Hughes wants Fulham to use inside knowledge

Fulham boss Mark Hughes said his team will know what to expect when they take on former boss Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool side on Saturday.

Hodgson left Fulham for Liverpool in the off-season after transforming the London club from relegation contenders to Europa League finalists in his two-year spell.

Hughes believes his players will use their inside knowledge on how Hodgson organises his teams to good effect when the two sides meet at Anfield on Saturday.

“A number of players will understand what Roy’s teams are about,” Hughes said.

“He likes his teams well drilled, and organised. A lot of the work that Liverpool will be doing at this moment in time is very similar to what he did for the last two years here.”

“The players will be aware of what Roy will try to get from his team and how he’ll set them up. I’ve got an insight into that because of the players that he’s worked with previously.”

Hughes said he does not expect Hodgson to receive a hard time from his former club’s travelling fans.

“I think everybody at Fulham appreciates what Roy did in his time,” he said.

Fulham have struggled to find the net this season, a point made painfully clear during their goalless draw with Sunderland last weekend.

Their record of ten draws, five defeats and only two wins means they go into Saturday’s game just one place above the drop zone in 17th position.

“We’ve been encouraged with what we’ve produced in recent weeks but we just need that little bit of fortune, that little bit of luck in the box, so that we get off and running,” Hughes said.

“In terms of possession and dominance in games, certainly in the second half of recent games, we’ve been really strong.”

“We don’t go to Anfield with any fear or any apprehension. We know we can perform at the highest level. What we need is that break and that little bit of fortune that enables good play to be rewarded with goals.”

Fulham have not won in their past 26 away games in the English Premier League, and Hughes admits the team is desperate to break their drought on the road.

“It’s something that’s been there before I came to the club and it’s still continuing. The longer it goes on, the more difficult it becomes,” he said.

“I’ve been pleased with our performances away from home – we’ve gone to difficult places and acquitted ourselves really well. We feel we’re close, it’s only a matter of time. Winning at Anfield would be the ideal place to get three points on our away travels.”

Fulham will again be without Belgian striker Moussa Dembele for Saturday’s gam,e with the 23-year-old yet to recover from an ankle injury sustained in September. He is due to return to training next week.