I am covering this game for 5 Live and will be co-commentating with Ian Dennis.
For Fulham, the big talking point is their manager, and whether they will sink any lower under Alvaro Arbeloa. He will be under pressure until he gets his first Premier League win.
Fulham look a little bit lightweight to me and, while Cesar Palacios in midfield and Gonzalo Garcia up front have clearly got something about them, it is always going to be hard for any young player to hit the ground running when they are thrown into the Premier League, especially under a manager who is new too.
If you don’t get off to a good start, you are going to be scrutinised. It is the same for every manager and, while Fulham have got some good attacking players, they are shipping goals at the other end.
To lead twice against Palace, who had also started the season poorly, and still lose makes this game even bigger for Arbeloa.
He is trying to play a high pressing game, and he also wants to dominate the ball, but at the highest level, which the Premier League is, if you are not on point with your press then teams will play through you.
Arbeloa needs a result to kickstart his season, or at least something to grab hold of, and I don’t think it’s impossible for them to get something at Anfield.
I certainly don’t think Liverpool have cracked it after watching them win at Ipswich, and they will give up some chances with their high defensive line too.
Fulham will score, but the problem for Arbeloa is that Liverpool will score more.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-1
Marc on why he follows Fulham: I went to watch Fulham as a really small kid, which was my first memory of ‘big’ football, standing on the terrace at Craven Cottage, and I still go there now whenever we’re not playing. I am friends with the captain, Tom Cairney, so luckily I get to watch them quite a lot. They are quite a unique family club at that level and I really enjoy it, plus it’s a good chance to watch Premier League football.
Marc’s prediction: Fulham have done the opposite of what Brentford did when Thomas Frank left. They don’t just have a new manager to replace Marco Silva, they have a new system and with new players. It’s a big gamble. 3-1
AI’s prediction: 3-1
