Arbeloa Returns to Anfield as Fulham Seek First Points

Alvaro Arbeloa walks back into Anfield on Saturday with no guard of honour, no sentiment in the away dugout and absolutely no margin for error.

His Fulham side arrive bottom of the Premier League, pointless after three games and leaking goals at a worrying rate. Chelsea, Sunderland and Crystal Palace have all beaten the Cottagers, seven goals conceded in the process, and the table already makes grim reading.

Arbeloa, though, has refused to flinch. He has backed the performances, if not the results.

“We create enough chances to win games… we know what we need to do to adjust,” he insisted this week, as he prepared to return to the stadium where he spent a large chunk of his playing career. The message is clear: trust the process, even with the pressure rising.

Liverpool test for winless Cottagers

The problem for Fulham is the timing. Liverpool look sharper.

Arbeloa watched their midweek Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid and came away impressed, talking of a side “improving” and “controlling the games better”. Anfield under the lights is one thing; Anfield on a Saturday afternoon, with a struggling team in town, can be just as unforgiving.

Fulham must find a first point of the season in one of the most hostile arenas in English football. Or at least prove that their early-season wobble is not about to turn into a full-blown crisis.

Team news: stability over surgery

If Fulham are to steady themselves, they will have to do it with largely the same group that has fallen short so far.

Arbeloa confirmed there are no new injury issues. Only Luc De Fougerolles and Tom Cairney remain out, both continuing their recovery from knee problems. There is a small positive: Cairney is expected to edge closer to full training after the upcoming international break, a potential boost to Fulham’s creativity and experience in midfield.

The summer arrivals are edging into the picture. Manuel Angel, David Affengruber and Hugo Larsson all made the matchday squad for the first time in last weekend’s defeat to Crystal Palace, with Larsson getting a brief run-out in the second half. These are the kind of signings meant to deepen the squad; now they may be asked to change its direction.

Arbeloa, though, liked what he saw in the derby despite the result. That points to continuity rather than sweeping changes.

Possible tweak in midfield

There is one area where the Spaniard may roll the dice.

Sander Berge is pushing to start and could replace Oscar Bobb if Arbeloa decides he needs more defensive steel in the middle of the pitch. Away at Anfield, with Liverpool in rhythm, that temptation is obvious. Control the centre or get swept away by the red tide.

Beyond that, the structure looks familiar. A 4-2-3-1 that has shown flashes of fluency but not yet the ruthlessness required at this level.

Fulham’s predicted XI (4-2-3-1):

• Leno;
• Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson;
• Berge, Charles;
• Iwobi, King, Palacios;
• Garcia.

The names are good enough to compete. The question is whether they can finally turn territory and chances into points.

Kick-off details

The Premier League clash at Anfield kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

It falls inside the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout in the UK, so there will be no live television broadcast domestically. Those wanting to track Arbeloa’s Anfield return will have to follow it the old-fashioned way.

Fulham arrive bruised, under scrutiny and still empty-handed. Liverpool arrive building a head of steam.

Something has to give.