Fulham’s decision to roll the dice and change managers for the second time this season is not necessarily one that has paid off and although they have improved under the stewardship of Scott Parker, he is still yet to add to the Cottagers uninspiring league points tally.
Defeats to both Chelsea and Leicester have at least shown signs of life for the Cottagers, but it is almost a feeling that it is too little, too late for the West Londoners and now they are bracing themselves for the impact of relegation.
This weekend the fixture computer is no kinder to the side that currently sit second bottom of the Premier League, as they prepare for the visit of a Liverpool side who booked their place in the Champions League Quarter-finals in midweek.
After a first leg stalemate at Anfield, the return offering was far more attacking and Sadio Mane’s brace played a huge part in continuing Liverpool’s progress in this season’s edition of the Europe’s premier club competition.
That win in Munich was one of two huge hurdles to clear this week and although Fulham may not present the toughest task, it is the circumstances that come with a potential victory that are all the more important.
That’s because should Liverpool get the better of the relegation threatened Fulham, then they will return to the top of the table and apply the pressure back on the shoulders of Manchester City, who themselves play in the F.A. Cup this weekend.
Last Sunday Liverpool went into their clash with Burnley with a four point margin to try and claw back and it looked as if they would struggle to do so when Ashley Westwood scored direct from a corner in just the sixth minute.
The Reds would have had every right to be aggrieved at conceding the goal, as it was clear that Alisson Becker was impeded when trying to claim the ball and it is almost as if they used that frustration to then turn the tide in their favour.
Eventually Liverpool found themselves going up through the gears and they would prove to be too hot for Burnley to handle, a win that once again saw the gap at the top eroded back down to a solitary point.
A win over Fulham would put Liverpool would see them go two points clear of their nearest rivals and although City would still have a game in hand, they would still have to go out and get a positive result themselves.
As for Fulham, it is now a case of not if but when they get relegated to the EFL Championship and whether or not Scott Parker can do enough in these last eight games of the season, in order to then be given the job full time.
In essence this game almost resembles a free hit for the hosts and even if they were to get an unlikely result it would be delaying the inevitable in terms of relegation, unfortunately for them though all signs point to a comfortable away win for the visitors.