Scott Parker says empty Anfield will give Fulham a ‘lift’ in bid to inflict more misery on Liverpool

Fulham boss Scott Parker admits facing Liverpool at Anfield without fans is a big advantage for all travelling teams.

The defending Premier League champions have slumped to five consecutive home defeats and trail leaders Manchester City by 22 points.

Liverpool now lie four points outside the top four and rejuvenated Fulham travel to Anfield on Sunday in confident mood, with just one defeat in their last six matches.

Fulham visit Liverpool on Sunday looking for a result that seems less unlikely than it once was

Parker is aiming to revive his side’s Premier League survival bid after their defeat to Tottenham

‘I’ve played at Anfield and at times the whole place can feel like the ball can get sucked into the goal,’ Parker explained.

‘When the place is raw it’s a tough place to go with what the atmosphere brings.

‘I think at this point with a stadium like Anfield, the lift it can give them, it’s certainly a plus for any team going into an empty stadium.’

Fulham’s mini revival was halted in midweek by a controversial defeat to Tottenham, in which Parker was left to brutally pick apart handball laws and VAR.

Josh Maja, one of seven loanees in the squad for that match, saw his second-half strike contentiously ruled out to leave Fulham three points adrift of safety.

Parker has been hugely impressed with Fulham’s recruitment and believes exploiting the loan system has given them a great chance of survival.

Liverpool are usually vociferously backed at a packed stadium but fans are still being kept out

‘The club stated that the main aim was to try and stay in the division without over expenditure,’ he added.

‘In terms of the money we’ve spent and who we’ve brought in I think you can see that.

‘We took the decision to bring in quality players on loan to try and keep us in the division and those loan players have done fantastically well.’

Parker acknowledges the loan system acts as a huge benefit in trying to bridge the gap to the division’s top teams.

The reigning Premier League champions have lost five in a row at Anfield for the first time ever

‘It gives a team a chance that finished fourth last year in the Championship, stepping into this division, the gap in finances is huge,’ he continued.

‘You’re stepping into the big league where teams have obviously got those finances and have been around the league for some time.

‘Certainly for a team like us your aim is to get into this division and the next biggest challenge is to stay in it.

‘The loan system is one that gives you a chance of being competitive.’