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• Marco Silva wants Andreas Pereira to continue to make the right impression
  

  Fulham boss Marco Silva will continue to demand more from Andreas Pereira as the Brazilian looks to maintain his form heading into the closing weeks of the Premier League season.

  Pereira scored both goals in Fulham’s 2-0 victory at West Ham last weekend, which was a first win in four matches.

  The former Manchester United attacking midfielder had not found the net since August, but is top of Fulham’s assists with eight so far.

  The consistency of Pereira, who was born in Belgium, has seen him recalled into the Brazil national team, featuring in both March friendlies against England at Wembley and then Spain.

  Silva feels the 28-year-old, who had a successful loan spell at Flamengo before signing for Fulham in the summer of 2022, still has plenty more to offer.

  “Andreas, last season made a huge impact. Before he joined us, he played more as a second midfielder and not so offensive,” the Fulham boss said.

  “This season, he is going to have one of the best assist records for us – and we will demand more.

  “Last week, he showed the desire to arrive in the right areas.”

  Fulham host Liverpool on Sunday looking to further dent the Reds’ ambitions.

  Jurgen Klopp’s side were knocked out of the Europa League by Atalanta and also slumped to what could prove a costly home defeat against Crystal Palace to lose ground in the Premier League title race.

  Fulham have pushed Liverpool in each of their three meetings this season, being narrowly edged out 4-3 after a dramatic finish at Anfield in their league match at the start of December followed by what was a tight Carabao Cup semi-final over two legs.

  “Probably some of them (have been) too open for a manager to enjoy, but yes, at Anfield and at the Cottage as well, they have been really – in some moments – emotional games, in other moments entertaining,” Silva said at a press conference.

  “Tight games always, in some of them dramatic ends of the match. But even last season, it was really tough for them to come to play at Craven Cottage (in the) Carabao Cup this season, too.”

  Silva added: “We want to make life really difficult for Liverpool, to give them a match.

  “Let’s hope we can get a different result than the last games that we played against them.

  Fulham could yet challenge for a top-10 finish.

  “I think we are in the best moment of the season,” Silva said. “We haven’t had big injuries in the last month and a half, or two months.

  “It, of course, creates a competition inside our squad that helps myself and the players to reach a different level and good headaches for me to decide, which is always the better situation to plan a game and prepare for the next game.”

• Jurgen Klopp: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota give Liverpool ‘a chance’

  Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota gives their title hopes a much-needed boost.

  Defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend saw Klopp’s side drop to third as Manchester City moved into a two-point lead at the top of the table.

  But with results faltering, the performance by Alexander-Arnold in the Europa League win over Atalanta, particularly in the first half, has offered renewed hope.

  The defender was making his first start since mid-February after a knee injury and, while Jota has yet to have the same impact in three relatively short substitute appearances after a similar two-month lay-off, the clinical nature of his game could offset some of the deficiencies currently being experienced by his fellow forwards.

  “We need Trent Alexander-Arnold, of course, but we need him in a really good shape and form and that’s what he has to get up to,” said Klopp ahead of the trip to Fulham.

  “It’s not about him and it’s not his fault if he wouldn’t be, it’s just the situation. So how quick can we get him rolling if you want – the same for Diogo.

  “We have to find a way to help the boys in the best way, to bring them as quick as possible into their best form or shape and from there we have to go.

  “Without them we wouldn’t have a chance. With them we have a chance, with them in a really good football moment the chance gets bigger and bigger.”

  Klopp remains positive about their chances despite recent failures and feels six wins could see them snatch the title from the grasp of their rivals.

  Although a Europa League exit on aggregate was disappointing there were positives to take from the game.

  Alexander-Arnold’s display, drifting infield to dictate play and even popping up in the centre-forward’s position on occasions in Bergamo, was one and a first clean sheet in 10 matches was another.

  With struggles up front continuing – Liverpool have scored only two goals in the opening 15 minutes in a league game this season – a more solid backline offers a better platform and that is why Klopp is optimistic.

  “I don’t have a lot of qualities but I am always completely honest. If I don’t feel great the players feel it pretty quickly,” he said.

  “I cannot really deny or just keep it under the carpet so that means after the game against Palace people ask ‘What do you tell the team now?’.

  “But here we are a few days later and I feel absolutely great, I see the good in the situation where we are. It is fantastic.

  “The boys know that I don’t tell them things which I don’t believe in and I am 100 percent sure we can really win all of the games we will have to from now on.

  “What should influence us more: the last game, the last week or is it the chance in front of us?

  “I am fully (of the opinion) that there is a next chance for us and we can turn things absolutely around in all departments. We can make it still an outstanding season.

  “It will be a good season but of course how you look at it is in the end is massively influenced by the last part of it.”

• Des Buckingham feels heavy schedule caught up with Oxford

  Oxford boss Des Buckingham felt the heavy schedule of three games in six days took its toll on his team as they were held 1-1 by Stevenage at the Kassam Stadium.

  It means it is effectively no longer in Oxford’s hands to reach the League One play-offs because Lincoln are three points behind them with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

  Buckingham felt the decision not to award the U’s a penalty when Marcus Browne appeared to have been fouled by keeper Craig MacGillivray in the first half was crucial.

  They had to come from behind as Stevenage went in front through a Sam Long own goal in the 32nd minute, Cameron Brannagan replying from the penalty spot on 58 minutes when Carl Piergianni fouled Ruben Rodrigues – though that appeared to have been outside the box.

  Buckingham said: “To play three games in six days is a big ask.

  “We had 26 shots but couldn’t get that second goal we needed.

  “There was a clear penalty not given in the first half, and for us that’s the second game in a row that one hasn’t been given when it should have been. It was a huge moment in the game, and very frustrating.

  “The referee told me he couldn’t see it, but the linesman was only 15 yards away and had a clear view.

  “I’m delighted with the performance but ultimately we’ve got just the four points from these three home games, now we need to make sure we prepare right and get three in the last one at Exeter.

  “When we looked to rearrange the Lincoln game we chose this week because it was a free week, then Sky told us they wanted to bring this Stevenage one forward and show it on the Friday night which meant three games in six days.

  “There was nothing we could do about it, but had we known they were going to do that, we would have played the Lincoln game another week.

  “It’s going to be a tight finish – I wouldn’t rule out Blackpool either, and they’ve got to play Barnsley.”

  Stevenage had lost manager Steve Evans in the week, with Evans heading north to become Rotherham boss.

  Caretaker boss Alex Revell said: “Steve always had two clubs very much in his heart – this one and Rotherham. Believe me, making the decision was probably the hardest thing he’s had to do, he said.

  “I wanted to take today and make the players ready. I really enjoyed it because they gave everything.

  “I’m very proud of what the lads did tonight.

  “We had a great day yesterday in terms of training and getting ready and trying to get a few bits into them.

  “They came to a really tough place and worked so hard for each other.

  “In spells we created some half-chances, probably not enough, but it was about showing our togetherness as a club and our spirit.

  “I think we showed why we have caused teams problems this season, especially with our energy and our workrate.

  “The first penalty shout against us was a penalty and should have been given so we got away with that.

  “But it doesn’t mean that something that started outside the box should be a penalty. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”