Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, as Andoni Iraola’s side continue their lackluster start to the new season.
MORE — Iraola blames ‘lack of freshness’ but will this be a familiar theme for Liverpool?
Fulham had the better chances and Liverpool just couldn’t get going as they’ve now drawn three of their first four games of the season.
Iraola’s side were slow and predictable on the ball and in attack, and they looked tired after their midweek Champions League win at home against Atletico Madrid.
With the draw Liverpool move on to five points for the season, while Fulham have one point on the board and Alvaro Arbeloa’s new-look side thoroughly deserved it.
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool didn’t deserve to win that game and Fulham were good value for their first point of the season.
Liverpool huffed and puffed at Anfield but just couldn’t get any kind of momentum going and Iraola looked frustrated as he watched on.
With so many top attackers on the pitch, Liverpool’s build-up play was slow and predictable and they looked tired for most of this clash.
Perhaps their midweek win at home against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League caught up with them? Still, you would’ve expected more.
Fulham had the better chances and defended resolutely under Alvaro Arbeloa as he will be delighted by his first point as a Premier League manager.
All of the Cottagers games have been tight and this unexpected draw at Liverpool will give Arbeloa and his new-look side plenty of confidence as they host Manchester United next weekend before the international break.
Next up for Liverpool: Spurs at home in the League Cup on Tuesday before a trip to Bournemouth in the league next Sunday. This feels like a big week for Iraola as he really needs to find a creative spark from somewhere.
Fulham haven’t been able to create much in this second half and that is their best chance so far.
Josh King skips clear and unleashes a powerful effort which Alisson beats away for a corner.
Nothing comes from multiple corners as Fulham didn’t make the most of those opportunities.
Liverpool are cranking up the pressure as they search for a way to go ahead late in the game.
Fulham are scrambling to clear the ball and Liverpool are flying in.
Alexis Mac Allister goes down in the box but after a quick VAR check nothing is given. There wasn’t much contact there.
He’s only been on the pitch for a few minutes but Alexis Mac Allister has made a heck of a difference.
He dances free on the edge of the box and the Argentine international tees up his central midfield partner Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian wizard smashes a shot on goal but it too central and Bernd Leno pushes it away.
Better from Liverpool though. The home crowd have got going.
Just over 20 minutes to go. Still 0-0.
Andoni Iraola has seen enough.
He makes two changes with Cody Gakpo on for Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister on for Ryan Gravenberch.
Two great options to bring off the bench. Mac Allister has been excellent in recent games, while Gakpo has started the season so well but missed the midweek win against Atletico Madrid with a small injury.
Just 30 minutes to go at Anfield and Liverpool are yet to get going in this game.
Well, that was lackluster from Liverpool.
Victor Munoz’s header from close range from a corner was as good as it got for them.
Both Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola are buzzing around and both had one sight of goal. But Liverpool have struggled to create clear chances.
At the other end Fulham will be very happy with that first half.
Jeremy Jacquet had to clear Gonzalo Garcia’s effort off the line early after they forced Liverpool into a mistake.
Antonee Robinson and Josh King have looked bright down the left and both gone close.
As far as xG goes, Fulham lead Liverpool 0.48 to 0.38.
Wow. This has been very impressive from Fulham in the last 10 minutes.
A cross is pinged to the back post and USMNT left back Antonee Robinson is there.
He heads the ball towards goal but it flies wide.
That was a big chance. Fulham are well on top now. Liverpool have no control in this game.
Josh King, still just 19 years old, is some player.
The Fulham youngster does superbly to create space for himself on the left and beats Dominik Szoboszlai in the box.
He cuts inside and unleashes a shot on his right foot but it’s deflected away.
Much better from Fulham. After that 15-minute spell of Liverpool being on top, it’s now very even again.
Liverpool have got going now and Fulham clear for a corner after a clever reverse pass down the left almost catches them out.
The corner is swung in and is flicked on at the near post by Victor Munoz.
It looks certain the ball will go in but Bernd Leno claws it away right underneath the crossbar. Brilliant save from the German veteran.
Fulham scramble it clear but Liverpool’s fans are buoyed by that chance.
Liverpool are the team on top now. Fulham are hanging on and can’t get out of their own half.
Well, it’s all a bit quiet for Liverpool at Anfield.
Fulham have come the closest to scoring as Jeremy Jacquet had to clear off his own line.
That is the only shot on target for either side so far.
We can file this one under slow burner.
A HUGE clearence off the line from Jérémy Jacquet. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Y6Qg4nxEEt
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 12, 2026
Arbeloa has left out experienced center back Joachim Andersen after his early-season struggles.
New signing David Affengruber starts, with the Austrian center back set for a tough task in trying to keep Alexander Isak quiet.
Sande Berge starts in midfield alongside Shea Charles, as it looks like Alex Iwobi will be tasked with supporting the exciting young attacking trio of Oscar Bobb, Josh King and Gonzalo Garcia.
Fulham starting lineup
Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Charles, Berge; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia
Andoni Iraola has named his starting lineup and there are a couple of surprises.
In come Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz as Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha drop to the bench after they started in the win against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Cody Gakpo is back fit and on the bench, which is a big boost given his tremendous early-season form.
Liverpool starting lineup
Alisson; Araujo, Jaquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak
Here is all of the information you need to watch Liverpool host Fulham at Anfield today.
How to watch Liverpool vs Fulham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET Saturday (September 12)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock
Stream link: Watch live on Peacock
Liverpool won comfortably away at Ipswich Town last week in the Premier League and a couple of days ago they beat Atletico Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League.
After a couple of nervy draws to kick off the season, things are starting to look much better for Andoni Iraola at Liverpool. It was always going to take some time, but football fans aren’t known for their patience...
Defensively Iraola seems to have found more balance, while he has so many attacking options to choose from and is still figuring out the best combinations. Alexander Isak is scoring goals, new signing Bradley Barcola is settling in and Florian Wirtz is quietly impacting games. Everything is pointing in the right direction.
If Liverpool can take care of business and beat struggling Fulham today the positive momentum will continue ahead of a big week.
Iraola’s side host Spurs in the League Cup on Tuesday then head to his former side Bournemouth next weekend before the lengthy international break.
Three wins from these next three games is the bare minimum that is expected of Iraola’s side and if they can achieve it, Liverpool’s fans will be feeling a lot more positive as they head into the autumn months.
Fulham have lost all three of their opening games of the season under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa and the early signs aren’t great for the Cottagers’ new coach.
Some Fulham fans booed after their 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend as they lead 2-1 but chucked it away. Fulham have lost 3-2 at home to both Chelsea and Palace, and 1-0 away at Sunderland, to start the season.
Of course the results haven’t been great but Arbeloa’s Fulham have been adventurous, press high and take risks. It’s a very different style of play compared to Marco Silva and it will take time for things to settle down.
The only problem is, after this trip to Anfield Fulham have Man United at home next weekend and it’s looking very likely they will have zero points on the board from five games as they enter the lengthy international break.
It’s too soon to put pressure on Arbeloa but Fulham simply have to win at least two of their three games against the new boys after the break, as they face Ipswich, Hull and Coventry in three-straight games in October.
After those games is when Fulham’s fans can properly judge Arbeloa. And then start to panic if it doesn’t go well.
