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Fulham test could be tougher than Bayern, warns Wijnaldum

PA | 5d
Liverpool can take the initiative in the Premier League title race if they beat Fulham.

Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes Liverpool will have to make sure they are switched on as they return to domestic action after their midweek Champions League high in Germany.

The 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena was rightly hailed as an impressive performance but with the quest to end a 29-year wait for the Premier League title still ongoing, there is no time to bask in the glow of making another European quarter-final, where they face Porto.

In fact, Wijnaldum believes Sunday's opponents Fulham, second-bottom of the table, may present an even more difficult proposition than five-time European champions Bayern.

Jurgen Klopp's side capitalised from their Bundesliga opponents, behind on away goals, having to chase a second with the score at 1-1 and leaving gaps to exploit.

The struggling Cottagers are unlikely to offer the same amount of space.

"I think it will be even harder at Fulham," said Wijnaldum.

"They are struggling, fighting to survive and that is always difficult to play against, those teams.

"Fulham will make it as difficult as possible and we have to be focused."

Sadio Mane heads in the second of his two goals against Bayern Munich (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Liverpool go into the game boosted by their impressive display in Germany and no one is flying higher than forward Sadio Mane.

The Senegal international scored twice in Bavaria to take his tally to 10 goals in as many games.

His form has taken some of the pressure off Mohamed Salah, who is enduring his longest goalscoring drought – six matches – since arriving at the club in the summer of 2017.

But despite scoring just three over the same period Klopp is satisfied with the Egypt international's performances and believes he has just been unlucky in front of goal.

"It is good that we split the goals, absolutely. We have 73 points: each goal we scored brought us there and from time to time it is clicking for one (player)," said the Reds boss.

Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's barren spell (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

"There was a very good moment in the Bayern game to explain the situation of Mo a little bit – because I think he is in an outstanding shape – when Niklas Sule in the last second came because that was a goal.

"For Sadio it is different, thank God. All the goals the boys score us are so important. Who scores is not too important but of course it helps if the boys are confident and know what they do.

"The first goal that Sadio scored in Munich, if he had not scored for five or six games he probably would not have scored but it was completely natural.

"At the end everyone criticised (Bayern goalkeeper Manuel) Neuer but it was just world-class from Sadio.

"He's in a good moment and hopefully it stays like this, that's the most important thing for us.

"The goals we have scored are important but not as important as the goals we will score until the end of the season."



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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914
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Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914
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