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Fulham boss Marco Silva still fuming over Liverpool penalty call; vows to push for…

Date published: Friday 5th May 2023 3:03 – News Desk

Marco Silva vowed Fulham would do everything they could to match their best-ever Premier League points tally with just four opportunities left to meet the objective.

Fulham last hit 53 points in 2008-09 under Roy Hodgson, ultimately finishing seventh that campaign.

Silva’s 10th-placed Cottagers are still eight points away from repeating that feat and have their next opportunity to move closer when they host relegation-threatened Leicester on Monday.

“We are going to fight for it,” said Silva. “We are going to fight because it’s a target for us, clearly it’s a target for us. We have 12 points to fight for and we are going to do our best.

“As always, game by game, thinking the next one will be a very good one at home at the Cottage that we want to do our best and we are going to do our best to win.

“It’s there, the target is there but realistically we are going to have to fight really hard to get it.”

Silva’s side are hoping to bounce back from three-consecutive losses, including Wednesday night’s Liverpool encounter decided by Mohamed Salah’s 39th-minute penalty – awarded following a VAR decision the Fulham boss reiterated should not have gone the Reds’ way.

He said: “Liverpool clearly didn’t deserve the result. It was a clear mistake that made us to lose the match and that penalty that I repeat is embarrassing, that decision and of course it’s up to us to react, to go again and to do our best to take the three points.”

Fulham’s second-most recent loss was at the hands of surging table-toppers Manchester City, who presented a very different challenge from the one expected from the 16th-placed Foxes on Monday.

Silva will be without midfielder Andreas Pereira and skipper Tim Ream, who were both ruled out for the rest of the season following injuries sustained in the City clash.

Dean Smith’s men are outside the drop zone on goal difference alone and Silva expects their precarious position to be a dangerous motivator come the Bank Holiday.

He added: “Probably the next game against Leicester will probably be even more difficult than against City and Liverpool.

“People probably don’t understand what I’m saying. I’m not saying that Leicester is a better team than the other two, that’s not what I’m saying, but they’re fighting for their lives.

“They come to play in a different way than the other two teams against us and of course, it will be a tough one, a good test, another one for us at the Cottage with our fans and of course we have to play as best as we can to win the game.”

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‘Would’ve loved’: Manager says ‘incredible’ player is leaving amid Leeds rumour

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested that James Milner is leaving Anfield at the end of the season, amid rumours that Leeds United are interested in bringing the midfielder to Elland Road.

Milner, who has been linked with Leeds and Everton, is out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp has suggested that the former Leeds and Newcastle United midfielder has made up his mind to leave.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported on Twitter that Brighton and Hove Albion are set to secure the services of the 37-year-old on a free transfer.

90min have reported that Leeds and Everton are also keen on Milner, who can operate as a winger, midfielder or full-back.

Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool star and Leeds United

Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “With Millie I can say I had over the years and the last few months really good conversations with him.

“He knows how highly I value him, he’s an incredible part of this team and I would’ve loved to work together with him even longer. What exactly the outcome will be of his decision I think at one point Millie will say that. I’m not sure if that happened already or not.

“I’m not really aware of that; nothing else to say from me. Nothing will change. I said a couple of times, nothing what happened in the last seven and a half years – the positive things – would have happened without James Milner.”

Future Leeds homecoming

It would have been a great story had James Milner returned to Leeds United after his spell at Liverpool.

True, Leeds could get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, but maybe the Englishman could have waited for a few more weeks to make his final decision.

Milner started his career at Leeds, and it would have been great for the West Yorkshire club had he retuned to Elland Road.

But you never know. Milner’s contract at Brighton will repeatedly be until the summer of 2024, so perhaps he could then return to Leeds.

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‘Would’ve loved’: Manager says ‘incredible’ player is leaving amid Leeds rumour