Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
Kick-off: 8:45 PM IST (Revised time due to medical emergency)
Venue: Craven Cottage, London
Watch in India: Star Sports Network & JioHotstar
Sunday Night Football: The Reds Need a Response
Sunday nights are usually for dreading the Monday morning alarm, but tonight we’ve got a massive game at Craven Cottage to distract us. Liverpool are in West London to take on Fulham, and frankly, the stakes feel higher than usual for a Matchday 20 clash.
If you watched the New Year’s Day game against Leeds, you know the vibe. That 0-0 draw was agonizing. We had the ball, we had the territory, but we just couldn’t score. Sitting 4th is okay, but with Aston Villa breathing down our necks for 3rd and the title race leaders (Arsenal and City) looking scary, Arne Slot’s boys can’t afford another "bad day at the office."
Fulham, on the other hand, are a tricky bunch. They sit 11th, which looks mid-table, but Marco Silva has turned Craven Cottage into a fortress where big teams often come unstuck. The only problem for them? Their squad has been absolutely gutted by AFCON departures this week.
Here is the lowdown on tonight’s delayed game—why the lineup looks weird, who is actually playing, and how to watch it from India without tearing your hair out.
The State of Play: Why This Game Matters
Liverpool: Time to Wake Up It’s been a strange run for the Reds under Slot. The defense is rock solid—Van Dijk is still doing Van Dijk things—but the attack has gone a bit stale. The rotation has been heavy, and it shows. The chemistry looked off against Leeds.
Tonight is about finding that spark again. Florian Wirtz has been brilliant since arriving, but he can’t do it alone. He needs Gakpo and Szoboszlai to actually make runs and finish chances. We need to be clinical, not just "in control."
Fulham: The AFCON Nightmare You have to feel for Marco Silva. Just as Fulham were finding rhythm (coming off a draw with Palace), AFCON 2026 kicks off in Morocco and rips his squad apart.
He has lost his "Nigerian Wall." Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are gone. Those two are huge for Fulham—Bassey for his physical defending and Iwobi for driving the ball up the pitch. Samuel Chukwueze is away too. That is a massive chunk of their starting XI missing. It’s basically a makeshift Fulham side tonight.
Team News: The Confirmed Lineups
Let’s talk about the teams because there are some surprises.
Liverpool Updates First off, Hugo Ekitike is missing. Apparently, it’s a minor fitness issue, but it’s annoying because his speed off the bench is usually a great "Plan B."
The big tactical shift is at left-back. Slot has benched Robertson for Milos Kerkez. It’s a bold call, but Kerkez offers that raw, explosive pace we need to break down Fulham’s low block. In midfield, sanity prevails—Alexis Mac Allister is back starting alongside Gravenberch and Curtis Jones. That is our best midfield trio right now.
Liverpool XI: Alisson (GK); Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo.
⚪ Fulham Updates Fulham is patching holes. Without Bassey, Joachim Andersen has a massive job organizing that backline. The creative burden falls entirely on Emile Smith Rowe. If Fulham scores tonight, it’s probably coming through him or the veteran Raul Jimenez.
Quick Note on the Delay: If you tuned in at 8:30 PM and saw nothing happening, don't worry. The game was pushed back by 15 minutes because of a medical emergency in the crowd. Hopefully, the fan involved is okay.
Fulham XI: Leno (GK); Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Diop; Lukic, Cairney; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Robinson; Jimenez.
Where the Game Will Be Won (Tactical View)
1. Gravenberch Running the Show Ryan Gravenberch has been a monster this season. Tonight, he is up against Tom Cairney. No disrespect to Cairney, but Gravenberch has the legs and the power to dominate that zone. If he drives forward past Fulham’s midfield, the game opens up for Wirtz.
2. The Wide Areas Fulham loves attacking down the wings, even without Iwobi. Antonee Robinson (playing slightly higher or overlapping) is dangerous. Conor Bradley needs to be careful not to get caught too high up the pitch, or Fulham will counter into that space behind him.
3. Breaking the "Bus" Fulham knows they are weaker on paper. Expect them to sit deep, pack the defense tight, and frustrate Liverpool. This is where we struggled against Leeds. We need quick, one-touch passing around the box. No endless crossing—get the ball on the floor and let Wirtz create magic.
Viewing Guide: Watching in India 🇮🇳
If you are scrambling to find the match, here is the deal:
TV: Put on Star Sports Select 1 or the HD channel.
Mobile/Laptop: It’s streaming on JioHotstar.
Timing Check: Kick-off is confirmed for 8:45 PM IST. So grab your dinner, settle in, and hopefully, the stream doesn't buffer.
The Prediction
Look, Liverpool should win this. Fulham is missing their best defender and their best ball-carrier. Losing Bassey against an attack with Gakpo and Wirtz is a recipe for disaster.
But Craven Cottage is tight, cold, and uncomfortable. The fans are right on top of the pitch. I don't think it will be a blowout. Liverpool tends to make things difficult for themselves. It’ll probably be gritty for an hour before our quality takes over.
My Call: Fulham 1 - 2 Liverpool (I’m backing Jimenez to sneak a goal, but Gakpo and Mac Allister to turn it around for the Reds).
Quick Hits (FAQ)
Why the delay? Medical emergency in the stands. Kick-off pushed to 3:15 PM GMT (8:45 PM IST).
Where is Salah? Not in the squad today. The focus in 2026 is on the new front three.
Who is the Ref? Craig Pawson is the man with the whistle.
Who is missing for Fulham? The Nigerian trio: Iwobi, Bassey, and Chukwueze (all at AFCON).
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