Liverpool Stumble at Anfield Again as Iraola’s Side Held by Fulham
For only the third time in 63 years, Liverpool have failed to win either of their opening two home league matches. Saturday’s goalless draw against Fulham follows the stalemate with Nottingham Forest, leaving new head coach Andoni Iraola searching for answers after a promising midweek Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.
Flat Performance Raises Concerns
The Reds looked physically and mentally drained against a Fulham side lacking confidence and leaking goals. The contrast with the high-intensity display against Diego Simeone’s Champions League semi-finalists was stark. For the Anfield faithful, this was not the first glimpse of Iraola’s system managing a double-header they had hoped for.
Iraola was blunt in his assessment: What was lacking was quite clear, it is the first game we had problems to create chances and score goals and make the difference offensively, and that is the main reason we couldn’t create chances.
Alisson Demands Higher Standards
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker did not mince words after the match, telling Sky Sports the squad’s mentality fell short of the club’s expectations.
We are not happy at all with the draw. It is not something that should happen with Liverpool. To be unbeaten, but with three draws, is not something to celebrate too much with this shirt.
The Brazilian emphasized the need to handle a congested fixture list if the team harbors title ambitions.
If we want to do something special [this season] we have to cope with playing a game Wednesday, Saturday and then Tuesday.
We need to have the right mental state and that was not the case from what we showed. Inside we have it, but we have to just put it out and put more energy on the pitch.
Record-Breaking Attack Struggles to Click
Liverpool’s £364 million attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, and Florian Wirtz started together for the first time in the league. Despite the investment, the unit created precious little. Isak managed just 16 touches in 90 minutes—the second-fewest recorded for an outfield Liverpool player—having touched the ball only 14 times against Forest a fortnight earlier.
Wirtz, impressive against Atletico, was a shadow of himself, while Barcola and Isak showed only flashes of a partnership that clearly requires time. Iraola acknowledged the physical management required for his new signings, telling Match of the Day:
Bradley is one we are building up physically with games and the games will give him the condition we want.
The Spaniard widened the lens to the whole squad: But it is not just Bradley, we lack the freshness. I only remember one clear chance [for Fulham] and we kept the structure but offensively we need to do much better.
Early Season Context
Liverpool remain unbeaten with six points from four Premier League fixtures—wins at Ipswich, draws at Newcastle, Forest, and Fulham. While hardly a crisis, dropping four points at Anfield against newly promoted and struggling opposition represents a disappointing return for a side targeting the title. The international break now offers Iraola a critical window to recharge his squad and solve the offensive inertia before the schedule intensifies.
