Liverpool vs Fulham: A Crucial Test at Anfield
Liverpool finally have a win on the board. What they do not yet have is a complete performance.
Andoni Iraola’s side brushed aside newly promoted Ipswich Town last weekend, yet the manner of the 3-0 victory left a curious aftertaste. Ruthless in moments, comfortable on the scoreboard, but still short of that relentless, 90‑minute Liverpool most expected to see by now.
Alexander Isak did the early damage at Portman Road, striking twice inside the first 10 minutes to silence the home crowd and settle any nerves. From there, Liverpool managed the game rather than seized it. They didn’t need to dominate possession or pin Ipswich back for long spells; the contest felt over before it had really begun.
For a fanbase that had just watched back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest to open the campaign, seeing Isak so sharp, so clinical, mattered more than the aesthetics. Goals change moods. Two in 10 minutes transform them.
Now comes a different kind of test. Fulham at Anfield, under the lights of expectation rather than jeopardy.
Fulham dangerous despite slow start
On paper, Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham arrive in trouble: three games, zero points. That doesn’t tell the whole story.
They have scored multiple goals in two of those three matches, which is not the profile of a side devoid of ideas. The early fixtures have been unforgiving. Chelsea and Sunderland put them away decisively in weeks one and two, exposing a soft underbelly that Arbeloa must harden quickly.
Then came Crystal Palace. Fulham lost 3-2, but this time the narrative was different. They carried a real threat, asked questions, and could argue they deserved more than another empty-handed walk back to the dressing room. “Hard done by” fits. So does “dangerous if you let them hang around.”
Liverpool have been warned.
Team news: Liverpool stretched, Fulham lighter
Iraola’s options remain trimmed in key areas.
Liverpool are without Hugo Ekitike (achilles), Conor Bradley (torn ACL), Federico Chiesa (back), Joe Gomez (undisclosed) and Giovanni Lenoi (torn ACL). That is a significant chunk of depth removed before autumn has even settled in, forcing continuity in some positions and caution in others.
Fulham’s absentee list is far shorter but still notable. Tom Cairney misses out with a knee problem, taking experience and composure out of Arbeloa’s midfield rotation.
How to watch
Kick-off is set for 10 am ET on Saturday, September 12, at Anfield. The match will be shown on Peacock in the U.S., with streaming available live on the same platform.
Prediction: Can Liverpool finally sustain it?
This is where Liverpool should show their teeth.
They have the superior squad, the home crowd, and a striker in Isak who has already found his rhythm. Fulham have shown they can score, but they have also shown they can be opened up, often and painfully, by better sides.
If Liverpool strike early again, Anfield could see a more assertive, front-foot display than the controlled stroll at Ipswich. The demand from the stands will be clear: not just three points, but a statement that this season’s Liverpool can impose themselves for the full 90.
Fulham, still searching for their first point, must decide whether to trade blows or try to ride out the storm. Either way, this feels less like a gentle September fixture and more like a crossroads for both teams’ early-season storylines.
