Liverpool were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Anfield as Fulham earned their first point of the Premier League campaign. The hosts, who handed a maiden Premier League start to Bradley Barcola, appeared sluggish from the opening whistle, still feeling the after‑effects of their demanding Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid. An early mistake from goalkeeper Alisson was nearly punished when Gonçalo García saw a chance, but Jeremy Jacquet cleared the danger.
The Reds came close to breaking the deadlock when Victor Muñoz rose to meet a corner from Kostas Tsimikas, only to thump the ball against the crossbar midway through the first half. Despite a poor run of form under Alvaro Arbeloa, Fulham managed to dominate possession for large spells and created several half‑chances of their own. In the second half the visitors continued to threaten. Josh King forced Alisson into a reflex save, tipping the ball wide of the post.
Later, a well‑timed cross from substitute Kevin found Rodrigo Muniz, who failed to control the ball cleanly and missed a clear opportunity to put Fulham ahead. Even in stoppage time Alexander Isak managed only a glancing header from a Szoboszlai corner, which sailed harmlessly over the bar. The draw leaves Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola still searching for his first Premier League victory at Anfield. So far he has drawn three of his first four league matches, a record that reflects an unbeaten but unsatisfying start.
The positives, according to many observers, belong to the former Liverpool player turned coach, Arbeloa, whose side showed resilience despite a shaky start to the season. Key moments of the match included: - 12' – Alisson’s error nearly led to a García goal, but Jacquet cleared the ball. - 22' – Muñoz headed Tsimikas’ corner onto the crossbar.
- 76' – King’s long‑range effort was tipped over by Alisson. - 79' – Kevin’s cross found Muniz, who failed to control the ball. - 90+1' – Isak’s header from a Szoboszlai corner went wide. After the final whistle, Iraola addressed the media, acknowledging the fatigue in 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 explain the difficulty of the schedule: "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 can come from set‑pieces, long‑range shots, or moments of individual brilliance – none of which materialised on the day.
He admitted Liverpool were not as incisive as usual: "We've been clearly not as good offensively as we've been in other days." On midfield control, Iraola said the team arrived late to press in the first half, but improved after the break: "I think today, 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.
I think we've been better structured, I think we controlled better the game in the second half, even without scoring the goal." When asked whether playing at home was an issue, 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 reflected on his side's performance, emphasizing belief and balance: "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. I think there were so many things that we did well but we have been making mistakes and of course, in this league, if you make mistakes, they will punish you. That's the league, that's the level and we need to understand that, how important it is." He added that Fulham must be more balanced in transition, especially against English sides with quick players: "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. 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 summed up the broader context: Liverpool’s recent Champions League win over Atletico Madrid was a milestone for Iraola, yet the league test proved more challenging. The increased fixture congestion highlighted the difficulty of maintaining the high‑tempo style that the Basque coach favours.
Fulham, bolstered by energetic substitutes, were able to match Liverpool’s intensity and ultimately deny them a win. Iraola’s unbeaten run as Liverpool boss continues – a streak that stretches back to his successful stint with Bournemouth – but his home record remains modest, with only two points from three matches against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. The club and its supporters will be looking for a more decisive performance in the next home game to convert the unbeaten status into tangible victories.
The match also served as a reminder of the fine margins in the Premier League: a single error, a missed header, or a moment of fatigue can turn a potential three points into a solitary draw. Both managers highlighted the need for sharper focus, better transition play, and a renewed sense of freshness as the season progresses. Overall, the encounter was a tactical battle that ended in a stalemate, offering lessons for both sides as they navigate the demanding schedule ahead.