These sides were due to meet just before Christmas and then Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson must have looked forward to the visit of his former club, as it would probably have been the only time he would have heard his name sung in a positive manner at Anfield - albeit from the away end.
His name is now but a bitter memory for Liverpool fans whose new saviour, 'King' Kenny Dalglish, showed signs on Saturday that he might be able to get the best out of an underperforming squad and help turn around one of the most disastrous seasons in the club's illustrious history.
Their display in the 3-0 win at Wolves was far from perfect, but the players showed a commitment, hunger and bite that has so often been absent this season. Even Fernando Torres rose from the doldrums to score twice in a performance that dampened rumours that he wants to leave.
Fulham's record at Anfield is derisory - not a single win in 29 visits and some fearful beatings along the way, including the infamous club record 10-0 thrashing 25 years ago.
But when the Cottagers were under the stewardship of Hodgson, and playing a brand of football that the Reds' faithful would go on to quickly despise, they eked out two successive 0-0 draws at Anfield. Manager Mark Hughes will be desperate for his side to go one better and finally end their Merseyside hoodoo, and they are well placed to do so given a recent run of form that has seen them win three of their last five league games.
MATCH FACTS
- Four of the nine Premier League games at Anfield between these sides have ended as goalless draws, including the last two.
- Liverpool have kept six clean sheets in their last eight meetings with Fulham.
- Fulham have yet to beat Liverpool at Anfield in 29 attempts.
- This will be the 60th time Fulham and Liverpool have met. Liverpool lead by 33 wins to 10, with 16 draws.
- Liverpool have conceded 31 goals in the league so far - they conceded a total of 35 goals in the whole of last season.
- This is the first time since the 1992-93 season that they have a negative goal difference after 23 league matches.
- Goalkeeper David Stockdale is proving to be a lucky omen for Mark Hughes's men - they have not lost in any of his eight appearances this season.
- Fulham have not won any on their previous 18 Premier League visits to Merseyside to play either Everton or Liverpool.
- There have been a total of 20 goals scored in the club's 11 matches away from home this season, which is fewer than in any other club's away games.