Klopp focused only on Fulham as Oxlade-Chamberlain nears return

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will not look beyond Fulham despite Tottenham looming on the horizon for the Premier League champions.

With their Champions League commitments on hold until 2021, Liverpool travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday for the first of five games before the turn of the year.

The fixture in the capital comes just three days before Spurs – who sit level on points with the Reds at the top of the table – visit Anfield, when that midweek clash pits together teams with title aspirations.

Klopp, though, is focused only on the next game. The German is impressed by what Scott Parker has achieved at Fulham, who have lost their last six home league matches played on a Sunday.

“I hope none of my players will think about Tottenham,” the Liverpool boss told a news conference.

“The situation is like it is at the top of the table, as it is elsewhere, in that there is not a lot of distance between teams. We know that, I don’t have to tell the boys that.

“Fulham are a really good football-playing side, the performances they have shown are not always rewarded with results. But the fight for staying in the league is also close.

“If you let them play, they will play. The more you let them play, the more you have to defend; the more you have to defend, the more you run. All these kind of things you have to be spot-on with in this game.

“Since Scott Parker took over there is a constant development there. He’s doing a really good job and I respect that a lot. We have to go there, see who is available and try to do our best.”

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Klopp revealed goalkeeper Alisson could return from injury against Fulham – the Brazil international will be assessed again after training with the squad on Friday.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also nearing a comeback after resuming full training, the midfielder having not featured at all this season after suffering a knee injury in August.

“It’s long, eh?” Klopp said of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence. “I still remember the situation and how it happened in training. Normal challenge, then one gets up and the other doesn’t. That’s really hard.

“It’s been a tough time for him, but the sun shines for him already for a month or two, seeing as he’s doing all the necessary stuff in rehab.

“He’s on the pitch with the ball, now he’s with the team. It’s great for him, great for us.

“We will not rush it, but when he’s long enough in team training, then of course he becomes an option again immediately. It’s good, absolutely good.”

Klopp, however, did reveal Diogo Jota sustained a knock in the Champions League draw with Midtjylland, while Thiago Alcantara remains sidelined.

Liverpool have won their last six Premier League meetings with Fulham by an aggregate score of 18-4, since losing both meetings against them in the 2011-12 season.