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 home side, who handed Bradley Barcola his first league start, looked a little flat on the ball from the opening whistle, still feeling the after‑effects of their demanding trip to the Bernabeu against Atletico Madrid.
A rare mistake from Alisson was almost capitalised on by Gonçalo Garcia, only to be denied by a swift clearance from Jeremy Jacquet. The Reds did flirt with a breakthrough when Victor Muñoz rose above the defence to head a corner from Kostas Tsimikas onto the crossbar midway through the first half. Despite the disappointment, Fulham were comfortable on the ball, controlling possession even though they entered the match on the back of three successive defeats under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa. The second half offered the Cottagers even clearer chances.
Josh King unleashed a long‑range effort that forced Alisson into a reflex save, while Rodrigo Muniz, after being introduced as a substitute, should have finished a neat pass from fellow sub Kevin, only to miss the target. In added time, Alexander Isak rose to meet Szoboszlai’s corner but his header drifted wide, leaving the visitors still searching for a winner. The stalemate means Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is still hunting for his first league victory at Anfield. To date he has drawn three of his opening four Premier League fixtures, a respectable unbeaten start but one that leaves fans yearning for more.
The positives of the night were largely credited to former Liverpool player‑turned‑coach Arbeloa, whose side showed resilience despite recent struggles. Key moments: - 12' – Alisson’s mishandling nearly rewarded Garcia, but Jacquet cleared the danger. - 22' – Muñoz headed Tsimikas’ corner onto the bar.
- 76' – King’s long‑range strike forced a tip‑over from Alisson. - 79' – Kevin’s cross found Muniz, who failed to control and finish.
- 90+1' – Isak’s header from a Szoboszlai corner drifted wide. After the match, Iraola addressed the media: "Honestly, this was the easier scenario for everyone – our players were visibly tired.
There was a noticeable lack of freshness, and we can’t pretend otherwise. The turnaround between games was brutal – just over 60 hours after a massive European fixture. That kind of schedule will become more common, perhaps with an extra day of recovery, perhaps not.
We have to learn to adapt." He continued, "Games like this are won by a set‑piece, a shot from the edge of the box, or a moment of individual brilliance – none of which we produced today. Our attacking output was below the standards we have set in previous matches." On midfield control, Iraola added, "In the first half we were late to press, which was obvious. We made improvements in the second half, became more structured and controlled the tempo better, even if the goal didn’t come." 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 Anfield, but we can’t blame external factors – the answers lie on the pitch." Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham’s head coach, spoke about his side’s mindset: "When you’re not winning, it’s harder to get the 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, yet we also made mistakes – and in this league, mistakes are punished." He emphasized balance and transition: "We need to seize chances, but also stay balanced and control transitions, especially against English teams that are quick on the break. Since the Crystal Palace game, we’ve focused heavily on transition work in training, and it paid off today." Sky Sports correspondent Adam Bate offered a broader perspective: "There was celebration in Liverpool on Wednesday after Iraola clinched his first Champions League win against Atletico.
That triumph was inevitable at some point this season, but the bigger question has always been how the Basque coach will handle a congested schedule. He impressed at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth without European commitments, but this was his first real test of juggling league and continental duties." Bate noted, "Liverpool struggled to match the intensity Iraola typically demands.
They started sluggishly and never found the tempo needed to dominate. Fulham, bolstered by energetic substitutes, looked capable of snatching all three points." He concluded, "Iraola’s unbeaten run as Liverpool boss continues – a streak that stretches back to his early days with the Cherries in January – but home fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Fulham have yielded just two points.
The team needs to translate that unbeaten record into victories if they are to meet their ambitions." Overall, the match was a tactical chess game with both managers making adjustments, but the lack of a decisive finish left the Anfield faithful yearning for more. Liverpool remain unbeaten, yet the hunger for a win at home grows louder with each drawn encounter. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.