Liverpool vs Fulham Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Liverpool and Fulham meet at Anfield on Sunday morning New Zealand time in round four of the Premier League. Andoni Iraola’s side are looking for a first home league win of the campaign, while Fulham are still searching for any points at all under Alvaro Arbeloa.

Iraola got off the mark with a 2-0 win at Ipswich last Friday after two 2-2 results to open the season, while Fulham slipped to a third straight defeat despite outperforming Crystal Palace on xG.

In this Liverpool vs Fulham preview, I look at the form for both sides and where I think the value is. I’ve got an angle on the goals market at over $2.00 as one of my lead football tips this week.

Liverpool

Liverpool have five points from three games. Not what anyone expected at Anfield after last summer’s spending, but don’t worry - it’s early days still.

Iraola’s first two matches were messy. Liverpool trailed twice against Forest at home and needed a stoppage-time penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai to rescue a point at Newcastle on the opening day. The Ipswich win felt like a turning point. Alexander Isak scored twice in three minutes - goals in the sixth and ninth - and Cody Gakpo was superb in the creator role, threading both assists.

Isak now has three Premier League goals and looks like the player Liverpool paid £125 million for last summer. That connection with Gakpo on the left could cause Fulham serious problems. Bradley Barcola, who debuted off the bench at Ipswich after his big-money move from PSG, should get more minutes here.

Team News: Bradley and Ekitike are long-term absentees. Chiesa is expected to return to training later in September. Gomez could be available after resuming team training this week. Leoni is still working his way back from an ACL injury.

Predicted Lineup: Alisson; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Tsimikas; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.

Fulham

Fulham has languishing on zero points from three games. That puts them bottom of the table alongside Coventry. 

On paper, it’s grim. But their results don’t tell the whole story. 

Fulham racked up 3.13 xG against Crystal Palace last Saturday and still lost 2-3, conceding a late winner to Ben Chilwell after leading twice. Against Chelsea on the opening day they lost 2-3 again, with Gonzalo Garcia scoring on his league debut. Sunderland away was the one poor performance - a 1-0 defeat where they created little.

Garcia and Palacios have both already scored since arriving from Real Madrid, and Oscar Bobb has added pace since his £27 million move from Manchester City in January. I think Fulham will score goals this season. Defending is a different conversation. Seven conceded in three won’t cut it at Anfield.

Team News: Cairney is out until October with a knee injury. Deadline-day arrivals Manuel Angel and Clarke may be in contention after additional training time.

Predicted Lineup: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Reed; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Bobb; Muniz.

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their opening three Premier League fixtures this season.
• Fulham have lost all three league games, conceding seven goals.
• Liverpool won 2-0 when these sides last met at Anfield in April, ending Fulham’s three-game unbeaten run against the Reds.
• Both teams scored in three of the last four Premier League meetings between these sides.
• Liverpool’s first two league matches this season both finished 2-2.

I’m tipping Liverpool comfortably here. Fulham have been competitive in patches but they can’t defend, and Anfield on a Saturday evening is about the worst place to try and sort that out.

Isak is in form and Gakpo has been Liverpool’s most consistent performer across the first three weeks. Fulham’s backline won’t cope with the pace and movement Liverpool offer, and Barcola could cause further problems if he starts.

I do think Fulham will get on the scoresheet, though. They’ve scored in two of their three defeats and Garcia and Palacios have looked lively. But I can’t see them keeping Liverpool quiet at home. I’m going 2-1 or 3-1 Liverpool.

For those tracking odds on new betting sites, the goals markets look the way in here.

Liverpool to Win and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.20

Liverpool need to win and they’ve got the attacking talent to do it in style. Isak has three league goals already and Gakpo has one of his own plus two assists. Barcola adds another option from the start or off the bench.

Fulham haven’t kept a clean sheet all season and I expect Liverpool to score at least twice at home. With Fulham’s attacking newcomers capable of nicking one, over 2.5 feels likely.

At $2.20 on the best betting apps available in New Zealand, it’s a price I’m happy to back.