Preview: Unbeaten Liverpool play Arbeloa’s work-in-progress Fulham side
By Sam McGuire The story of the season The Reds followed up their 2-0 win against Ipswich Town with a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening. It hasn’t yet clicked for Liverpool under Iraola but there have been promising glimpses. Alexander Isak has been amongst the goals and was a pressing machine against Atleti in Europe. Cody Gakpo has looked like a completely different player under the Spanish tactician too while new signings Ronald Araújo, Jérémy Jacquet, Víctor Muñoz and Bradley Barcola have all settled relatively quickly. Barcola, the latest £100m addition for the Merseysiders, was subbed off early against the Spanish side with cramp. Whether he’ll be risked again from the off against Fulham is the big question. Alexis Mac Allister, whose future is no in doubt after the player confirmed the club wouldn’t be offering him a new deal, scored the winner against Atlético in midweek and has looked sharp since coming into the team to replace Ryan Gravenberch. The Reds, believe it or not, are still unbeaten under the Spanish tactician. Under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham have played three in the Premier League and lost three. They lost to Chelsea in their season opener, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland and then twice had the lead against Crystal Palace before losing 3-2. Despite amassing an Expected Goals total of 3.14 against the Eagles, they weren’t able to claim that decisive goal before Ben Chilwell’s late winner. Perhaps surprisingly, Arbeloa’s side have the joint sixth highest xG in the Premier League this term, along with their hosts on Saturday, and higher than Arsenal, for example. Their performances haven’t yet matched their results. Key Players There’s been a lot of focus on Liverpool’s attack after adding £150m worth of talent this summer in Barcola and Muñoz, 12 months after spending £300m on Hugo Ekitike, Isak and Florian Wirtz. Yet the key player for the Reds over recent weeks has been Ronald Araújo. The centre-back-cum-right-back has helped shore things up defensively for Iraola’s side and the full-back role now feels like it’s his to lose having usurped Jeremie Frimpong. Fulham’s key player is the in demand Joshua King. He scored against Chelsea and Crystal Palace and he’s now an important player in Arbeloa’s new look attack. His ability to find pockets of space is going to cause Liverpool’s double pivot some issues. His shooting technique makes him dangerous from distance too.
By Sam McGuire
The story of the season
The Reds followed up their 2-0 win against Ipswich Town with a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening.
It hasn’t yet clicked for Liverpool under Iraola but there have been promising glimpses.
Alexander Isak has been amongst the goals and was a pressing machine against Atleti in Europe. Cody Gakpo has looked like a completely different player under the Spanish tactician too while new signings Ronald Araújo, Jérémy Jacquet, Víctor Muñoz and Bradley Barcola have all settled relatively quickly.
Barcola, the latest £100m addition for the Merseysiders, was subbed off early against the Spanish side with cramp. Whether he’ll be risked again from the off against Fulham is the big question.
Alexis Mac Allister, whose future is no in doubt after the player confirmed the club wouldn’t be offering him a new deal, scored the winner against Atlético in midweek and has looked sharp since coming into the team to replace Ryan Gravenberch.
The Reds, believe it or not, are still unbeaten under the Spanish tactician.
Under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham have played three in the Premier League and lost three.
They lost to Chelsea in their season opener, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland and then twice had the lead against Crystal Palace before losing 3-2.
Despite amassing an Expected Goals total of 3.14 against the Eagles, they weren’t able to claim that decisive goal before Ben Chilwell’s late winner.
Perhaps surprisingly, Arbeloa’s side have the joint sixth highest xG in the Premier League this term, along with their hosts on Saturday, and higher than Arsenal, for example.
Their performances haven’t yet matched their results.
Key Players
There’s been a lot of focus on Liverpool’s attack after adding £150m worth of talent this summer in Barcola and Muñoz, 12 months after spending £300m on Hugo Ekitike, Isak and Florian Wirtz.
Yet the key player for the Reds over recent weeks has been Ronald Araújo. The centre-back-cum-right-back has helped shore things up defensively for Iraola’s side and the full-back role now feels like it’s his to lose having usurped Jeremie Frimpong.
Fulham’s key player is the in demand Joshua King. He scored against Chelsea and Crystal Palace and he’s now an important player in Arbeloa’s new look attack. His ability to find pockets of space is going to cause Liverpool’s double pivot some issues. His shooting technique makes him dangerous from distance too.
Team News
The visitors are without the injured Tom Cairney but aside from that, Arbeloa has a full squad to choose from.
Liverpool are still without Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley while Fede Chiesa is expected to be out for a few more weeks with a back injury. Joe Gomez might finally return from the injury sustained in pre-season.
Prediction
The numbers suggest Fulham are due a win at some point but with the Reds grinding out results under Iraola, we’re going to stick with a narrow Liverpool win, likely 2-1.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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