Fulham

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Fulham manager Marco Silva has heaped praise on Jurgen Klopp in the lead up to Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool.

The two sides have had intense encounters over the last two seasons with their last Premier League game being a 4-3 thriller with Trent Alexander-Arnold scoring the winner in the 88th minute.

Speaking about Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool this summer due to him no longer having the energy for the role, Silva said: "If Jurgen said this is the reason, we have to accept and understand. I understand what this job demands from ourselves.

"We have to understand the character and person of a manager and it always has been a pleasure to be with him on the touchline and to be challenging against him. The Premier League is going to miss him. He is a great man and character."

Abu Bakar Yasin
BBC Sport journalist

Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before hosting Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League (16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from the Fulham manager:

• Silva said he understands 'both viewpoints' on FA Cup replays being scrapped: "The fans like that competition because you can have all the clubs in it [and] you can have surprises all around. [But] the load of the games of teams who play Europa League, Champions League and other competitions, alongside postponed games is not a normal situation and has to be solved. I do understand how important the FA Cup is in England."

• He has been impressed by his side's recent form, attributing that to having all his players available: "In the last two months, we [have been] are in the best moments of the season. It creates competition which helps myself and the players reach different levels. Climbing up the table is our aim.".

• He praised Andreas Pereira's form but is still demanding more: "Last season he made a huge impact in our team. Last season and this season he is going to be our top assister. We want more from him to arrive in certain areas as he showed last game where he showed the desire and will to arrive in the area and follow the ball. It was nice to see him score and he has all the potential to do so."

• Recent games with Liverpool have been close: " Very good games [but] too open for managers to enjoy, like at Anfield and Craven Cottage. They are emotional games and tight games always and some of them have dramatic ends, like at Anfield. Last season, it was tough for them to play at Craven Cottage and [in January] in the Carabao Cup. We want to make life really difficult for them and we are hoping we can get a different result to the last game."

• He knows their opponents will be keen to bounce back from a difficult run of results week: "What I know is that Liverpool are going to react. They have come from tough results. Leaving the Europa League was tough for them, and losing three important points [against Crystal Palace]. We are going to face a reaction and have to prepare ourselves."

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Here are the key facts and figures before Fulham host Liverpool in the Premier League (16:30 BST).

• Fulham have scored 49 Premier League goals this season, having netted 55 last season. The last time the Cottagers scored 50+ goals in consecutive Premier League seasons was in 2003-04 (52) and 2004-05 (52).

• Following their 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace last time out, Liverpool will be looking to avoid losing consecutive Premier League games for the first time since April 2023 (vs. Bournemouth and Manchester City). The Reds have suffered two league defeats in five games in London this season (W2 D1), last losing more in the capital in 2014-15 (3).

• Since losing 3-0 to Brentford in their first home Premier League game this season, Fulham have conceded just 13 goals in their past 15 games at Craven Cottage (0.9 per game). With six clean sheets at home so far, the Cottagers last had more in a Premier League campaign in 2010-11 (9).

• Liverpool have scored in each of their past 19 away Premier League matches, the longest current run of any side. In their entire league history, they’ve had one longer away scoring run, netting in 21 in a row between February 1955 and February 1956 in the second tier.

• Fulham’s Andreas Pereira has been involved in four goals in his past four Premier League appearances (2 goals, 2 assists), with his brace against West Ham more than he’d netted in his previous 34 games combined (1). Indeed, Pereira has more goal involvements than any other Fulham player since the start of last season (7 goals, 13 assists).

• Only Martin Odegaard (68) and Bruno Fernandes (59) have created more chances from open play in the Premier League this season than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (58). He’s created four or more open play chances in five different games this season, with Roberto Firmino the last Reds player to do so more times in one season (10 in 2016-17)

Fulham have identified Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, 24, as a potential replacement for fellow English centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, 26, who is expected to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Sunday's win for Fulham over West Ham might have not grabbed the headlines amongst the surprise defeats for Arsenal and Liverpool, but it was definitely a much-needed one for the Whites.

After two defeats and a draw in relatively easy games, we were in danger of heading into a bit of an end-of-season winless death cycle.

While he did not score, Rodrigo Muniz was impressive once again for Fulham up front.

Last week, he was awarded the Premier League player of the month for March and, for us fans, it was a hugely significant moment.

It is only the third time an FFC player has won the award, with Louis Saha and Mark Schwarzer the previous recipients.

For Rodrigo to win this award is an extraordinary achievement.

This is a player who, while popular because of his infectious personality, very few gave a chance of actually becoming a serious top-flight player.

Despite his strong couple of months, I do think Muniz has much to prove.

However, considering the 22-year-old was our fourth-choice striker at the start of the campaign, I have now learned it is best to rule nothing out when it comes to Rodrigo.

Sammy James can be found at Fulhamish, external

Tottenham have made an offer for Tosin Adarabioyo, as they try to beat Manchester United in the race for the Fulham defender. (Teamtalk), external

Newcastle United are also looking into the possibility of signing 26-year-old Adarabioyo, who is out of contract this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on West Ham's defeat to Fulham on Sunday.

Here are some of your answers:

West Ham fans

Ian: Thought we started OK and Antonio should score from six yards. They score from a mistake and then sat back. As the game progressed we looked tired and short of ideas. Our lack of depth in the squad is really showing. Earthy looked good on his debut and hope the head injury isn’t serious. Saw him at Borehamwood pre-season and looks like a good prospect.

Josh: A really disappointing loss. It was an opportunity to win but the team looked tired and leggy after so many Thursday - Sunday weeks. We’ve played more games than Fulham this season and it showed. The lack of squad depth compared to the teams around us also showed. Need to strengthen significantly this summer if we are to continue to move forward.

Martin: No energy, no game plan, no fight. Spent most of our possession on the left wing playing tippy-tappy football before Paqueta gave the ball away. Defence was poor. Antonio was our only chance of a goal and he was hugging the left touchline all second half, very strange.

Fulham fans

Adam: Fulham were unlucky against Newcastle but we showed our quality against a good West Ham team. All fans are happy about Pereira and his double as he has been missing the art of scoring until now. We played well and we hope we can keep it up to the end of the season. Come on Fulham.

Bob: First of all my very best to George Earthy for a good recovery. It's always good to beat your London rivals. We need to be more clinical in front of goal and put more of our chances away. Still, we were strong and snuffed out any danger from West Ham. All but safe now so well done lads.

Keir: Story of our season … if we score first we don’t get beaten. Fair play to the boys for keeping up the tempo for the full 90 minutes .

Jason Mohammad introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Sunday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

West Ham United v Fulham

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham had not won at West Ham in the Premier League for 21 years, losing their last 12 last top-division meetings against the Hammers on the road.

And after a shaky start that saw Vladimir Coufal and Michail Antonio miss clear-cut chances in the opening few minutes, it looked likely that streak would extend to 13.

But Fulham were rewarded for pouncing on West Ham mistakes and producing blistering counter-attacks.

Andreas Pereira and Alex Iwobi were the pair at the centre of it all, linking up for both goals.

Pereira has been a key play-maker for the Cottagers this season, registering seven assists in the league, but today he was the one with the clinical edge to put Fulham ahead.

The season seemed to be petering out for Marco Silva's side but the win at London Stadium might just give Fulham belief they're back in contention for that final European spot.

Marco Silva speaking to BBC Match of the Day after Fulham's victory against West Ham: "It was a great win. We knew what we missed in some moments and gave feedback to the players. Well deserved, we played really good football, some very good moments, fantastic transitions and we were the team that deserved to win.

"It is imporant when you score early in the game. Something that has been key for us this season, when we have scored first we ahven't lost yet in the Premier League.

"After we started to play our game we had some very good moments and the second half it was even more clear we were the best team on the pitch."

• West Ham are winless in their past four home games in the Premier League (D3 L1), their longest run within the same campaign since October-December 2019 under Manuel Pellegrini (six games).

• This was Fulham’s fourth London derby win of the current Premier League campaign (v West Ham twice, Arsenal and Spurs); their most in a season.

• West Ham have conceded the opening goal in 10 Premier League matches in 2024; the joint-most of any side, alongside Luton. Indeed, they’ve not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 13 league games – their longest run without one since July 2020 (14).

• Fulham’s Andreas Pereira scored the first brace of his Premier League career (111th appearance), having not netted in any of his previous 29 games before today.

• Andreas Pereira became the first Fulham player to score a brace away from home in a London derby in the Premier League since November 2012, when Dimitar Berbatov did so against Arsenal.

Andreas Pereira scored twice to give Fulham a rare win at West Ham in the Premier League.

Despite a nervy start, Fulham took an early lead when Konstantinos Mavropanos failed to deal with Alex Iwobi's tricky ball into the box.

The mistake was leapt upon by Pereira, who swerved past Lukasz Fabianski before slotting into an empty net.

The Brazilian doubled the visitors' lead when he tapped in from close range at London Stadium.

It is the first time the Cottagers have won a Premier League game at West Ham since 2001.

Victory at London Stadium completed Fulham's league double over the Hammers - their first since the 1965-66 season - and lifted them up to 12th in the table.

David Moyes' side failed to boost their chances of European qualification by jumping above Newcastle and Manchester United into sixth.

There was a lengthy stoppage just before the end of normal time after George Earthy - only minutes into his league debut for West Ham - suffered a nasty head injury when colliding with team-mate Edson Alvarez.

Earthy, 19, appeared to lose consciousness after his head hit the turf and received medical attention for about seven minutes before being carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Maxwel Cornet.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

West Ham fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Fulham fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Three matches make up Sunday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

All times BST

Listen to radio commentaries of all matches and follow live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on actor and Leyton Orient fan Daniel Mays.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Jarrod Bowen's injury is a big blow for West Ham.

I expected more from Fulham last week but in the end they were pretty insipid in their defeat by Newcastle.

This has got 'draw' written all over it, hasn't it? Let's go for some goals in the game though.

Daniel's prediction: 1-0

See the full list of predictions here

Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at West Ham.

Here are the key lines from the Fulham boss:

• Silva confirmed he has a fully-fit squad to face the Hammers and added that having plenty of selection options "is the best headache you can have as a coach".

• Forward Armando Broja picked up a knock in training which caused "a bit of a scare" but has had scans and has been cleared to play.

• On Rodrigo Muniz being named the Premier League's player of the month for March, Silva said: "He deserves it. It's another good example of things changing so quickly. Everyone outside the club had doubts about him, but he had a chance and he showed his quality."

• Silva said opponents West Ham will "want to fight to win the game" and "are playing at home with big support".

• On what Fulham will need to do to get a result: "We really have to reach our best level to match them and to fight for the three points."

• He said "you can not compare" West Ham's ambitions to Fulham's because they are backed differently financially.

Image source, Reuters

Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz has been named Premier League player of the month for March.

The 22-year-old scored four goals in four games, including two against Tottenham and an overhead kick equaliser at Sheffield United.

He is the third Fulham player in history to win the award, after Louis Saha in August 2001 and Mark Schwarzer in February 2010.

Speaking to FFCtv,, external Muniz said: "Without my team-mates, the staff, everybody who works here, this would have been impossible. I have to thank everybody."

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between West Ham and Fulham in the Premier League.

• West Ham are unbeaten in their past 12 Premier League home games against Fulham (W8 D4), since a 2-0 loss in their first meeting in the competition in November 2001. The Hammers have won the past five, scoring three goals on four occasions.

• Following their 5-0 win at Craven Cottage in December, Fulham are looking to complete their first league double over West Ham since 1965-66.

• Only bottom two sides Burnley (14) and Sheffield United (15) are on a longer run without a Premier League clean sheet this season than the Hammers' 12. However, David Moyes' side have also scored in their past seven games, losing just one of these.

• Only Burnley and Sheffield United (12 each) have failed to score in more Premier League games than Fulham this season, with the Whites' 1-0 loss to Newcastle United last time out the 11th time they have drawn a blank this term.

• Mohammed Kudus has had more successful dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (91) - the most by a West Ham player on record in a season in the competition (since 2005-06).

• Since the start of February (when he netted his first goal), only Manchester City's Phil Foden (nine) has scored more Premier League goals than Rodrigo Muniz. However, only two of the Fulham forward's eight goals have come away from home.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of West Ham v Fulham at 14:00 BST on Sunday

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham captain Tom Cairney says Marco Silva's focus on defensive solidity is the reason for the side's impressive performances since returning to the Premier League.

The Portuguese manager took charge of the side in the Championship in 2021 and achieved promotion in his first campaign before guiding them to their first top half finish in the Premier League in a decade last season.

"He's made us more solid," Cairney told the Footballer's Football Podcast.

"I feel like over the years Fulham have always had nice footballers, been a good team, very good in possession, play attractive football and score goals.

"But I feel like sometimes, especially in the Premier League in the past few years, we've probably let ourselves down off the ball and defensively.

"I feel like he's brought a bit of a steel to us, a shape, hard to beat. I feel like that's been the biggest plus for us in the Premier League. That's got us success over the last two years.

"Firstly we've been hard to beat, hard to play against, not nice and then on top of that we play nice football and stuff.

"I think that's why we've had success over the last few seasons.

"He's helped my game off the ball, discipline, understanding of the role. Off the ball he's helped me a lot.

"He's a very hands on manager. He takes everything; meetings, set-pieces, coaching outside. He does a lot. "

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has described Saturdays 1-0 loss to Newcastle as "one of the most frustrating games of the season".

Bruno Guimaraes scored the game's only goal in the 81st minute and speaking on the Footballer's Football Podcast Cairney said he believes his side did not deserve to lose the game.

"We just started so well," he said. "We needed a reaction from the Nottingham Forest game on Tuesday night where we let ourselves down a little bit and we started so bright - 20-25 minutes we were in their half but we just couldn't find that goal.

"In the Premier League if you don't score when you're on top it's really difficult. You're not going to be on top for 90 minutes - they're still a top side.

"Eddie (Howe) was fair in his assessment - but it didn't make the feeling any better."

Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka required treatment on the pitch during the first half and it allowed Eddie Howe to have an impromptu team talk which may have benefitted Newcastle at the time.

Cairney said: "With the new rules, if the keeper goes down - nothing happens. The keeper doesn't have to go off. So, I think teams this season - I'm not saying Dubravka did this or Newcastle did this but it felt like this in the game.

"They didn't have a good start, we were on top and Dubravka went down. I didn't even see anything happen and then all the Newcastle players ran off to the side of the pitch for a team-talk.

"Eddie was quite animated for him, I've not really seen him like that to be honest."

He continued: "Our staff knew what was happening so they were telling the fourth official 'come on get him up'. We knew they were trying to slow it down and break our stride. We knew what was happening but it kind of worked."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds