Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

We saw Bradley Barcola get his first Liverpool start on Wednesday night in the Champions League and that was down the right-hand side.

Today, the Frenchman starts down his preferred left hand side while it's Victor Munoz down the right for Liverpool.

We are under way in Aston, Boscombe, two bits of London and Anfield.

John Southall
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at Stamford Bridge

I don't think I've ever seen eight goals in a second half before (following Chelsea's 6-3 victory against Leeds). Watching Chelsea, I've had 19 goals in the last 3 games, so where has Xabi Alonso been all my career.

When I spoke to him on Wednesday, he said 'I wouldn't mind a 0-0' and I said 'I know where you're coming from Xabi!' - but I don't think that'll come today.

I think today will be calmer, but I suspect Hull will sit in and make it hard for Chelsea. It's these kinds of opponents that Chelsea have struggled against in recent years, so let's see if the Alonso blueprint can change that.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

It is a wonderful day in west London and the sun is shining down on Stamford Bridge.

The feeling around Chelsea is much-improved with the fans louder than in recent seasons after a positive start under Xabi Alonso.

The away supporters in attendance are also audible from our vantage point in the press box and adding to the occasion.

Image source, Getty Images

Cole Palmer is making his 100th appearance for Chelsea in the Premier League.

Hull striker Oli McBurnie is making his 100th appearance in England's top flight.

Players are coming out of the tunnels now across England. Remember we have five different Premier League games at 15:00 BST.

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score commentator at the Vitality Stadium

There's a saying you can tell a town is on the up by the number of cranes you can see in the sky.

You could apply a version of that to Europe-bound AFC Bournemouth this season. Diggers surround the ground as builders start to grow the stadium to meet their growing stature in English football.

However, it's not been the best start domestically for the home side, with no league wins.

And in Brentford, they face a side they haven't beaten since they met in the first leg of the Championship play-off on 17 May 2021.

But the visitors have lost leads to late goals recently. So the door could be left open to get the Cherries a win before they jet off to Spain.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Liverpool stuttered out of the blocks when the season started with two draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but Andoni Iraola's side have found form recently with wins against Ipswich and Atletico Madrid.

Given Fulham's winless start under Alvaro Arbeloa, Liverpool are strong favourites here but it is less than 72 hours since they last played.

In his programme notes, Iraola writes: "While it [the schedule] is a challenge, it is one I hope we can face right through this season."

As such, Iraola's three changes aren't a surprise and today we will get a first real look at how this side and their manager copes with two games a week.

Joel Ward
Former Crystal Palace defender on 5 Live

What I have seen so far is that Chelsea are quite fluid in the way that they set up. Looking at their line-up today, there's so many different options that they've got.

They can go into a back four, they can play a back three.

Reece James can go into right-back, Malo Gusto can go into right-back, Jorrell Hato can go into left wing-back so there's so many different options. I think Xabi Alonso is trying to find his best-suited team for facing different types of opposition.

I like continuity. That's when you start to build those partnerships. What Chelsea have got with the addition of a couple of players is players that have played for a long period of time and add in a little bit of quality and experience.

They'll form those partnerships and you'll see a Chelsea side that are going to be exciting on the attacking front, but they're also going to shore up their defence.

That's why they're bringing in the likes of Maxence Lacroix and Emiliano Martinez in goal, to provide that experience and help the young guys alongside them.

Joel Ward
Former Crystal Palace defender on 5 Live

I think Chelsea are probably going to look at stopping conceding so many goals. They need to. To give themselves the best chance they need to shore up their defence.

Playing a system with wing-backs, you want the defenders to be pushing on and getting involved in the game, especially with the players they've got. Whilst playing with three at the back and two in the middle, Chelsea have got enough numbers to be solid and move across and up the pitch to nullify the opposition. As they play more together, they'll understand each other's roles within the shape that they do.

Joel Ward
Former Crystal Palace defender on 5 Live

Today's going to be a real test but with the quality that Palace have, I think they'll come out on top. Ipswich are going to pose their threats, a little bit fragile defensively, but they'll put up a fight on the attack.

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter at Stamford Bridge

Image source, Getty Images

There’s been a lot of talk about the amount of new players that Hull City have signed this season but I spoke to one of their stalwarts Regan Slater pre-match and he said the core of the squad from last season have been key to creating their brilliant team spirit so far in this campaign.

And it’s interesting that in today’s starting 11, which is the same team that beat Manchester United, there are eight players who took part in the play-off final win back in May.

There’s also a great connection between the Hull City fans and the players. The away supporters were in the stadium very early, giving the players a tremendous reception.

Of course, Sergei Jakirovic’s side will up against it against Chelsea’s frightening front three but Slater told me getting the basics right today will be the key to staying in the game.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at Villa Park

While Jair Cunha and Nikola Milenkovic did travel to Villa Park, Oliver Glasner has opted not to risk them for Nottingham Forest.

The defenders felt some tightness in their hamstrings following training on Friday so have been left out of the squad.

It is a frustrating end to a fine week for Cunha after the 21-year-old was handed his first senior Brazil call up.

Niall McCaughan
BBC Final Score at Villa Park

The absence of the Serbian's name on the team sheet has brought a sense of discomfort to Forest fans, who head to Villa Park hoping to see their side win a first Premier League game of the season.

Along with fellow centre-back Jair Cunha - who earned his first Brazil call up this week - the mysterious omission of the duo from not just the starting 11 but the entire squad got even those most experienced of Forest reporters in the press box perplexed.

The rumours are that both players have suffered hamstring injuries, with Ola Aina to play at right centre-half and Daniel Munoz making his full Forest debut at right wing-back.

Not ideal for Forest, who haven't won at Aston Villa since 1994.

Aadam Patel
BBC Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Alisson's deal expires at the end of the season and although Juventus were interested in the goalkeeper this summer, Liverpool had no intention of letting him leave.

Andoni Iraola appointed Alisson one of his vice-captains and the 33-year-old has started all four games - three in the Premier League and Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid - so far this season. He remains comfortably their best goalkeeper, even if he is not at his peak.

Liverpool are not short of options. However, Giorgi Mamardashvili has not fully convinced thus far and 18-year-old Lucca Brughmans, who will arrive next summer from Genk in a deal worth up to £30m, is unlikely to be viewed as an immediate first choice.

Alisson has been one of Liverpool's best players during a period in which they won two Premier League titles and a Champions League, and the new sporting director will have to decide whether to try to keep him at Anfield next season.

The same can be said of skipper Virgil van Dijk, who is out of contract at the end of this season.

Having lost senior figures Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of 2025-26, Liverpool need experience, so losing both Alisson and Van Dijk in the same summer would carry risk.

After an extended break following the World Cup, 35-year-old Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool's league campaign so far and, although he may not be quite the force he once was, he is still comfortably one of Europe's best centre-backs.

Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye have huge potential and the new sporting director may view Van Dijk as the perfect player for them to learn from.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool are chasing a third win in the space of eight days after Andoni Iraola's first Premier League victory as Reds boss, a comfortable 2-0 success at Ipswich, was followed by Wednesday's victory over Atletico Madrid in his first Champions League match as a manager.

Alexander Isak scored twice at Portman Road, meaning he has already equalled his league tally from an injury-disrupted 2025-26 campaign, and the Swede is now aiming to score in three consecutive top-flight games for the first time in 18 months.

Summer signing Bradley Barcola, meanwhile, is set to make his first Premier League appearance at Anfield. His home debut in midweek did not quite go to plan, with the 24-year-old missing some clear-cut chances before being forced off with cramp after an hour.

Barcola will be keen to open his account sooner rather than later, and a game against opponents who historically struggle on Merseyside could provide the ideal opportunity to begin repaying his sizeable transfer fee.

Liverpool have lost only two of their 33 home league matches versus Fulham and won 2-0 when the sides last met in April.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham are one of two pointless sides in this season's Premier League, along with newly promoted Coventry City, and a fourth straight defeat would leave the omens looking a little bleak for the west Londoners.

The only previous top-flight campaigns in which they lost their opening four matches were 1951-52 and 2020-21, with both seasons ending in relegation.

The Whites, who host Manchester United next weekend in their final game before the three-week international break, have shown plenty of attacking endeavour under new boss Arbeloa and lead the league for touches in the opposition box.

But they have been alarmingly open out of possession, conceding a league-high 14 big chances and recording an expected goals against figure of 6.2, the second highest in the top flight.

Arbeloa spent two and a half years at Liverpool and came off the bench in their Champions League final defeat by AC Milan in 2007.

But history offers little encouragement on his return to Anfield. Liverpool have won all five previous Premier League matches against managers who represented the club as players in the competition.

Emma Jones
BBC London

Well, it hasn't been the best start for Fulham, has it? Three Premier League games played and three defeats.

Fulham fans might have been excited by what they saw in a thrilling first competitive match under Arbeloa, but it was ultimately a loss, at home to Chelsea.

But then there were no shots on target in a defeat at Sunderland, before they couldn't hold on to the lead, twice, against Crystal Palace.

Alvaro Arbeloa said he takes responsibility for the things that aren't quite going right, but has also asked for patience. It will take time for a new manager, in a new league, with new players, to fully settle.

Those new players include several from Real Madrid, including Gonzalo Garcia, who got a goal on his Premier League debut.

Meanwhile, Josh King has already scored twice this season has said he knows other players need to step up after the loss of Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez.

Favourites for the drop? I have seen more than a few pundits suggesting Fulham should finish comfortably mid-table.

However, they do need to pick up some points soon, with Liverpool and Manchester United to play before the international break.

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

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson misses only his second Premier League match since August 2024 this afternoon.

The England shot-stopper - who has started 78 of Palace's last 79 matches in the competition - misses out as he continues to manage a foot injury.

Adam Wharton wears the captain's armband in his absence.