There will be a fair share of reunions when Liverpool go head-to-head with Fulham on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
Marco Silva's side secured an instant return to the top-flight after an outstanding Championship campaign which saw the Cottagers set all kinds of records. They became only the second team in 20 years to hit more than 100 goals in a single second division season, meanwhile Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a remarkable 43 times in 44 outings to set a new record for goals scored in a 46-game season.
Among the players who helped the London side enjoy such a spectacular journey was Fabio Carvalho, who sealed a move to Liverpool this summer. The Reds failed in their efforts to sign the teenage midfielder in January, though eventually got their man after agreeing a £5million fee.
DONE DEAL: Calvin Ramsay to Liverpool transfer agreed as stance on more summer deals emerges
IN FULL: Liverpool Premier League 2022/23 fixtures released
Carvalho scored ten goals and registered eight assists for Fulham in his breakthrough season for the club, significantly raising his profile in the process. It should come as no surprise Jurgen Klopp's side pursued a deal, having already prized another one of Fulham's highly-rated Academy graduates.
Indeed, Liverpool signed Harvey Elliott in the summer of 2019 and have not regretted this decision after witnessing the impressive maturity of the 19-year-old. Blackburn Rovers have played a major role in aiding the development of the English star, who spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Ewood Park and was nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award after amassing 18 goal contributions.
Carvalho and Elliott may well have left the club, though Liverpool have at least returned the favour by selling Harry Wilson to Fulham one year ago as part of a £12m deal. The Welsh winger has been a superb addition to the group, highlighted by his outstanding contribution of ten league goals and 20 assists at Championship level last term.
It goes without saying that Wilson will have somewhat of a point to prove against the Reds, having been denied the same first-team opportunities the likes of Curtis Jones and Rhian Brewster received. The 25-year-old spent the majority of his Liverpool career on loan at EFL sides, impressing at Derby County in particular, and will likely feel he is now back at a level he deserves to be operating at.
Wilson's only taste of top-flight football came during a temporary spell with Bournemouth during the 2019/20 season, in which he found the back of the net seven times in 35 appearances. The time felt right last summer, for all concerned, for the Wales international to find a new permanent home - a process he has since taken in his stride.
Another individual to have gained a taste of Fulham's free-flowing football is Liverpool right-back Neco Williams, who spent the second half of 21/22 with Silva's side. Thrown straight into the starting-eleven, the 21-year-old linked up well with his international team-mate, Wilson, to wrap up the league title in style.
The ECHO understands a number of sides, including Fulham, are interested in recruiting the defender on a permanent basis during the transfer window and have already made contact with the Reds over his availability. A £15million price tag has been placed on Williams, whose hopes of first-team football have been dented by the expected arrival of Calvin Ramsay.
A deal with Aberdeen has been struck for the services of the Scot, which will see an initial fee of £4m paid plus £2.5m in add-ons, made up of player performance and team achievement targets. The 18-year-old is currently set to undergo a medical at the weekend at the earliest and, assuming there is no problem with the teenager’s medical, he will sign a five-year contract with Liverpool and will join the first team for pre-season.
Only time will tell regarding whether or not Williams will become the latest player involved a transfer deal between the two clubs, who appear to be developing an established relationship.
