Liverpool vs Fulham: Preview, h2h, predictions & more as Iwobi and Bassey eye first PL win

Liverpool vs Fulham is set to take center-stage at Anfield on Saturday, 12th of September, in what promises to be an interesting Premier League matchup.

Liverpool go into this weekend’s fixture unbeaten in the league, while Fulham arrive at Anfield without a single point from their opening three matches, sitting 19th in the table.

The Cottagers’ XI is expected to include Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi and defender Calvin Bassey, who will likely lead the team out as captain.

Liverpool vs Fulham Match Preview

Liverpool have not lost so far this season, scoring seven goals and conceding two across their first three league matches, a record that underlines their status as strong favourites at home.

2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest showed that Andoni Iraola’s side can be opened up, but a 2-0 win over Ipswich in their last outing produced their first clean sheet of the campaign and suggested that defensive solidity tends to follow when the opposition sits deep.

A midweek 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid further confirmed that Anfield remains an uncomfortable venue for visiting sides.

Fulham find themselves in the opposite position, arriving under considerable early pressure in Arbeloa’s first months in charge. Defeats have come by 3-2 against Chelsea, 1-0 against Sunderland and 3-2 against Crystal Palace, the latter after squandering a 2-1 lead, painting the picture of a team capable of scoring but prone to conceding in transition.

The numbers point towards a one-sided battle for possession, with Liverpool likely to push Fulham back and force them to rely on counter-attacks to trouble Alisson.

Cody Gakpo remains a doubt with an adductor issue, which may force Iraola to improvise on the flanks, though this is unlikely to significantly reduce Liverpool’s control of the game.

Head-to-Head: Liverpool vs Fulham

The five most recent meetings between the two sides show more balance than the current league gap suggests, with two wins for Liverpool, one for Fulham and two draws. In the most recent encounter, on April 11, 2026, Liverpool won 2-0 at Anfield.

Earlier meetings included a 2-2 draw in January 2026, a 2-2 draw in December 2024 and a 3-2 win for Fulham in April 2025. Across their entire history, Liverpool hold a commanding advantage with 31 wins to Fulham’s 11, alongside 16 draws, though this broader record offers context rather than a basis for the current prediction.

Team News: Liverpool vs Fulham

An update on Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo ahead of #LIVFUL ℹ️ pic.twitter.com/1guyzoIFf8

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 11, 2026

Liverpool

Iraola is dealing with a lengthy injury list. Hugo Ekitike is out with an Achilles tendon injury until early 2027, while Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from cruciate-ligament reconstruction.

Conor Bradley remains sidelined with a knee problem, expected back in November, while Federico Chiesa is recovering from a muscle injury and Joe Gomez, also dealing with a muscular issue, is at best a substitute option.

The main doubt is Gakpo, who missed the Atletico Madrid match with an adductor complaint and whose involvement has been questioned by his own manager.

Probable Liverpool line-up (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Victor Munoz, Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha; Isak. Manager: Andoni Iraola.

Fulham

Arbeloa’s absentee list is considerably shorter, limited to Tom Cairney and Luc de Fougerolles, both being treated for knee problems. Kenny Tete’s absence against Crystal Palace was a tactical decision rather than an injury, leaving the manager with close to a full squad to work with as he looks for a first win.

Alex Iwobi, the Super Eagles forward and former Arsenal and Everton winger, is expected to feature in the attacking midfield three and remains one of Fulham’s most reliable creative outlets this season.

Probable Fulham line-up (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Andersen, Robinson; Berge, Shea Charles; Iwobi, Josh King, Cesar Palacios; Gonzalo Garcia. Manager: Alvaro Arbeloa.

Star Player Watch: Alexander Isak vs Alex Iwobi

The Managers: Iraola vs Arbeloa

Andoni Iraola, the Spanish coach, took charge of Liverpool in June 2026 on a two-year deal, succeeding Arne Slot, and brought the high-pressing, high-intensity approach from Bournemouth that has appealed to supporters accustomed to Jurgen Klopp’s style.

His side’s early results confirm a team that is aggressive in possession but vulnerable in transition, consistent with the football he produced during three years with the Cherries.

Alvaro Arbeloa, a former full-back who played for Liverpool themselves between 2007 and 2009, returns to Anfield as an opponent in his first major test as a head coach, having previously worked in Real Madrid’s youth and first-team set-ups.

The shift from Marco Silva’s more pragmatic approach to a more expansive system has exposed gaps in defensive cover, the main reason behind the Spaniard’s difficult start at the club.

Tactical Preview: Liverpool vs Fulham

The low-down on Liverpool, by @CottageTactico. 🧐

🔗 https://t.co/ybG4D3jGvW pic.twitter.com/sKlWcMedws

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) September 10, 2026

Both sides prefer to dictate play, though with very different resources to back up that approach at Anfield.

Liverpool are expected to dominate possession and stretch the pitch through wide areas, with Kerkez advancing down the left and the wingers cutting inside, pushing Fulham back and creating opportunities for Isak inside the box.

The key midfield battle will see Mac Allister and Szoboszlai looking to disrupt Fulham’s build-up before Iwobi and Josh King can drive quick transitions of their own.

For Fulham, the probable inclusion of Sander Berge alongside Shea Charles points to a search for greater defensive cover, an attempt to shore up the space between the lines that Liverpool typically target.

The visitors’ challenge is to survive an early onslaught without repeating the mistakes that have cost them goals in each of their first three matches, since taking the lead away at Liverpool rarely proves enough on its own.

Liverpool vs Fulham Betting Tips and Prediction

Liverpool vs Fulham Score Prediction