Fulham v Liverpool preview

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Damien Duff looks doubtful for Fulham.

The Ireland international was forced off in the first half of Thursday night’s Europa League 1-0 defeat at FC Twente after the recurrence of a calf injury.

Mousa Dembele also limped off but could feature at Craven Cottage, while Clint Dempsey should return from a thigh complaint. Bryan Ruiz comes back into contention after being cup-tied against former club Twente.

Lucas Leiva has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury so Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has to find a replacement in central midfield.

Summer signing Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing, who has been a back-up all season, look the most likely contenders.

Captain Steven Gerrard is still sidelined with an ankle infection.

Fulham (from): Provisional squad: Schwarzer, Etheridge, Baird, Riise, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Dembele, Briggs, Kasami, Duff, Murphy, Gecov, Etuhu, Ruiz, Dempsey, Frei, Johnson, Zamora, Sa.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Spearing, Downing, Kuyt, Suarez, Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Shelvey, Coady, Rodriguez, Carroll, Bellamy.

Fulham v Liverpool preview

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Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland are back in contention for Fulham.

Midfielder Dempsey (hamstring) – the Cottagers’ all-time top scorer in the Premier League – and defender Hangeland (illness) missed Saturday’s 3-0 win at Sunderland.

Damien Duff will not play again this season after undergoing Achilles surgery, while Zoltan Gera and Rafik Halliche remain sidelined.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll may have to settle for a place among the substitutes again.

The £35million club record signing came off the bench for a 20-minute appearance in last weekend’s win over Newcastle after recovering from a knee injury but the form of Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez may mean the England international has to wait for a starting opportunity.

Forgotten winger Milan Jovanovic (knee) and defender Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) both have a chance of being included.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Senderos, Hughes, Salcido, Etuhu, Davies, Murphy, Sidwell, Greening, Dempsey, Dembele, Zamora, Johnson, Stockdale, Kelly, Gudjohnsen, Kakuta.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Lucas, Spearing, Meireles, Rodriguez, Kuyt, Suarez, Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Robinson, Shelvey, Poulsen, Cole, Carroll, Jovanovic, Aurelio.