We’ve got a clash of new managers on Saturday. Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool squad is off to a solid start, while fellow Spaniard Álvaro Arbeloa struggles to get his Fulham side on track. They’ll travel to Anfield seeking important points in front of the Liverpool faithful, but that’s going to be a difficult task.
Liverpool are -220 moneyline favorites for this one on DraftKings Sportsbook, with a draw available at +390. Fulham’s moneyline is set at +550.
Liverpool vs. Fulham Prediction, Pick
So far, it’s an undefeated start for Liverpool under Iraola. After drawing their first two league matches of the season against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, they got back on track in a big way. Their first win under Iraola came against newly promoted Ipswich Town, followed by a resounding 2-1 comeback win against Atletico Madrid in Champions League group play. Bagging two goals in each of their first four matches of the season is a strong sign for an attack they spent so much money on; if the back line is turning a corner, they can start dreaming of trophies.
Trophies may not be in Fulham’s future. Three losses in three Premier League matches weren’t what Arbeloa dreamed of at the beginning of his career at Craven Cottage. But on the bright side, they’ve never looked completely out of a match. They equalized against Chelsea after conceding early and fought hard in the one-goal loss. A 1-0 loss to Sunderland was decided on a 75th-minute goal, and their 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace was a back-and-forth affair involving a fair bit of bad luck for Fulham. You’d never hear a manager talking about bad luck, though; three losses are three losses.
For both sides, the key is a solid back line. Liverpool won’t be happy to have conceded in three of their four matches so far, especially the early-season results against Newcastle and Forest. These things tend to happen with new additions: Ronald Araujo and Jérémy Jacquet will play significant roles and need time to adjust to their new digs. For a team with so much continuity at the back, any new squad members are bound to rustle some feathers. But the steadying presence of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker gives them a significant advantage.
Perhaps Fulham’s defensive struggles to begin the year spurred a bit of urgency at the end of the transfer window. Center-back David Affengruber arrived at the eleventh hour from Spanish side Elche, bolstering a deep veteran group that has been together for some time. Defensive competence has been the foundation of this team, and the erosion of those foundations has proved devastating so far. With so many new and young additions in midfield and attack, they can’t afford subpar defensive results. Sure seems like a time for veteran goalkeeper Bernd Leno to step up and stand on his head.
It’s hard not to like the potential for Liverpool’s attack here. Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, and Alexander Isak are finally looking like the star trio Liverpool thought they’d be assembling last summer. Now that Bradley Barcola is in the fold, they have the attacking power that can overwhelm any defense on the right day. But Fulham are no slouches in attack; youngsters Josh King, César Palacios, and Gonzalo Garcia have all made an early impact, and the goal involvements are coming soon for Oscar Bobb. Though I don’t expect them to keep pace with Liverpool, they’ll put on enough pressure to keep this one exciting.
