Liverpool vs Fulham LIVE: Score and updates from Premier League as Diogo Jota back on the bench for Reds

Well, I said it was accidental but Diop has now been yellow carded for that tackle. Robertson’s injury didn’t help the optics. Robertson is back on his feet but moving gingerly. He’ll try to play on for now at least.

Liverpool immediately press Fulham hard and put pressure on their backline. Klopp-esque gegenpressing!

An early worry for the Reds, Issa Diop accidentally catches Andy Robertson on the kneecap and the Scot stays down. He’s being treated but looks in a lot of pain – this would be a big loss for Liverpool

And we’re off! Can Liverpool move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League?

The teams are out on the Anfield pitch and we’re nearly ready to rock and roll. You’ll Never Walk Alone echoing round the stadium currently.

Right, kick off at Anfield is not far away at all. Can Fulham frustrate Liverpool in the manner they did Arsenal last weekend? Marco Silva’s side had very little of the ball at Craven Cottage but managed to deny their visitors too many clear chances, conceding only from a corner. You suspect they may have it tougher on the road against an attacking side in slightly more fluent form in open play, but it’s clear that the visitors are capable of a result this afternoon.

Those two Sunday evening kick offs are an oddity that the Football Supporters Association aren’t at all happy about. Jamie Braidwood explains the scheduling pressures that are forcing alternative slots upon Premier League clubs and why we might just be seeing more and more:

Our focus will be on events at Anfield but there are some other intriguing tussles around the Premier League grounds this afternoon, headlined by Arsenal’s encounter with Everton. Here’s the full weekend schedule:

Saturday 14 December (3pm GMT unless noted)

5.30pm Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa

2pm Brighton vs Crystal Palace

4.30pm Manchester City vs Manchester United

8pm Bournemouth vs West Ham

Another west London manager disagrees with Marco Silva’s assessment of the Premier League leaders, with Thomas Frank naming a different club as the current class of the English top flight:

Marco Silva was rather complimentary of Liverpool and opposite number Arne Slot when asked about his opponents this week ahead of the Premier League clash.

“Firstly, they are the most consistent team in the league so far,” Silva said. “Really, really strong in any moment of the game, making life really difficult for any team that they play against.

“Great, in terms of the collective quality of the team, the impact of the manager, and, of course, the individual quality they have. I think everything together is the reason why they are on the top of the league.

“They’re achieving the best results, and the impact from Arne Slot has been top. the expectations were there, all the eyes were there on him and on the team, how they were going to react after a big personality, a big character left the club, and was so important for the club the last nine years.

“He showed his quality so far, the impact that he’s had in that football club, on the players as well. You can feel that they are all on the same page as a football club.”

A bench role for Darwin Nunez today, then. Liverpool are blessed with plenty of forward options but Arne Slot defended the Uruguyan striker’s contributions this season ahead of this game.