Andoni Iraola feels Liverpool forward Alexander Isak is closing in on peak sharpness.

Isak, who netted in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in Liverpool's opening game of the season, grabbed both goals as the Reds beat Ipswich Town 2-0 last week.

That marked Iraola's first win in charge of Liverpool, who then beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield in their opening Champions League outing.

Liverpool are back in Premier League action when they host Fulham, who have lost all three of their top-flight matches under new boss Alvaro Arbeloa, on Saturday.

And Iraola is confident Isak, who endured an injury-hit campaign last term following his £125m transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool, is not far from his best.

"I think he's doing well. I'm happy with the improvements he's doing game-to-game," Iraola said of Isak.

"Physically, he's in a really good place. I think he moves with confidence and technically we know he is very good. He is understanding better what we need from the number nine position."

Liverpool drew their opening two games 2-2, but after back-to-back wins, Iraola thinks his new team are beginning to click.

He said: "The team has goals. In all of the games, we have been dangerous and created chances.

"We have scored two [in the last two] and could have scored more. Now it's about being more efficient.

"It's about when the goals come because I don't think we're starting games too well. Compare it to Ipswich, the games look more comfortable when you start like this.

"I would like to score the first goal to make things easier, but we have to have the right mentality. The start of games is where I think we can be a bit better."

Fulham boss Arbeloa played 66 times in the Premier League for Liverpool.  Ex-Premier League players for the Reds have lost all five of their managerial games against them in the competition: Paul Ince with Blackburn in December 2008, Mauricio Pellegrino twice with Southampton in 2017-18, and Steven Gerrard twice with Aston Villa in 2021-22.

Arbeloa had to field questions about a reportedly unhappy squad, with Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi having deleted all of their Fulham-related posts off Instagram recently.

"I think you learn more about a group after a defeat than after a win, and they have worked with a very positive attitude this week," said Arbeloa.

"When you're a player and you aren't playing, you can't be happy. I expect that feeling from my players that aren't playing. I want them to show me they aren't happy in our training sessions. That's the most important thing for me.

"I can see how hard they are working. I feel I have a very good group with a very good attitude."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Alexander Isak

Isak has already equalled his Premier League goals return for last season (three) following his brace against Ipswich.

The Sweden forward is looking to score in three successive league matches for the first time since a run of eight between December 2024 and January 2025.

Fulham - Gonzalo Garcia

Only Bryan Mbeumo (49) and Kai Havertz (46) have made more off-ball runs in behind in the Premier League so far this season than Garcia (43).

Just five players have recorded more touches in the opposition's box than Garcia (20), one being Fulham team-mate Josh King, who leads the league with 25.

MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN

Liverpool have only lost two of 33 previous home league games against Fulham (W23 D8), 1-0 defeats in May 2012 and March 2021.

Since completing the double over Liverpool in 2011-12, Fulham have won just two of 16 Premier League games versus the Reds (D4 L10).

Liverpool have drawn each of their last three Premier League games at Anfield. They last had a longer winless run at home in the league between December 2020 and March 2021 (D2 L6).

Fulham are one of two sides in the Premier League this season, along with Coventry City, without a point to their name (L3); only in 1951-52 and 2020-21 have the Cottagers lost their opening four matches of a top-flight league campaign, with both seasons resulting in relegation.

Meanwhile, only Brighton and Hove Albion (16.8%) and Chelsea (18%) have spent a lower proportion of their time in a drawing game state in the Premier League this season than Liverpool (21%).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Liverpool - 64.1%

Draw - 18.5%

Fulham - 17.4%