Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa returns to Anfield for a difficult Premier League assignment against his former club, with both sides carrying significant injury problems. Eight players are expected to be absent when the teams meet, adding extra layers of challenge for Liverpool under Andoni Iraola and for a Fulham side still searching for its first point of the season.
Fulham have lost all three of their Premier League matches so far (Chelsea, Sunderland and Crystal Palace). Liverpool, by contrast, are building momentum: a comfortable 2-0 win at Ipswich was followed by a hard-fought 2-1 Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid.
### Liverpool’s injury list
The biggest immediate concern is Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward missed the Atlético game and is facing a late fitness test.
“Cody we will see. He didn’t train yesterday,” Iraola said. “Today we will try with him and let’s see if he’s ready for tomorrow or we need to wait for the next one.”
If Gakpo is ruled out he will join defender Joe Gomez on the sidelines. Gomez has been recovering from a pre-season injury and has yet to feature this term; this weekend looks likely to come too soon.
Federico Chiesa is also expected to miss out after picking up a muscle injury in the latter stages of pre-season. There is still no clear timetable for his return.
Three longer-term absentees remain: Giovani Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike are all continuing their rehabilitation programmes.
There is better news on Bradley Barcola. The summer signing was substituted with cramp against Atlético but Iraola is optimistic he will be available.
“We still need to train this afternoon. Barcola was just cramps. We have to evaluate how he is today, but there’s no injury. He should, I think, be available, if everything goes normal.”
### Fulham’s limited absences
Fulham’s injury problems are lighter. Club captain Tom Cairney continues his recovery from a minor knee procedure carried out last month and will not feature. Young forward Jonah Kusi-Asare has yet to make a matchday squad this season after dealing with a knee issue last campaign.
### Arbeloa on Iraola
The fixture also marks a reunion between two managers who know each other well from their time in Spain.
“I played with Andoni in the national team, and obviously we faced each other many, many times in La Liga,” Arbeloa said. “I know him very, very well. I saw him when he was the coach of Mirandés, Rayo Vallecano, and after in Bournemouth, so I know that he’s an amazing coach, and I’m not surprised that now he’s the coach of Liverpool.
“He has been doing amazing work here in the Premier League, and now in Liverpool you can see they are playing in the style that he’s always playing with his teams, and of course it will be so difficult for us tomorrow.”
With both squads depleted and Fulham desperate for a result, the Anfield clash carries extra significance for two managers who share history and for two teams heading in very different directions so far this season.
Liverpool vs Fulham: Eight players set to miss Anfield reunion as Arbeloa faces former club
