stoke and Crystal Palace, but they have since lost three games on the bounce, including a disappointing exit from the League Cup at the hands of Championship side Leicester. In truth, their two Premier League games in that time - away to Southampton and at home to Manchester United - may not have been matches that they expected anything from, but they have certainly contributed to the growing gloom around Craven Cottage.

Travelling away from Craven Cottage does nothing to take those blues away either. Their away victory over Palace, helped by the stunning goals from Kasami and Sidwell, was a rare win on their travels, and their only one in their last five games. In fact, of teams that have played 100 or more games in the Premier League, only Derby County have a lower win percentage on the road than Fulham, who have triumphed in just 15.5% of their away days.

While Liverpool's main strength is their front two, the same can't be said for Fulham at the moment, despite Darren Bent and Dimitar Berbatov looking like a formidable partnership on paper. The pair have managed just three goals between them this season - the same amount that Suarez got on his own in his last match at Anfield. They have only scored more than one goal in a game once this season - against bottom of the league Crystal Palace.

Things aren't much better at the other end either. They have the second worst goal difference outside the bottom three, and only those same three in the relegation zone have a worse goal difference than Martin Jol's side. They have also only kept two clean sheets so far this season.

Martin Jol has claimed that these games don't carry pressure for his side as they aren't expected to get anything from them, but an embarrassing defeat for his side today would be another nail in the coffin for the Dutchman. One saving grace for Jol is that his side are guaranteed not to be in the relegation at the end of the 90 minutes today. However, they could drop into the bottom three depending on the results of Norwich and Stoke, who play later today and tomorrow.

The Cottagers are certainly up against it today, however. I will go through their record against Liverpool at Anfield a little later - and it doesn't make good reading for Fulham fans - but in a more general sense they have the worst record against teams in the top half of the Premier League this season, losing all five of those matches. On the other hand, Liverpool have won five of six games against teams in the bottom half this season.

TEAM NEWS: Right, time to bring you folks some team news! The biggest news from the home camp is that Philippe Coutinho returns to the starting lineup having made his return from injury off the subs bench against Arsenal last week. Glen Johnson also returns to the starting lineup after missing that match, while Jose Enrique is deemed fit enough for the bench. For Fulham, enigmatic duo Adel Taarabt and Bryan Ruiz are left on the bench alongside Darren Bent, with Berbatov leading the line alone. Full team news for both sides on the way.

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Cissokho; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Suarez, Sturridge

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Enrique, Alberto, Moses, Sakho, Allen, Sterling

FULHAM STARTING XI: Stekelenburg; Zverotic, Senderos, Amorebieta, Richardson; Dejagah, Sidwell, Parker, Kacaniklic, Kasami; Berbatov

FULHAM SUBS: Stockdale, Hughes, Boateng, Karagounis, Taarabt, Ruiz, Bent

So, what can we make of those two sides? Well, Brendan Rodgers hasn't sprung any major surprises with his selection as he welcomes Johnson and Coutinho back into the side as expected. Perhaps the only eyebrow-raiser in the XI is the inclusion of Agger, who slots back in alongside Skrtel in defence at the expense of Sakho. The selection signals a return to the 4-3-1-2 formation rather than the 3-5-2 of recent weeks.

You can't mention the Liverpool side without talking about the 'new SAS' at the moment. Sturridge and Suarez have been superb in recent weeks, leading many to claim that they are the best striking partnership in the top flight at the moment. I find it hard to disagree with that, and he lethal duo will be looking to add to their tallies today. They are already scoring at a higher rate than the original SAS - Shearer and Sutton - did in Blackburn's title winning season on 1994/95. Interestingly, they have also scored more goals between them (Suarez six in five games, Sturridge eight in 10) than Fulham have managed as a team so far this season.

Behind them, they have the significant creativity of Coutinho, with his return handing Liverpool a major boost. Gerrard operates in a deeper role nowadays but is still a threat going forward, while Lucas is one of the unsung heroes in the Premier League, doing a magnificent job in defensive midfield.

As for Fulham, it seems strange to me that a team struggling for goals has left out a natural finisher in Darren Bent, but one of their problems so far this season has been the amount of 'luxury players' that they have had. Taarabt, Ruiz and Berbatov all fall into this category, capable of outstanding moments in attack but lazy when it comes to tracking back and defending. With Liverpool expected to be on the attack for the majority of today's game, they can't afford that, which is perhaps why Jol has left Taarabt and Ruiz on the bench.

Still, while they have Berbatov on the pitch, Fulham have a chance today. The former Manchester United man can conjure something special up from nothing, even though he has been far short of his best so far this season. If the Liverpool defence, which has been leaky of late, give him even the slightest hint of a chance, he is good enough to take it.

Martin Skrtel will have mixed memories of this fixture having scored an own goal in it back in 2012. That was the only time that Fulham have found the net in their last seven trips to Anfield, and their only victory here in their 32 visits. In that time they have drawn nine games and lost 22.

Another central defender - Brede Hangeland of Fulham - has been forced to sit out of today's match through injury, which is a big blow to an already-weakened Fulham defence. The Cottagers are missing Sascha Riether after he became the first player retrospectively punished by the new FA rules following his stamp on Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj. Today is the first of a three game ban for the full-back.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for my match prediction. This game comes at the perfect time for Liverpool to bounce back from the Arsenal defeat and the worst possible time for Fulham. I can't see anything other than a comfortable home victory today, and I would be surprised if Fulham even managed to get on the scoresheet. I'm going to go for a 3-0 home win, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was more.

The last times this two teams met, Sturridge scored his one and only Premier League hat-trick as Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners at Craven Cottage last season. The corresponding fixture at Anfield also saw a comfortable win for Liverpool, with Suarez amongst the scorers in a 4-0 victory.

Liverpool have only conceded three goals in their 12 home Premier League matches against Fulham, and one of them was that Skrtel own goal I mentioned earlier. However, their overall record against the Cottagers is a little less impressive, having lost three of their last 10 meetings with the West London outfit.

Interestingly, Anfield has seen more goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches than any other ground this season, with three. It has also seen five headed goals - including the two from Suarez a fortnight ago - which is another league high this season.

There are four other Premier League matches kicking off at 3pm today, and I will keep you up to date with major events from those games as and when they happen. We are covering all of them, plus a few more games from around Europe, live on Sports Mole, and you can check out what he have on offer here.

The players and fans are currently observing a minute's silence for remembrance day, and it is impeccable observed by everyone in the stadium. We're about ready to go now.

KICKOFF: Fulham get us underway at Anfield as they look to spring a major surprise this afternoon. The odds are certainly against the visitors, but stranger things have happened already in the Premier League this season.

SHOT! Liverpool make a very quick start and win an early corner. Fulham fail to deal with it and the ball falls to Agger around eight yards out, but he can't keep his volley down as it goes over the bar.

The hosts have settled into this match very quickly and they are dominating the ball at the moment. We may just be four minutes in, but already it seems a matter of time before Liverpool open the scoring.

A good, patient move from Liverpool just breaks down as Sturridge's pass to Suarez in intercepted, but the ball falls to Coutinho on the edge of the box. The Brazilian takes a touch before snatching at his shot, sending it bouncing a couple of yards wide.

CHANCE! Gerrard threads a superb ball through to Suarez inside the box, with the Uruguayan just about holding his run enough to stay onside. He is at a tight angle and so looks for a teammate in the middle, but Stekelenburg reads it and makes an important interception.

The hosts are getting plenty of joy down the flanks in these early stages, particularly on the right wing through Johnson and Henderson. Amorebieta has already been forced into a number of clearances on his Premier League debut.

Johnson is acting more like a winger at the moment. He picks the ball up in a very advanced position and ghosts past Richardson with ease. He then pokes the ball to Henderson on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's effort is well blocked. The ball eventually finds its way to Coutinho, whose tame shot is easy for the Fulham keeper to collect.

Fulham win a corner on a rare foray into the Liverpool half, but they waste it as the delivery fails to beat the first man. The visitors will need to make the most of set pieces today, you feel.

Coutinho looks to slip a reverse pass into Henderson, who has made a bright run, but Stekelenburg is alert and quick of his line to gather before the Liverpool man can get there.

Good football from the visitors as they string together a nice run of passes for the first time today. The ball is lifted over to Kasami on the left and he chests it down before going for goal from a tight angle, but his effort deflects off Johnson and into the side netting.

Gerrard threads another fine pass through the middle of the defence towards Suarez, but the Uruguayan just can't reach it. He was less than a foot away from connecting with that, and it would have surely been a certain goal had he reached it.

UPDATE: The first Premier League goal of the afternoon has gone to England - I mean Southampton - who have taken the lead against Hull through Morgan Schneiderlin.

Liverpool are simply attacking at will on the right flank. Again Henderson has acres of space out there, giving him time to fizz a fine pass towards Coutinho on the edge of the box. The Brazilian goes for a first-time effort, but mis-times his kick which allows Fulham to clear.

SHOT! Fulham have a slight sight of goal as Kasami wins a header to gift Berbatov the ball about 25 yards from goal. Berbatov looks around for support before deciding to go alone with the outside of his boot. You can see what he was trying to do, picking out the top corner, but it was easy for Mignolet to catch.

Liverpool break the deadlock, but they are helped by a slice of good fortune. It was a fine delivery from the free kick and Suarez was involved again, flicking it towards the back post. It takes a deflection off the arm of Amorebieta on the way through, taking it past the helpless Stekelenburg.

Another set piece sees Liverpool double their lead with a second goal in the space of three minutes. Gerrard again whips a fine delivery in towards the same area, and this time it is Skrtel who has found a yard on Amorebieta before powering his header into the bottom corner.

Things are really not looking good at the moment for Fulham. Liverpool have their tails up and seem eager to add a third as soon as possible. It is one way traffic at the moment and Fulham can't get out of their own third.

GREAT SAVE! Only a fine save denies Liverpool a third goal. After more relentless pressure on the Fulham defence, the ball falls to Coutinho on the edge of the box. The Brazilian hits it first time and it is certainly goalbound, but Stekelenburg makes a flying save to tip it over.

SHOT! Coutinho has another shot, this time from just inside the area, but again he is denied by Stekelenburg. It is a more straightforward save for the Fulham keeper this time, however, as he fell on the Brazilian's deflected shot.

Fulham have just managed to stem the tide a little in the last couple of minutes, but the hosts are still very much on top now. I would be very surprised if the scoring was over for Liverpool today.

Lovely move from Liverpool on the edge of the box as Johnson and Henderson play a nice one-two before the former tees up Sturridge 25 yards from goal. The striker hits it first time but can't keep it down as it goes flying over the bar.

UPDATE: Rickie Lambert has doubled Southampton's lead against Hull, scoring his side's second goal from the penalty spot.

Liverpool are running riot here. Henderson cuts inside before threading a perfect pass through to Luis Suarez inside the box. The Uruguayan takes his shot first time, beating Stekelenburg with a clinical finish from a tight angle. That was a very smooth goal from the hosts, and this score could be anything today.

UPDATE: Southampton are keeping up with Liverpool every step of the way at the moment! They are also 3-0 up now thank to Adam Lallana. Surely there is no way back for Hull in that one.

You can see the confidence coursing through this Liverpool side. They are shooting at will, and Henderson is the latest to go for goal from range, firing an effort well over the bar. It wasn't a great effort by any means, but it shows the sort of belief that the hosts have at the moment.

The hosts have had 70% of the possession in the first half so far, and they really have dominated that much. Fulham just don't seem capable of building a meaningful attack at the moment, and it may be a case of damage limitation for Martin Jol now.

Party football from Liverpool as Coutinho and Sturridge both pull off sublime tricks and flicks to set up another attack. Cissokho's cross is blocked and goes out for a throw-in to end the move, but that was same really nice football from the hosts.

More superb build-up play from Liverpool as Sturridge and Coutinho link up on the edge of the box. The Brazilian slaloms his way into the box before looking for Sturridge again, but the pair are eventually crowded out.

There will be two additional minutes at the end of the half.

What a miserable first half that was for the visitors. Liverpool outclassed Fulham throughout and I can't see any way back into this match for the Cottagers now. The Reds have played some irresistible football so far and the scoreline could be even bigger. If they can put in a repeat performance in the second half, I would be very surprised if they ended the game without a couple more goals.

The hosts were simply rampant at times in that half. They started strongly and got even better when they took the lead, although there was more than a hint of luck about the opening goal as Suarez's header deflected off Amorebieta. There was nothing lucky about the second or third, however, as Skrtel's powerful header and Suarez's clinical finish gave Liverpool what is surely an unassailable lead.

It has been a pretty perfect response from Liverpool having been beaten by Arsenal last weekend. The Reds are yet to prove themselves against the real title contenders - even accounting for their 1-0 win against Manchester United earlier this season - but in this form it is hard to see any side dealing with them.

As for Fulham, manager Martin Jol will not be happy with his side right now. They have been woeful so far and it is hard to see what the Dutchman can change. In the likes of Taarabt, Ruiz and Bent he has players that can change a game, but with Liverpool attacking at will so far today their lack of desire to track back would surely just hurt the visitors now. Damage limitation seems to be the best option available to Fulham right now.

The Cottagers have offered very little in an attacking sense, with a Kasami volley that hit the side netting and a Berbatov strike that was easy for Mignolet to catch being the extent of their threat so far. As good as Liverpool were in that first half, Fulham were equally as bad and they will need to drastically improve in the second half if they are to avoid an embarrassing defeat today.

It has been a particularly tough match for Amorebieta so far, who has been a little more involved on his debut than he would have liked to have been. The centre-back has made some good clearances but has also scored an own goal - however unlucky it was - and was at fault for the second as he let Skrtel steal a yard.

Liverpool's main threat has come down the right flank, and Fulham just don't seem capable of getting near to Henderson and Johnson at the moment. Gerrard was arguably the stand-out performer in the first half with a number of superb defence-splitting passes.

FULHAM SUB: Martin Jol has opted to make a change at the break, bringing on Bryan Ruiz for Kacaniklic. Let's see if the new man can make a difference.

KICKOFF: The hosts get us back underway in this match as they look to pick up where they left off in the first half. The Reds have not been at their best in the second half of matches so far this season.

WHAT A SAVE! How are Liverpool not four up?! The hosts begin the second half very well, with Suarez racing through on goal only to see his shot saved by Stekelenburg. The ball bounces out to Gerrard, whose shot is deflected into the path of Sturridge. The England striker steadies himself before curling an effort towards the far post that the Fulham keeper does brilliantly to save with a strong hand. Once again the ball falls to a red shirt, but Suarez can't react in time to steer it into the empty net.

CHANCE! Liverpool have come out flying here. Sturridge lines up his man one-on-one inside the box and tricks him by going on the outside before trying to squeeze a shot in at the near post with his weaker right foot. He slices the effort, however, and it ends up in the Kop.

Liverpool have only scored two league goals at the Kop end so far this season, but they could have already had two in this second half alone. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how they didn't find the net in that first set of chances after the break!

Coutinho is the latest Liverpool player to go for goal, but he drags his low effort wide of the mark. The Brazilian looks keen to make a good impression today but his shooting has been a little off so far.

Liverpool's desire to win the ball back is incredible considering the scoreline. Henderson and Gerrard hound Richardson into giving the ball away and the latter plays it into the path of Suarez, who takes a touch before firing it past the keeper at the near post. The man just can't stop scoring at the moment.

Fulham want a penalty for a tackle on Dejagah by Cissokho. It was a bright break from the visitors and the question certainly needed to be asked of the ref, but I think he is right to wave the claims away.

Suarez's confidence is sky high at the moment, as demonstrated by his latest effort. The Uruguayan goes for goal from the halfway line having seen the keeper off his line, but he can't get the ambitious effort on target.

UPDATE: Hull have pulled a goal back against the stubborn defence of Southampton. It is Yannick Sagbo who has got it, making it 3-1 to the Saints.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool give a welcome return to Jose Enrique, who replaces Cissokho for his first appearance for four or five weeks.

FULHAM SUB: Fulham also make a change, bringing Aaron Hughes on for Zverotic.

Sturridge is desperate to join those on the scoresheet at the moment, and he has had plenty of half-chances to do so. The latest sees him work space inside the box to shoot, but his effort is well blocked before it can trouble Stekelenburg.

UPDATE: Some more good news for Liverpool fans has filtered through from Stamford Bridge, where West Brom have equalised against Chelsea. Shane Long has made it 1-1 in that match.

LIVERPOOL SUB: This is an interesting change from Brendan Rodgers, particularly with an international break coming up. Steven Gerrard makes way after an inspirational display to be replaced by Joe Allen, who is also easing his way back from injury.

The hosts have just slowed the tempo down a little in the last few minutes, something probably linked with the departure of Gerrard, who controlled the game from midfield today.

Suarez tries to curl an effort goalwards after some good work by Henderson on the edge of the box, but he puts it well over. That is Liverpool's 27th shot of the afternoon so far, and we still have 20 minutes left.

SAVE! Suarez shows some good skill on his way into the box, with two defenders backing off and worrying about conceding a penalty. In the end, the striker lays it off for Coutinho, who low drilled shot is well held by the keeper.

UPDATE: West Brom have now taken the lead against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Stephane Sessegnon has put Steve Clarke on the verge of an unlikely win against his former mentor Jose Mourinho.

Fulham have had trouble defending set pieces so far today, and another one results in yet another Liverpool shot on goal. Again it is Skrtel who gets on the end of the delivery, but he can't turn the ball goalwards with any power as Stekelenburg gathers.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Sturridge won't be getting himself on the scoresheet today and he doesn't look happy about it either. He trudges off the field to rapturous applause to be replaced by Victor Moses in Liverpool's final change of the day.

Suarez bursts into the box after another fast move from Liverpool and goes down under the challenge of Senderos. There was certainly contact between the two players, but it would have been very harsh to give a penalty there and Suarez did go down a little too easily.

Liverpool are perhaps guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net at the moment. A couple of players have chances to shoot from the edge of the box but instead Henderson tries to set up Suarez with a flick, allowing Fulham to clear.

SAVE! Suarez almost completes his hat-trick in bizarre fashion as Senderos's clearance bounces off the Uruguayan towards the top corner. Stekelenburg is alert and plucks the ball out of the air, however.

FULHAM SUB: Berbatov receives some whistles and boos on his way off the field due to his Manchester United connections. He is replaced by Giorgios Karagounis.

UPDATE: Aston Villa have scored twice in less than 10 minutes against Cardiff to take a 2-0 lead at Villa Park. Bacuna and Kozak the men with the goals.

Parker runs a real risk of giving away a penalty there, sliding in on Henderson while he was the wrong side of the ball. The Anfield faithful are incensed that the referee does not point to the spot, but the midfielder did get some of the ball so it was a good decision.

UPDATE: Southampton have capped off the scoring against Hull, extending their lead to 4-1 in the closing stages courtesy of a Davis strike.

Fulham's misery will be prolonged for a minimum of three additional minutes at the end of this match.

Liverpool save perhaps the best move of the match for the closing stages, with Suarez, Coutinho and Moses zipping the ball to each other with a series of first-time passes. The ball ball is just behind the Uruguayan, who gets it back under control before trying a rabona flick towards the top corner. Party football from the hosts.

That is the way to bounce back from a defeat to a top four rivals. Liverpool thrash Fulham 4-0 and the only surprise is that it wasn't more for the hosts. They played some lovely football today and Anfield is slowly but surely becoming a fortress once again. That is two games in a row that they have scored four goals in front of their home fans, and they move two points behind league leaders Arsenal.

The Reds will also move second in the table with the win, providing Chelsea don't find a dramatic late winner against West Brom. They have just equalised from the spot in the 95th minute but it looks like that one will end 2-2, sending Liverpool back into the top two. Today's performance deserved that leap in the table too, with the likes of Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard on top form.

As for Fulham, things are looking very bleak for the Cottagers at the moment. They remain two points above the relegation zone but the two sides immediately below them now have a game in hand, meaning that Martin Jol's side could end the weekend in the bottom three. They need a boost soon, and there was little positive to take from today's match as they were outplayed from start to finish.

Right, that's all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a comfortable afternoon for Liverpool as they move second in the Premier League table with a 4-0 victory over Fulham. I will leave you with our match report and be sure to stick around for reaction and analysis, which will be on site shortly. We have plenty more live football for you this evening and tomorrow as well, so be sure to check back in for that. From me, though, it is goodbye!