Liverpool failed to build on consecutive victories over Ipswich and Atletico Madrid as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 Premier League draw by a visiting Fulham side on Saturday, September 12.
The Cottagers arrived at Anfield having failed to pick up a single point from their opening three games of the season, with the pressure firmly on new manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Yet the Spaniard’s side showed considerable resolve to earn a deserved point on Merseyside, exposing several of Liverpool’s weaknesses in a performance that contrasted sharply with the intensity and fluency they had shown against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Frustrating result
For Andoni Iraola, it was another frustrating result in what has been an inconsistent start to his Liverpool tenure, drawing three of their opening four Premier League games.
Taking just one point from a home game against a side that had lost its previous three matches is particularly disappointing.
More than the result itself, however, it was the manner of the performance that raised questions about just how far this Liverpool side remains from its best.
Iraola’s Reds still adapting to a new style
After back-to-back victories earlier in the week, there was a sense that things were beginning to click for Iraola.
Instead, the Fulham game provided a reminder of the scale of the task facing the Liverpool manager.
Iraola’s intense, aggressive style was always going to require an adjustment period.
His approach demands greater dynamism from Liverpool’s players, particularly in midfield, and represents a significant departure from Arne Slot’s more controlled possession-based system.
Lacking freshness
Speaking after the match, Iraola acknowledged that his attacking players lacked the freshness required to break Fulham down.
“Overall, the offensive players lacked a little bit of freshness,” he said.
“It’s the first game since I’m here that we’ve had problems to create chances, to score goals, to make the difference offensively.”
The manager also highlighted the importance of finding ways to win matches when performances are below their best.
“It’s these kinds of games that you need to win sometimes with a set-play, sometimes with a shot from the edge, sometimes with a moment of brilliance from the offensive players and we haven’t had that,” he said.
Lacking rhythm
Liverpool did outshoot Fulham 14-10, but the numbers did little to disguise their disjointed display.
The Reds lacked their usual rhythm in possession, while their press was repeatedly bypassed.
Fulham were able to play through Liverpool’s pressure with surprising ease at times, opening up spaces and creating opportunities on the counter-attack.
The midfield was particularly concerning, with the pairing of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch struggling to provide control in the centre of the park, leaving Liverpool vulnerable when Fulham broke through the first line of pressure.
With the fixture list becoming increasingly congested, Liverpool cannot afford for tactical adjustments to remain unresolved for too long.
One of the major questions surrounding Iraola’s appointment was whether he had enough experience of managing the demands of a domestic campaign alongside European football, and that challenge is now beginning to take shape before us.
Hope for Fulham and Arbeloa?
Having lost their opening three matches, the Cottagers desperately required something to halt the negative momentum – and Anfield proved to be the unlikely venue for it.
Arbeloa’s side looked dangerous throughout the match, repeatedly finding ways into Liverpool’s defensive third and making the most of opportunities to attack in transition.
Fulham actually recorded 24 touches in Liverpool’s penalty area compared with 18 for the hosts, a telling statistic given the difference in expectations between the two sides.
Arbeloa was particularly pleased with the improvement in his side’s defensive balance after the match.
“I think we did pretty well, against a massive team in a difficult stadium. We play with the character that we want to play, with the ambition, with the personality,” he said.
“We were more balanced than all the games that we played so well against Chelsea, against Palace.
“But I think after the game against Palace, we realised how important it is to control the transition, to be more balanced when you are attacking, and we fixed this.”
Willingness to attack
That improvement in transition defence was arguably the most encouraging aspect of Fulham’s display.
Their willingness to attack Liverpool was not accompanied by the same vulnerability that had characterised parts of their previous performances, but instead managing to maintain their attacking threat while remaining compact enough to frustrate Liverpool.
For Arbeloa, there was an additional sense of occasion, with the result making him the first former Liverpool Premier League player to earn a point against the club as a manager.
The result now has given Fulham – and Arbeloa – something to build on.
With a favourable run of fixtures coming up, including meetings with all three newly-promoted sides in October, the Cottagers have an opportunity to turn their difficult start around.
Liverpool feel far from title contention
It wasn’t an ideal result or performance for Liverpool, but it is further compounding the evidence that this Liverpool side is still some distance away from being a convincing Premier League title contender.
Despite spending over £645million across the last two summer transfer windows, the Reds are severely lacking in squad balance and depth.
There remains no natural right-wing option, no completely settled solution in defensive midfield and uncertainty surrounding the full-back positions.
The tactical transition under Iraola only adds another layer of uncertainty.
The manager is clearly attempting to establish a different identity, but his system is yet to become second nature to the players.
His side will suffer inconsistency as a result, and patience will be required while he gets to grips with managing one of the world’s biggest clubs.
For now, the gap between Liverpool and the Premier League’s best is difficult to ignore.
If the result against Fulham is anything to go by, then it is unlikely to be a steady and straightforward season for the Reds.
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