Liverpool were unable to break the deadlock at Anfield, settling for a disappointing 0-0 draw as Fulham earned their inaugural point of the Premier League campaign on the hosts' turf. The Reds, who handed Bradley Barcola his first start in the league, looked sluggish from the first whistle, still feeling the after‑effects of their recent high‑intensity clash with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. An early mishap from goalkeeper Alisson, where a routine ball slipped through his hands, nearly resulted in a goal for Goncalo Garcia, but Jeremy Jacquet intervened with a crucial clearance to keep the scores level.
The first half saw Liverpool flirt with danger when Victor Munoz rose to meet a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, only to thump the ball against the crossbar midway through the period. Despite the missed opportunity, Fulham enjoyed considerable possession, a surprising statistic given their recent poor run of form under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, having lost their opening three league matches.
Their confidence grew as the half progressed, and they began to create more clear‑cut chances. The second half offered even more chances for the visitors. Josh King unleashed a long‑range effort that forced Alisson to tip the ball wide of the post. Later, substitute Kevin delivered a low cross into the box, setting up Rodrigo Muniz, who failed to control the ball cleanly and missed a golden scoring chance.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Alexander Isak rose to meet a corner from Dominik Szoboszlai, but his header drifted wide, sealing the match in a goalless stalemate. The draw leaves Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola still hunting for his first league victory at Anfield. The Basque coach has now drawn three of his first four Premier League fixtures, a record that underscores his unbeaten status but also highlights a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.
The positives on the day were largely credited to Arbeloa, whose side showed resilience despite recent setbacks. Key moments of the match include: - 12' – Alisson's error nearly rewarded Garcia, but Jacquet cleared the danger. - 22' – Munoz's header struck the crossbar from Tsimikas' corner. - 76' – King’s long‑range strike was tipped over by Alisson.
- 79' – Kevin’s cross found Muniz, who failed to control the ball. - 90+1' – Isak’s header from Szoboszlai's corner went wide.
In the post‑match press conference, Iraola reflected on the performance: "Honestly, this was the easier side for me, for you, for everyone – our players were tired. There was a clear lack of freshness, and we cannot pretend otherwise. The turnaround between games was brutal – just over 60 hours after a massive Champions League fixture. This kind of scheduling will happen more often, maybe with an extra day in between, maybe not.
We have to adapt. To win games like this you need a set‑piece, a shot from distance, or a moment of brilliance from the attackers, and we lacked that today. Our offensive output was far below what we have shown in other matches." Addressing midfield control, Iraola added, "In the first half we were late to press, that’s evident. In the second half we improved, became more structured, and managed 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? I don’t know.
I definitely prefer playing at home, but we cannot blame external factors – the answers lie within the pitch." Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa also spoke after the match: "When you’re not winning, it’s hard for the squad to trust your ideas. Winning makes everything easier, but I think the players have bought into the work we’re doing.
We executed many things well, though we still made mistakes – and in this league, mistakes are punished. We need to seize our chances and also maintain balance, especially during transitions, because every English team has quick players. We improved in that aspect and realized how crucial balance is.
From day one we trained intensively on transitions, and after the Crystal Palace game we refined our approach. This week’s work emphasized the importance of being balanced when we have the ball." Sky Sports’ Adam Bate summed up the atmosphere at Anfield: "There were celebrations on Wednesday after Iraola’s first Champions League win against Atletico, but that victory was always due. The bigger question was how the Basque coach would handle a congested schedule, something he hadn’t faced at Rayo Vallecano or Bournemouth. This match was the first real test, and Liverpool fell short.
They couldn’t match the tempo Iraola usually demands, starting slowly and never finding the rhythm. Fulham, bolstered by attacking substitutes, looked capable of taking all three points." Iraola’s unbeaten streak as Liverpool’s manager persists – a run that dates back to his early days at Bournemouth – yet his home record remains modest, with just two points from matches against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. The club will be looking for a more decisive performance in the next fixtures to turn the tide and secure the wins that have so far eluded them.
The draw leaves both sides with plenty to ponder as the Premier League season progresses, and fans will be eager to see whether Liverpool can convert their possession and chances into goals in the upcoming weeks.