Fulham manager Marco Silva knows that on Sunday Fulham will be facing a Liverpool side which is more than capable of reacting to disappointment.
The Reds have bounced back from a surprising run of six defeats in seven by going unbeaten in their subsequent seven Premier League outings, though some fans were left frustrated by their inability to beat Leeds United on New Year’s Day – the second draw between the sides in under a month.
“They had a bad run that made a massive impact in their season so far,” Silva said. “Because if you go back for the beginning of the season, after the way they were champions last season, they started with five wins in a row.
“And everybody was talking – okay, they are the same, with some changes, but they are the same, they kept the same winning mentality, they kept the same quality, and they kept winning football matches.
“And [then] comes a bad run, and a bad run that is not normal for them, and it made a massive impact in the points, position on the table and all that stuff. We all agree that is not a normal run for them, not usual for them.
“And, of course, with a different run in that period, we are going to see probably them fighting and to be the contenders that we expect they can be for the title.
“After, they reacted. Yesterday, not the best result or the result they wanted. Credit to Leeds as well because in both games they did very well against them. And they want to react again, they want to be on the right track again.”