Liverpool were forced to settle for a frustrating 0-0 stalemate at Anfield, allowing Fulham to claim their inaugural point of the Premier League campaign. The hosts, who handed a first‑team Premier League debut to Bradley Barcola, looked a little flat on the ball from the opening whistle, still feeling the after‑effects of their demanding Europa League clash against Atletico Madrid. An early mishap from goalkeeper Alisson, when his distribution was intercepted, almost resulted in a goal for Goncalo Garcia, but Jeremy Jacquet was quick to clear the danger.
The Reds did create a genuine chance when Victor Munoz rose to meet a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, only to smash a header against the cross‑bar midway through the first half. Despite a shaky start, Fulham managed to dominate possession for large spells, even though they arrived at Anfield on the back of three consecutive defeats under manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
The second half offered the visitors even clearer opportunities. Josh King unleashed a long‑range effort that forced Alisson to tip the ball wide, while Rodrigo Muniz, after being introduced as a substitute, should have finished a low cross from fellow sub Kevin but failed to control the ball cleanly. In stoppage time, Alexander Isak rose to meet a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai, only to glance his header wide of the target. The draw leaves Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola still searching for his first Premier League win at Anfield.
It is his fourth league match in charge, and he has already drawn three of those games. While the team remains unbeaten, the lack of a victory is beginning to weigh heavily on the squad and supporters alike.
The few positives that emerged from the encounter can largely be credited to former Liverpool player‑turned‑coach Arbeloa, whose side showed resilience despite recent struggles. Key moments of the match: - 12' CLEARED! Garcia’s chance denied by Jacquet after Alisson’s errant pass. - 22' CROSSBAR!
Munoz heads Tsimikas’ corner onto the bar. - 76' SAVE! King fires from distance, Alisson tips over. - 79' MISS!
Kevin’s cross finds Muniz, who fails to control. - 90+1' WIDE!
Isak’s header from Szoboszlai’s corner sails wide. After the final whistle, Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola addressed the media: "Ultimately, this was the easier side for me, for you, for everyone – our players were exhausted. There was a clear lack of freshness, and we cannot pretend otherwise. The turnaround between games was about 60‑plus hours after a massive encounter, which is the worst possible scenario.
This kind of scheduling will happen more often, perhaps with only a day’s rest in between. We have to adapt to these circumstances.
In matches like this, you need to win through set‑pieces, long‑range strikes, or moments of individual brilliance, and we simply didn’t produce any of that today. Offensively we were far below the standards we have shown in other fixtures." On midfield control, Iraola added: "In the first half we were late to press, it was obvious.
We improved that aspect dramatically after the break. The second half saw us more organized and we controlled the game better, even if we didn’t find the net." When asked whether playing at home was a factor, he replied: "I didn’t feel any pressure three days ago against Atletico.
Is it because we haven’t won yet? I don’t know.
I definitely prefer to play at home, but we can’t blame external factors – we have to look inside the pitch for answers." Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also spoke after the match: "When you’re not winning, it’s harder to get your players to buy into your ideas. Winning makes everything easier, but I’ve seen my squad trust the process we’ve built. We executed many things well, but we also made mistakes – and in this league, mistakes are punished.
That’s the reality of the Premier League." He continued: "We need to convert chances when they arise and also maintain a balanced approach, especially during transitions. English teams are quick, and we realised the importance of staying balanced both offensively and defensively.
Since my first day, we’ve trained intensively on transition, and after the Crystal Palace game we refined our approach. This week we focused on staying balanced while in possession." Sky Sports correspondent Adam Bate provided his perspective from Anfield: "There were celebrations on Wednesday when Iraola secured his first Champions League win against Atletico, but that triumph was always inevitable this season. The bigger question has been whether the Basque coach can handle a congested schedule, having impressed at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth without European commitments.
This was his first real test, and Liverpool fell short. They struggled to match the tempo Iraola normally demands, starting sluggishly and never finding the rhythm. Fulham, boosted by attacking subs, looked as likely to take all three points as Liverpool." Bate noted that Iraola’s unbeaten streak as Liverpool manager continues – a run that dates back to his early days with Bournemouth – but home fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Fulham have yielded only two points. "More is needed," he concluded.
Overall, the match highlighted Liverpool’s defensive solidity but exposed a lack of cutting edge in attack, a midfield that was slow to press, and the challenges of maintaining intensity on a tight schedule. For Fulham, the point was a morale‑boosting sign that they can compete against top‑flight opposition, even after a poor start to the season.
Both managers will now turn their attention to the next round of fixtures, hoping to translate lessons learned into victories.