Liverpool return to Anfield on Saturday looking to build on a solid, if not always convincing, start under Andoni Iraola. The Reds have taken five points from their opening three Premier League games and followed their 2-0 win at Ipswich with a spirited 2-1 Champions League comeback against Atletico Madrid.
Fulham arrive in a far tougher position. Álvaro Arbeloa’s new side sit 19th after three straight league defeats, and their 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace was especially damaging after they led twice. There is talent in their younger attacking group, but the defensive problems have been hard to ignore.
Liverpool have also had some early issues when defending transitions, conceding twice against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Yet they have enough quality across the pitch to punish a Fulham team that has conceded seven goals in three league matches.
Alexander Isak has four goals in four competitive appearances, while new signing Bradley Barcola looked lively on his first Liverpool start against Atletico. With Florian Wirtz supplying the creativity behind the striker, I expect Liverpool to create enough clear chances to win by a margin.
Our prediction is Liverpool 3-0 Fulham, with Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5 at odds of 2.20 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5
Market: Asian Handicap
Correct Score Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Fulham
Odds: 2.20
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Expected Goals: Over 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: No
📅 Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: Anfield
🏆 Competition: Premier League
Match Preview
Iraola has made an unbeaten start to life as Liverpool manager, with his side recording two wins and two draws in four competitive games. Every one of those matches has brought exactly two Liverpool goals, although the performances have not been without rough edges. Liverpool trailed at Newcastle, against Nottingham Forest and against Atletico before showing the character to recover.
The Atletico result was encouraging because Liverpool adjusted well after a difficult opening. Ronald Araujo assisted Dominik Szoboszlai’s equaliser, then Alexis Mac Allister struck the winner early in the second half. Iraola wants his full-backs to support attacks and his midfielders to arrive late in the area, which gives Liverpool several runners beyond their front line rather than leaving Isak isolated.
Isak is the focal point and his early return of four goals in four games speaks for itself. Wirtz has been central to the creative work behind him, while Szoboszlai and Mac Allister add energy, pressing and goal threat from midfield. Barcola, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha give Iraola different wide options, and Barcola’s speed should be useful against a Fulham defence that has struggled when opponents attack quickly.
Fulham have had bright moments under Arbeloa, but they have not turned them into points. They scored twice against Chelsea and twice against Crystal Palace, with Josh King scoring in both games, but have still lost all three league fixtures. The Sunderland defeat was another concern: Fulham had 58% possession but failed to register a shot on target.
Arbeloa has stuck with a 4-2-3-1 and wants an aggressive, proactive team. Oscar Bobb gives them a direct option from the right, César Palacios scored against Palace, and Gonzalo García is the regular striker after his summer move from Real Madrid. However, this remains a young, newly assembled attacking group, and the balance behind them has not been right often enough.
Fulham’s settled back four of Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey and Antonee Robinson has conceded in every league match. They led Palace twice at Craven Cottage but still allowed three goals, all scored by Palace’s left-sided defenders or wing-backs. Anfield is a far less forgiving place to make those mistakes.
View More Betting Tips
For more weekend selections, visit our latest football betting tips and see our weekend football accumulator for multiple-match picks.
Why Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5 Makes Sense
The straight Liverpool win is likely to be short, so the handicap gives us a better price. At 2.20, Liverpool need to win by at least two goals for Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5 to land. That is demanding, but it fits the difference in attacking depth and Fulham’s early defensive record.
Fulham have conceded seven goals in three Premier League matches and have yet to keep a league clean sheet. Their high-energy approach can make them competitive for spells, but it has also left Andersen and Bassey exposed when games open up. Liverpool have enough pace and technical quality in wide areas to stretch that back line, particularly if Barcola and Munoz are able to run at the full-backs.
The home side’s midfield should also matter. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai can play through pressure, while Wirtz can find pockets between Fulham’s midfield and defence. If Fulham push their full-backs on or lose the ball in poor areas, Liverpool have the players to turn that into quick attacks around Isak.
The main risk is Liverpool’s own habit of conceding first or allowing opponents chances in transition. Fulham have scored four league goals and King, Palacios and García can hurt a team that starts slowly. Still, Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Ipswich showed they can control an away match and keep a clean sheet, while Fulham’s only away league game so far ended in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland without a shot on target.
For me, Liverpool are capable of winning this comfortably once they establish control. The -1.5 line asks them to turn superiority into a two-goal margin, but 2.20 is a fair price for that outcome.
- ✓Liverpool are unbeaten in four competitive matches under Andoni Iraola.
- ✓Liverpool have scored exactly two goals in each of their first four competitive games.
- ✓Alexander Isak has scored four goals in four competitive appearances this season.
- ✓Fulham have lost all three Premier League matches under Álvaro Arbeloa.
- ✓Fulham have conceded seven goals in three league matches.
- ✓Fulham have no Premier League clean sheet this season.
- ✓Liverpool won the latest meeting 2-0 at Anfield in April 2026.
- ✓Fulham have not won any of their last three competitive visits to Anfield.
Team News
Liverpool remain without Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni. Ekitike’s Achilles injury leaves Isak as the clear senior centre-forward, although Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns have been among the recent matchday options.
Cody Gakpo missed the Atletico match with adductor niggles and remains a doubt. Barcola and Milos Kerkez were both substituted with cramp in midweek rather than injury, so each should be in contention. Joe Gomez had been expected back in training after a muscle problem, but his match readiness remains uncertain.
Fulham’s clear absence is club captain Tom Cairney, who is recovering from a knee injury. Arbeloa otherwise has options after recent arrivals Hugo Larsson, Manuel Ángel and David Affengruber were named on the bench against Crystal Palace. The likely midfield call is whether Shea Charles keeps his place alongside Alex Iwobi or Sander Berge returns to add more defensive experience.
Possible Starting Lineups
Liverpool Possible XI
Alisson Becker; Ronald Araujo; Jeremy Jacquet; Virgil van Dijk; Milos Kerkez; Dominik Szoboszlai; Alexis Mac Allister; Bradley Barcola; Florian Wirtz; Victor Munoz; Alexander Isak
Fulham Possible XI
Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne; Joachim Andersen; Calvin Bassey; Antonee Robinson; Shea Charles; Alex Iwobi; Oscar Bobb; Josh King; César Palacios; Gonzalo García
Players to Watch
Alexander Isak — Liverpool
Isak has made an immediate impact with four goals in four competitive appearances. Fulham have not looked comfortable defending their box this season, and Liverpool’s main striker should get opportunities if Wirtz and the wide players find him early.
Bradley Barcola — Liverpool
Barcola did not score against Atletico, but he created two clear chances for himself on his first start. His direct running and pace can test Castagne, while Liverpool will look to get him isolated against Fulham’s right side.
Josh King — Fulham
King has scored two of Fulham’s four league goals and has been their most productive player in the number 10 role. He will need to find space around Liverpool’s midfield pairing if Fulham are to offer a serious threat.
Gonzalo García — Fulham
García has started every Premier League game and gives Fulham a focal point up front. He scored against Chelsea and will be important when Fulham try to turn Liverpool’s transition issues into chances.
Head-to-Head
Liverpool won the latest meeting 2-0 at Anfield in April 2026, with Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah scoring before half-time. The reverse league fixture in January finished 2-2 at Craven Cottage.
Across the last five competitive meetings, Fulham have one win, two draws and two defeats. Their recent Anfield record is less encouraging, with no win in their last three competitive visits; Liverpool won the April league meeting and the January 2024 League Cup semi-final first leg, while the other game ended 2-2.
Final Verdict
Fulham have enough attacking movement to make Liverpool work, particularly if King and García can exploit space on the counter. But the visitors have not shown they can defend consistently under Arbeloa, and travelling to Anfield is an unforgiving test for a side with no league points.
Liverpool’s pressing, midfield runners and attacking options should gradually push Fulham back. Isak is in strong form, Wirtz can unlock the central areas, and Barcola gives the Reds another fast outlet from the left.
The risk is that Liverpool again concede from a transition, but I expect Iraola’s side to spend most of the afternoon on the front foot and create enough to cover the line. At 2.20, Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5 remains the best bet. The correct-score prediction is Liverpool 3-0 Fulham.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Liverpool should have too much attacking quality for a Fulham side still searching for its first Premier League point under Arbeloa. The handicap is the preferred route because a narrow home win is not enough, but Liverpool have the players and the home advantage to make this a more comfortable result.
Best Bet: Liverpool Asian Handicap -1.5
Odds: 2.20
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Correct Score: Liverpool 3-0 Fulham
