Liverpool were unable to break the deadlock at Anfield, settling for a goalless draw while Fulham earned their inaugural point of the Premier League campaign. The match unfolded with both sides showing moments of promise, but neither could find the decisive finish. From the kickoff, Liverpool appeared a touch sluggish, a lingering effect of the demanding fixture against Atletico Madrid just days earlier. The Reds handed a first‑team Premier League debut to Bradley Barcola, yet the young winger struggled to find rhythm in the opening exchanges.
Early on, goalkeeper Alisson made a mis‑control that nearly resulted in a goal for the visitors when Goncalo Garcia pounced, only to be denied by a quick clearance from Jeremy Jacquet. The first half saw Liverpool flirt with danger when Victor Munoz rose to meet a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, only to see his header smash against the crossbar midway through the period.
Despite the miss, Liverpool’s possession remained limited as Fulham, under the guidance of Alvaro Arbeloa, managed to dominate large swathes of the pitch. The Cottagers had been struggling, having dropped their opening three league games, but they displayed a surprising amount of composure and control at Anfield. In the second half, Fulham continued to press forward and generated the clearer chances of the encounter. Josh King unleashed a long‑range effort that forced Alisson to tip the ball wide of the post, while a promising move saw substitute Kevin thread a low cross to Rodrigo Muniz, who failed to settle the ball cleanly and missed the opportunity to put Fulham ahead.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Alexander Isak found space at the far end and attempted a header from a Szoboszlai corner, but his effort glanced wide, leaving the scoreline unchanged. The stalemate leaves Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola still searching for his first Premier League victory at Anfield. To date, he has drawn three of his first four league matches at the historic ground, a record that reflects an unbeaten run but also a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.
The positives, according to many observers, belong largely to Arbeloa, who has managed to instill belief in a Fulham side that had been win‑less up to this point. Key moments of the match included: - 12' – Alisson’s error nearly rewarded Garcia, but Jacquet cleared the danger. - 22' – Munoz’s header from Tsimikas’ corner struck the crossbar.
- 76' – King’s long‑range shot forced Alisson to tip the ball over the bar. - 79' – Kevin’s cross found Muniz, who could not control the ball for a finish.
- 90+1' – Isak’s header from Szoboszlai’s corner drifted wide of the target. After the final whistle, Iraola addressed the media, acknowledging the fatigue that had plagued his squad.
"In the end, this is the easier one for me, for you, for everyone – our players were tired. I think there is a lack of freshness, definitely.
We cannot hide it," he said. He reflected on the demanding schedule, noting the "worst turnaround" of just over 60 hours between matches following the high‑stakes Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.
"We have to adapt to these circumstances. It's this kind of game that you need to win, sometimes with a set piece, sometimes with a shot from the edge, sometimes from a moment of brilliance from the offensive players and we haven't had that today.
We've been clearly not as good offensively as we've been in other days," Iraola added. Regarding midfield control, Iraola admitted that Liverpool were late to press in the first half, but highlighted an improvement after the break.
"I think we improved this part a lot in the second half. I think we've been better structured, I think we controlled better the game in the second half, even without scoring the goal," he explained. When asked whether playing at home was a factor, Iraola responded, "I didn't feel it three days ago against Atletico Madrid.
Is it because we haven't won? I don't know. I prefer to play at home, definitely I prefer to play at home.
We cannot find the reasons outside, we have to find the reasons inside the pitch." Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also spoke after the match, emphasizing the importance of belief even when results are not forthcoming. "I know that when you are not winning games, it's not so easy that your players believe in your ideas. I know everything is easy when you win but they believe in the way that we have been working and I showed them the things that we were doing so well," Arbeloa said. He highlighted the fine margins in the Premier League, noting that mistakes are quickly punished.
"If you have chances, try to take those chances but also to be a little bit more balanced and control the transition against a team when all teams here in England have quick players. I think we did better and we realised how important it is to be balanced," he added. Arbeloa reflected on the team's recent training focus, particularly on transitions, and how the lesson from the earlier Crystal Palace defeat informed their approach. "From my first day, we trained so hard about the transition.
But I think everything changed after the Crystal Palace game because I think we have been working all this week, but in the first week also, how important it is to be balanced when you have the ball," he explained. Sky Sports correspondent Adam Bate offered a broader perspective on the match, recalling the celebratory mood at Anfield after Iraola's first Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid. He noted that the victory was always expected at some point, but the real question now revolves around how the Basque coach will manage the congested schedule that comes with European commitments. "One of the themes of this Liverpool season was always likely to be how the Basque coach would be able to cope with an increased schedule, having impressed at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth without the added challenge of European commitments.
This was the first test of that and Liverpool did not pass it. They were unable to play at the tempo that Iraola usually demands, starting slowly and struggling to raise the level.
Fulham, with an injection of attacking substitutes of their own, looked as likely to win it," Bate wrote. Iraola's unbeaten run as Liverpool manager persists, extending back to his early days with the Cherries in January, but his home record remains modest with only two points from the matches against Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
The consensus among pundits is that more decisive performances are required if Liverpool are to fulfill their ambitions this season. Overall, the match served as a reminder of the fine margins in top‑flight football.
While Liverpool maintained an unbeaten streak, the lack of goals and the evident fatigue raised questions about squad rotation and tactical flexibility. For Fulham, securing a point at Anfield represented a significant morale boost and a sign that their hard work under Arbeloa is beginning to translate into tangible results on the pitch.