Prediction: Liverpool vs Fulham

Liverpool continue their push for momentum under Andoni Iraola when they welcome Alvaro Arbeloa’s struggling Fulham side to Anfield on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.

The Reds finally secured their first league victory of the campaign before opening their Champions League account in midweek, while Fulham remain rooted near the bottom of the table after losing all three of their top-flight matches so far.

Liverpool

After frustrating draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest early in the campaign, Liverpool appear to have found their footing under Iraola.

The Merseysiders earned a vital 2-0 victory away to Ipswich Town before following that success with an impressive 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid. Those results have eased some of the pressure surrounding the new manager and offered signs that his attacking philosophy is beginning to take hold.

Liverpool have now scored at least two goals in every competitive match under Iraola, with Alexander Isak quickly emerging as the focal point of the attack. The Swedish striker struck twice at Portman Road and has already become one of the Premier League’s form forwards.

Midweek success against Atletico was equally encouraging, particularly given the quality of the opposition. Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were both on target as the Reds produced one of their most complete performances of the season so far.

The next objective for Liverpool is ending a run of three consecutive Premier League draws at Anfield. Given the club’s formidable home record, victory on Saturday would be viewed as another important step in establishing momentum before a demanding autumn schedule.

Team News

Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez remain unavailable through injury, while Federico Chiesa continues to struggle with a back problem.

There was some concern when both Bradley Barcola and Milos Kerkez were forced off against Atletico Madrid, but Iraola confirmed the pair were only suffering from cramp and should be available.

If either Barcola or Cody Gakpo is unable to start, Victor Munoz is expected to feature after continuing his encouraging start to life at Anfield.

Fulham head to Merseyside in desperate need of a positive result after a miserable opening to the Premier League season.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s men remain without a point following defeats to Chelsea, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, despite often producing performances that deserved more reward than the results suggest.

The latest setback came in a dramatic 3-2 home defeat to Palace, a match in which Fulham created a significant number of chances but once again failed to translate promising attacking play into points.

That outcome has increased scrutiny on Arbeloa, whose side are one of only two teams still waiting to get off the mark in the Premier League. Encouraging displays alone will not be enough if results fail to improve quickly.

There is at least one recent bright spot. Fulham progressed to the third round of the EFL Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon, proving they are capable of producing convincing performances when confidence is flowing.

The visitors also have fond memories of Anfield, having won there during the 2020-21 season. However, Liverpool have since won four and drawn one of the last five meetings at Anfield across all competitions.

Team News

Luc De Fougerolles and Tom Cairney continue their recoveries from knee injuries, while the likes of Manuel Angel, David Affengruber and Hugo Larsson are gradually becoming more involved following recent returns to fitness.

Arbeloa may consider introducing additional steel into midfield, with Sander Berge pushing for a start if Fulham opt for a more defensive setup.

Key Factors to Consider

• Liverpool have won back-to-back matches against Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid.
• The Reds have scored at least twice in every match under Andoni Iraola.
• Fulham have lost all three of their Premier League fixtures this season.
• Alexander Isak is already enjoying an impressive start to life at Liverpool.
• The visitors have conceded eight goals across their opening three league games.
• Liverpool have lost only once to Fulham at Anfield since 2021.

Conclusion

Fulham’s performances have arguably deserved more than their current points tally suggests, and their attacking play should allow them to create opportunities against a Liverpool defence that has not always looked completely secure.

However, the Reds appear to be gathering momentum at exactly the right time. Iraola’s system is beginning to click, Isak is finding goals regularly, and confidence has grown significantly following recent victories.

With Anfield behind them and Fulham still struggling to turn promising displays into results, Liverpool should have enough quality to secure another three points and continue their upward trajectory.

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