Fulham vs Liverpool preview - Doubts over Duff - 7M sport

Fulham vs Liverpool preview - Doubts over Duff



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Posted Monday, December 05, 2011 by PA

Fulham vs Liverpool preview - Doubts over Duff

Damien Duff looks doubtful for Fulham's Barclays Premier League encounter with Liverpool on Monday.

The Ireland international was forced off in the first half of the 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.

Ruiz believes he can help provide the goals Fulham have lacked so far this season.

Aside from a 6-0 defeat of QPR, goals have been hard to come by but summer signing Ruiz is confident he can help sway things after a stop-start beginning to life in west London.

"I was not frustrated by my start at Fulham but of course I would like it to have been better," he said.

"It is a process I have to follow with Fulham in the Premier League and I am feeling very good. I feel strong and hopefully I will get more minutes. I think I can help provide goals. All the players will do our best and do better in the team.

"I think we have good quality up front. We have many good players that can score and create chances. We have to improve that because I know we can do much better. Personally, I will try to do my best as I know my team-mates will do too."

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.

Captain Steven Gerrard is still sidelined with an ankle infection so summer signing Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing, who has been a back-up all season, look the most likely contenders.

Lucas has been one of the Reds' best players over the last two seasons and in the last fortnight, in particular, the 24-year-old has shown his worth with impressive performances against Chelsea in both the Barclays Premier League and Carling Cup wins and also in the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City last Sunday.

"It is a huge disappointment for everybody but more importantly for Lucas," said Dalglish. "He's had the scan and we will assess it and decide where is the best place he has to go and where he is more comfortable and they'll do what they have to do.

"We have a great deal of sympathy for Lucas. He's been playing well for us but it is part and parcel of football I suppose. We're not the only club who has an injury which means we have to fulfil our obligations by using the squad.

"He has been playing really well. We are disappointed he has picked up an injury but it is not career-threatening. Lucas is not moping about feeling sorry for himself. We can do that, we can feel sorry for him. But we cannot feel sorry for ourselves and we have plenty of people who can have a go and won't let us down. You saw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night there were a lot of really good performances. It is at times like this you are tested but we have been happy with the squad and the results we have had reflect that."



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