Liverpool vs Fulham| Match Preview & Prediction & Report | 2026/2027 | Premier League

Premier League 2026/27 – Matchweek 4
Saturday, 12 September 2026 | Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool return to Anfield with their season beginning to gather momentum. After opening Andoni Iraola's reign with consecutive 2–2 draws, the Reds recorded their first Premier League victory against Ipswich before following it with a 2–1 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid in midweek. Fulham arrive in a very different position: Álvaro Arbeloa has lost each of his first three Premier League matches and already finds himself under early pressure.

The fixture also carries a personal storyline. Arbeloa made 98 appearances for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009. His return to Anfield now comes as the manager of a Fulham side desperately searching for its first league points.

Where Liverpool Stand

Liverpool's Premier League results:

Newcastle United 2–2 Liverpool
Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
Ipswich Town 0–2 Liverpool

That gives them:
5 points | 6 goals scored | 4 conceded

The progression is encouraging.

Liverpool conceded twice in each of their opening two matches but finally combined attacking quality with defensive control at Portman Road. Alexander Isak scored twice inside the opening nine minutes, with Cody Gakpo supplying both assists, before Liverpool managed the remainder of the contest to record their first clean sheet under Iraola.

That was followed by another important result on Wednesday.

Liverpool beat Atlético Madrid 2–1 in the Champions League, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister scoring. Liverpool are beginning to look more comfortable with Iraola's ideas.

The attacking principles are particularly visible: aggressive pressing, quick progression after turnovers and multiple players attacking the space around Isak.

Where Fulham Stand

Fulham's Premier League start could hardly be more different:

Fulham 2–3 Chelsea
Sunderland 1–0 Fulham
Fulham 2–3 Crystal Palace

Their record:
0 points | 4 goals scored | 7 conceded

Arbeloa has therefore lost each of his first three league matches. The results do not necessarily mean Fulham have been consistently poor. Against Palace, they generated 25 attempts and twice took the lead before eventually losing 3–2. Arbeloa has argued that the performances contain encouraging elements but acknowledged that his team are conceding goals too easily.

That distinction is important. Fulham's primary problem is not an inability to attack. It is defensive exposure. The Cottagers have already scored twice against Chelsea and twice against Palace.

But every time their matches become open, they appear vulnerable. That is a particularly dangerous characteristic to carry into Anfield.
Team News

Liverpool remain without Hugo Ekitike, who continues his recovery from an Achilles injury. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez and Federico Chiesa have also been listed among the unavailable players.

Gakpo remains the significant doubt, while Barcola and Milos Kerkez were both affected by cramp against Atlético rather than new structural injuries.

Fulham's injury situation is considerably cleaner.

Tom Cairney and Luc De Fougerolles are expected to miss the match because of knee injuries. Summer arrivals Manuel Ángel, David Affengruber and Hugo Larsson were all included in the squad against Palace, with Larsson making a late appearance.

That gives Arbeloa options if he decides changes are necessary.

Betting Patterns Insights
Both teams have also demonstrated repeatable attacking patterns.

Liverpool have scored exactly twice in every Premier League match under Iraola.

Fulham have scored twice in two of their three league games.

The stronger trend, however, concerns Fulham's defence.

They have conceded: 3 → 1 → 3 and have yet to keep a Premier League clean sheet. Liverpool have scored multiple goals in every competitive match under Iraola so far, including Wednesday's 2–1 victory over Atlético.

That makes Liverpool's team-goal markets particularly interesting. There is also a game-state consideration.

Fulham have zero points. If Liverpool score first, Arbeloa cannot simply accept a narrow defeat and protect the score. Eventually Fulham must take greater risks. That should create additional spaces for Liverpool.
Best Betting Angles
※ Liverpool Win & Over 1.5 Total Goals※ Liverpool Over 1.5 Team Goals
Final Verdict
Fulham's zero-point start slightly exaggerates how poorly they have played. They created enough against Palace to produce 25 attempts and have scored twice against both Chelsea and Palace. Arbeloa's attacking ideas are visible.

The problem is that the same approach has repeatedly exposed Fulham defensively. And Anfield is an unforgiving place to carry that weakness.

Liverpool's trajectory is moving in the opposite direction. Two 2–2 draws have been followed by a 2–0 victory over Ipswich and 2–1 Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid. Isak is scoring, Wirtz and Szoboszlai provide creativity between the lines, and Iraola's pressing structure is beginning to look more coordinated.

Fulham should have moments. I would not completely rule out an away goal. But Liverpool possess too many ways to exploit the visitors' defensive weaknesses, particularly once the match begins to open.
Confidence: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Liverpool 0 : 0 Fulham