Liverpool host Fulham: clear favourites against still-winless side under new coach
Liverpool welcome Fulham to Anfield on Saturday as firm favourites, with Alvaro Arbeloa's side yet to win under his charge; off the pitch, Fulham captain Calvin Bassey's leadership is also drawing attention.
Match context
Liverpool opened the season with draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest before finding form with wins over Ipswich and Atletico Madrid. Fulham, under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, are still searching for their first Premier League points, making Liverpool clear favourites, according to BBC Sport. However, this is Liverpool's second match in under 72 hours following Wednesday's win over Atletico Madrid, and manager Andoni Iraola wrote in his programme notes that the busy schedule is a challenge he hopes the team can handle throughout the season.
Liverpool line-up
Liverpool's starting XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Tsimikas, Munoz, Barcola, Araujo, Gravenberch. Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Frimpong, Nyoni, Koumas, Ngumoha, per the club's official announcement. Three changes were made from the previous fixture, with Gravenberch, Tsimikas and Victor Munoz replacing Kerkez, Mac Allister and Ngumoha. Cody Gakpo returns to the squad after a fitness issue, though he is named among the substitutes. French forward Barcola, who was forced off with cramp during Wednesday's match against Atletico Madrid, is fit to start. Goalkeeper Alisson, whose contract expires at the end of the season and who attracted interest from Juventus this summer, will remain at the club; Iraola has made him one of his vice-captains, and the 33-year-old Brazilian has started all four league matches so far this season.
Fulham's captaincy story
Ahead of the match, attention has also turned to Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, appointed matchday captain by Arbeloa for the club's opening three Premier League fixtures of the 2026/27 season. The Nigeria international, who joined Fulham in July 2023 on a four-year deal and has made 105 appearances with four goals and one assist, described wearing the armband as "unbelievable," according to Fulham's official media. His composed public demeanour during the club's difficult start has been highlighted as a notable positive, as reported by Afrik-Foot. Nigeria's national team is currently captained by Wilfred Ndidi, but some observers suggest Bassey could be a natural long-term successor for the Super Eagles armband.
