Liverpool held at Anfield as Arbeloa's Fulham take first point

Liverpool dropped two points at Anfield on Saturday after being held to a 0-0 draw by a Fulham side that arrived bottom of the table with three straight defeats. Andoni Iraola's team paid a heavy price for their midweek European efforts and produced a flat performance, while Álvaro Arbeloa's visitors celebrated a first league point of the campaign with a brave and organised display.

• Liverpool have now drawn three of their first four league games under Iraola.
• Fulham, managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, pick up their first point after three consecutive losses.
• The Liverpool attack, assembled for nearly £400m, created few clear chances against Bernd Leno.
• Alisson made a serious first-half mistake that could have cost the hosts dearly.

Champions League hangover hurts Liverpool at Anfield

Just three days after beating Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, Liverpool looked a pale imitation of that side. The quick turnaround and the three changes made by Iraola do not fully explain the dramatic drop in intensity and precision. Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas misplaced simple passes that rolled straight out of play, and the home midfield was repeatedly bypassed by Fulham's transitions.

Tsimikas, returning to the starting lineup, lasted only 45 minutes before being withdrawn. The Greek full-back struggled to find his rhythm and his performance was well below the level required in such a demanding fixture. Liverpool's ball circulation was slow, predictable and lacked the spark that had defined recent European nights.

Fulham show no fear despite bottom spot

Rather than being intimidated by their position at the foot of the table and the poor run they brought to Anfield, Fulham displayed impressive personality. Arbeloa's side attacked with purpose, defended with discipline and created the clearest chances of the first half. Their confidence on the ball surprised a home crowd expecting a straightforward afternoon for the hosts.

The best opportunity of the first half came from an Alisson error. The Brazilian goalkeeper played a risky pass towards Ryan Gravenberch under pressure from Sander Berge. The loose ball fell to Josh King, who was brought down by Alisson. Referee Thomas Bramall played an excellent advantage and Gonzalo García had time to pick his spot, only for Jérémy Jacquet to block the shot on the goalline.

Leno and Fulham's defence keep Isak quiet

Liverpool only troubled Bernd Leno on rare set-piece situations. Alexander Isak missed the far post with a tight-angle shot after a measured pass from Bradley Barcola. Victor Muñoz went even closer with a glancing header from a Dominik Szoboszlai corner, but the German goalkeeper reacted superbly to claw the ball away from under his crossbar.

Calvin Bassey produced a commanding performance at the heart of the Fulham defence, keeping Isak quiet for almost the entire match. The Swedish striker, so decisive in other scenarios, found little space against the centre-back's anticipation and physical power. Fulham's full-backs also closed the wide areas well, forcing Liverpool into unsuccessful wide combinations.

Substitutes fail to unlock the Fulham backline

Iraola turned to his bench in the second half with the introductions of Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Milos Kerkez. The intensity improved slightly, but the attacking clarity did not. Fulham continued to defend comfortably while remaining dangerous on the counterattack. Alisson denied King a spectacular goal by pushing away a shot that was heading for the top corner after a sharp cut inside Jacquet.

Rodrigo Muniz, on as a substitute, allowed a decent chance to slip away inside the area, and another replacement, Kevin, dragged a shot wide from 18 yards. The draw was beginning to feel like a poor result for the home side, aware that any mistake could turn it into a defeat.

Third draw in four league games for Liverpool

Deep into stoppage time, Isak finally escaped Bassey's attention to flick a Szoboszlai corner wide of the far post. There was still time for one last Liverpool raid: Jeremie Frimpong burst down the right and delivered a low cross through the heart of the Fulham area. The ball struck Rio Ngumoha and sailed over the crossbar.

The final whistle confirmed Liverpool's third draw in four Premier League matches since Iraola took charge. For Arbeloa's Fulham, the point felt like a victory: a first reward of the season and growing evidence that the project is starting to take shape.

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