Liverpool were unable to break the deadlock at Anfield, settling for a 0-0 draw that handed Fulham their inaugural point of the Premier League campaign. The hosts, who handed Bradley Barcola his first league start, appeared a touch sluggish from the first whistle, still feeling the after‑effects of their demanding Europa League clash against Atletico Madrid. An early mistake from goalkeeper Alisson was narrowly averted when Goncalo Garcia saw his chance snatched away by Jeremy Jacquet's timely clearance. The Reds came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half when Victor Munoz rose to meet a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, only to see his header crash against the crossbar.
Despite the disappointment, Liverpool struggled to dominate possession, while Fulham, despite a bleak start to the season under Alvaro Arbeloa – having lost their opening three fixtures – managed to keep the ball and dictate tempo for large spells of the game. The second half offered Fulham the sharper opportunities. Josh King unleashed a long‑range effort that forced Alisson to tip the ball wide of the post, and later, substitute Kevin delivered a low cross that found Rodrigo Muniz in a promising position; however, Muniz failed to control the ball cleanly and the chance evaporated. In stoppage time, Alexander Isak rose to meet a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai, but his header drifted just beyond the far post, leaving the scoreline unchanged.
Andoni Iraola’s tenure at Liverpool continues without a win at Anfield in the Premier League; he has now drawn three of his first four league fixtures. While the team remains unbeaten, the lack of victories is increasingly untenable. The positives, according to many observers, belong largely to former Liverpool player‑turned‑coach Arbeloa, who has managed to extract a disciplined performance from his side.
Key moments of the match: - 12' – Alisson’s mishandling nearly leads to a goal, but Jacquet clears the danger. - 22' – Munoz’s header smashes against the bar after a well‑taken corner. - 76' – King’s long‑range strike is tipped over by Alisson.
- 79' – Kevin’s cross finds Muniz, who cannot settle the ball for a finish. - 90+1' – Isak’s header from Szoboszlai’s corner sails wide.
Post‑match, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola addressed the media, acknowledging the fatigue that 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 went on to highlight the unusual turnaround time between fixtures: "I think it's the worst turnaround in terms of 60‑something hours between the games, after a very big game the other day.
But this is going to happen more times, maybe with one more day, maybe. Sometimes it will happen the same way during the season." Iraola stressed the need for adaptability, noting that a win often comes from set‑pieces, long‑range attempts, or moments of individual brilliance – elements that were missing on the day. He admitted Liverpool were not as incisive offensively as they have been in other outings.
Regarding midfield control, Iraola said, "Especially in the first half, we were arriving late to the presses. It's clear. I think we improved this part a lot in the second half.
We were better structured and controlled the game better in the second half, even without scoring." When asked whether playing at home was a factor, he replied, "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, reflecting on the challenges of maintaining belief 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," he said.
Arbeloa praised his side’s resilience, acknowledging mistakes but emphasizing the league’s unforgiving nature: "If you make mistakes, they will punish you. That's the league, that's the level and we need to understand how important it is." He added that balance and transition are crucial in a league where speed is abundant: "If you have chances, try to take those chances but also 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." The manager highlighted the evolution of his training focus since the early weeks of the season, particularly after the Crystal Palace defeat: "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." Sky Sports correspondent Adam Bate offered his perspective, noting the contrast between the euphoria of Iraola’s Champions League win over Atletico Madrid and the reality of his domestic challenges.
He observed that the increased fixture congestion – a new test for the Basque coach who previously thrived without European commitments at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth – appeared to expose a shortfall in Liverpool’s ability to sustain the high tempo he demands. Bate wrote, "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." While Iraola’s unbeaten run as Liverpool’s manager continues – a streak that dates back to his successful spell with the Cherries in January – the home draws against Nottingham Forest and now Fulham have yielded only two points, underscoring the urgency for a breakthrough victory. Overall, the match was a tactical battle that ended without goals but provided valuable insights into both coaches’ philosophies and the adjustments required as the season progresses. The stalemate leaves Liverpool still seeking that elusive first league win under Iraola at Anfield, while Fulham can take heart from securing a point and demonstrating resilience after a difficult start to their campaign.