MatchThe opposition lowdown: Fulham

In the dugout

A familiar face will be in charge of the visitors to Anfield.

Former Reds defender Alvaro Arbeloa was appointed as their new head coach in July following the departure of Marco Silva.

Signed from Deportivo La Coruna by Liverpool in early 2007, Arbeloa went on to make 98 appearances for the club and score twice.

After two-and-a-half years on Merseyside, he left to join Real Madrid.

Season so far

Fulham are still searching for their first points of the new Premier League season.

Arbeloa’s side have suffered three defeats by a one-goal margin: 2-3 v Chelsea, 0-1 v Sunderland and 2-3 v Crystal Palace.

In between times, they were 3-0 winners at home to AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup second round.

One to watch

Attacking midfielder Josh King has scored two of Fulham’s four goals in the top flight so far this term.

He has been involved in every minute of their three matches.

Heading into the fourth round of Premier League games, King’s tally of 25 touches in the opposition’s box is more than any other player in the division.

Previous meetings

The sides clashed at Anfield in April and Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory courtesy of first-half goals from Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah.

Prior to that in January, they took a point apiece as a dramatic conclusion saw them draw 2-2 at Craven Cottage.

What they said

Arbeloa, Fulham head coach

"It will be so special [to return to Anfield]. I went back when I was a Real Madrid player but now it's my first time as a coach. Anfield will always be a special place for me.

"I played with Andoni [Iraola] in the national team and obviously we faced each other many, many times in La Liga. I know him very, very well. He has been doing amazing work here in the Premier League.

"And now in Liverpool, you can see that they're playing in the style he's always playing with his teams. Of course it will be so difficult for us."

Pre-match stats

• Fulham have won only one of their 11 away Premier League games in 2026 so far (four draws, six defeats), with that victory coming at Sunderland in February
• In the opening three rounds of Premier League fixtures, only Manchester City (95) recorded more 10+ open-play passing sequences than Fulham (56)
• The Cottagers have won only two of their last 16 league meetings with Liverpool