Fulham Boss Roy Hodgson Relishing Liverpool Test

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is looking forward to Staurday's game at Craven Cottage with Liverpool, and hopes that his players can use the memories of their stunning victory over Manchester United to spur them on against Rafa Benitez's Reds.

"It’s a lot to ask for us to get back-to-back wins against top-four sides because we’ve had important players playing internationals on Saturday and Wednesday," Hodgson told The Times.

"I can only hope that the memories of the last game and the good feeling we got from it will motivate the players to go out and reproduce that performance.

"One is tempted to say players aren’t more motivated against the big teams because every match in the Premier League is of such vital importance.

"But when the eyes of the world are upon you these games add further inspiration. Inspiration is a better word than motivation.

"After our good results over the last few weeks and bearing in mind we’ve seen what Liverpool have achieved, we’ve been inspired to look forward to the game. We want to make sure that when the final whistle blows people are saying Liverpool are a very good team but Fulham can play too."

Liverpool were on fire before the international break, with three straight emphatic victories over the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa. Hodgson hinted that recent results never tell the full story though, as he concluded, "We’re facing the really in-form team if you go on results. Heavy wins against Real Madrid, Man United and Aston Villa must have left confidence enormously high.

"We’re meeting them at the apex of a very good run. But I think I speak for the chasing teams, Liverpool and Chelsea, by saying it would be nicer to be in Man United’s position, a point up with a home match as their game in hand.

"There’s an element of hazard when looking at results. We’ve taken nothing against Hull. On both occasions we felt robbed. On the other hand we have four points against Arsenal this season but that could easily have been zero.

"We’ve been pretty consistent throughout the 30 games we’ve played and given ourselves a chance of getting something in each match. But the feeling you get when you take points from the top four is the best."

Zack Wilson, Goal.com