Slot under pressure as fans protest during Premier League clash

Liverpool enter a defining week with Arne Slot under pressure and the Reds needing a result to boost their top-five chances
Liverpool host Fulham in the Premier League with Arne Slot ’s side desperate for a victory to stop their calamitous season from sliding off the rails.

Humiliated by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals and then dominated by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Slot is in “survival mode” as the pressure mounts on the under-fire head coach.

Securing a top-five finish and qualifying for next season’s Champions League, with their hopes of overturning PSG’s advantage at Anfield on Tuesday appearing extremely slim, is now an imperative for last season’s champions.

Further dropped points, with Chelsea, Brentford and Everton in pursuit, could force Liverpool into a change of plan.

Fulham, meanwhile, are also in the hunt for European qualification and arrive at Anfield just five points behind the hosts and having dramatically snatched a draw against Liverpool earlier this season.

Liverpool supporters will also begin a series of protests against ticket price rises .

Follow live updates from Liverpool v Fulham, below
1 mins: The game begins with a loud chorus of Andy Robertson's name from the Kop.

This will be one of his last appearances at Anfield.

Underway at Anfield!

A huge game for Liverpool and Arne Slot after two dismal defeats to Man City and PSG.

There’s tension in the air as fans protest ticket prices, but Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson play at Anfield for the first time since announcing their departures at the end of the season.

They will leave as club legends.

It’s a big night for Fulham, too, as they push for Europe.

They’ve caused Liverpool plenty of problems in recent seasons.

Reminder of Liverpool v Fulham team news and how to watch
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Jones, Ngumoha, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo
Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Iwobi, Wilson, King, Bobb, Muniz
Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League .

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

How badly does Arne Slot need a result today?

Liverpool have just one win in their last six games in all competitions, as well as losing their last three in a row away to Brighton, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Their Premier League form, since the start of March, is one point from a possible nine in games against Wolves, Tottenham and Brighton.

Today is must-win, surely?

“If you play for Liverpool every game is a must-win,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“I knew that before and definitely know that now.

That is being part of a big club."
Arne Slot explains Liverpool changes between PSG legs
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, speaking to Sky Sports, on his team selection to face Fulham and the decision to make five changes.

"The changes make sense after the week we've had, it's been a demanding week with only a two-day turnaround, again.

“With everything coming up I tried to use the session yesterday to see who was well enough recovered to play.

Some just have to play again as I'm out of options in that position.”
Today's Premier League results as European battle heats up
Bournemouth’s win at Arsenal, a 2-2 draw between Brentford and Everton and Brighton’s 2-0 win at Burnley means the battle for Europe has got even tighter!

Fulham have dropped to 11th without kicking a ball but would go just two points off 5th with a win at Anfield.

Liverpool fans to stage series of protests against ticket price rises
Liverpool fans are to stage a series of protests against ticket price rises made in the face of "overwhelming opposition" from supporters, starting with today’s match against Fulham.

Late last month it was announced general admission tickets would rise in line with inflation for the next three seasons, despite discussions with the Supporters' Board, who petitioned for a freeze.

In announcing the new plan, the club - which last season made a profit after tax of £8m - cited matchday operating costs which have risen 85 per cent since 2016-17.

It has led to supporters group Spirit of Shankly (SoS) hastily arranging protests, which will "grow and escalate" starting from today’s match against the Cottagers.

Marco Silva on Fulham's motivation for the rest of the season
"The motivation is there on the top, for us and all the clubs around.

Last season we were close, fighting to the last months to achieve it.

"This season we are repeating it and that shows the progression of the football club...If we are there we are going to fight definitely."
"The importance of each game is going to be bigger than before because we are just going to have seven games to play.

"And I said the motivation is there on the top as you'd expect.

We fought very hard to be in this position right now."
According to Opta, Fulham have won just two of their 32 away league games against Liverpool (D8 L22), winning 1-0 in both May 2012 and March 2021.

Arne Slot insists he feels ‘a lot of support’ from Liverpool owners
Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists he feels “a lot of support” from the club hierarchy ahead of a pivotal eight days that includes a Merseyside derby and the second leg of their Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain and this afternoon’s match with Fulham.

“Not only from the owners but from Richard [Hughes] and Michael [Edwards], a lot of support from them as well but as weird as it might sound I also feel the support from the fans,” Slot said.

"We were going out in Paris when the players went out for the warm-up and after the 4-0 loss [against Manchester City] the fans immediately started singing 'we love Liverpool'.

"I think it's fair to say we were outplayed for 90 minutes and they were still singing and clapping for us.

I've said many times, the club knows the period of time we're in and in the mean time I feel complete support.”
Liverpool and Arne Slot are in ‘survival mode’ — and it could still get worse
Despite spending £450m this Liverpool team remains in transition and has one foot out the exit door - and must overcome the fiercest of opposition and their own self-doubt to salvage their season
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