Fulham boss Martin Jol has hailed striker Dimitar Berbatov as ‘the best No.10 you can imagine’ following the Bulgarian’s sensational display against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on Saturday.
Berbatov, who joined Fulham from English Premier League giants Manchester United for a transfer fee of £5 million in the summer transfer window, provided an absolute peach of an assist to set up former Wigan talisman Hugo Rodellega’s header in the 31st minute.
“I always thought that he was a fantastic player, the only thing I see now is that he can play in different positions as well,” said Jol.
“If you go and play away at Wigan you take a gamble to play with two strikers because most of the time last year we changed our playing style with a 4-3-3.
“I made a gamble to play with Rodallega upfront and Dimitar, and he was probably the best No.10 you can imagine.”
Fulham have started the 2012-13 Premier League campaign with three wins in five matches despite losing star men Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembélé to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
The Cottagers have found the back of the net 12 times in five league matches this season; it took them 10 Premier League fixtures to reach 13 goals last term.
Fulham will play host to defending champions Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 29 September.
Do not be surprised if the Cottagers pull off the improbable next Saturday. After all, the southwest London side fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw in this fixture last season.
In other news, Berbatov’s former club Manchester United are set to take on bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield — in the wake of the Hillsborough revelation — on Sunday.
Premier League Preview | Liverpool v Manchester United
Liverpool enter Sunday’s clash having won four — and drawn one — of their last five games against United at Anfield.
Despite their impressive home record against Manchester United in recent times, Liverpool are 0-2-2 in the Premier League this season. That’s good enough for a place in the bottom-three.
Manchester United striker duo Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez and Robin van Persie will be the players to watch for the visitors.
Hernandez has scored in his last two league appearances at Anfield, while Van Persie has tallied four goals in his last five games against the Merseysiders, including a match-winning double in Arsenal’s 2-1 win against the Reds at Anfield last term.
Premier League Betting Odds | Liverpool v Manchester United
Liverpool (9/5) v Manchester United (9/5); Draw (23/10)
Total Goals | Over 2.5 (19/20) | Under 2.5 (17/20)
Goalscorers – Manchester United | Robin van Persie (13/10) | Javier Hernandez (8/5) | Danny Welbeck (21/10)
Goalscorers – Liverpool | Luis Suarez (7/4) | Fabio Borini (15/8) | Daniel Pacheco (15/8)
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