Liverpool failed to win either of their opening two Premier League home games of a season for only the third time in 63 years, after a goalless draw with Fulham at Anfield on Saturday, 12 September. Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz started together in the league for the first time, but the £364m attacking trio could not turn possession into chances against a well-organised Fulham side.
Isak short of the ball again
Isak had just 16 touches in 90 minutes, the second fewest recorded by an outfield Liverpool player in a match. That followed 14 touches against Nottingham Forest a fortnight earlier, which is the lowest figure on record for an outfield Liverpool player. Between them, those two performances have raised questions about how the Swede is being supplied in a front three still finding its shape.
Andoni Iraola, the head coach, said the problem was obvious after the match. "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," Iraola said. It was a rare admission from a manager whose side had been unbeaten through their first four league games.
Alisson: 'not something to celebrate'
Alisson, speaking to reporters after the game, made clear the draw would not be treated as an acceptable result. "We are not happy at all with the draw. It is not something that should happen with Liverpool." the goalkeeper said. His comments reflected a squad more used to converting home fixtures into points.
Kostas Tsimikas was withdrawn at half-time, with Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz following him off after 60 minutes. Milos Kerkez, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Rio Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong were all sent on as Iraola searched for a breakthrough that never arrived. The changes came three days after Liverpool's Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid, which may have played into the flat display against Fulham.
Where the table stands
Liverpool sit seventh in the Premier League on six points from four games, with a record of one win, three draws and no defeats, and sit six points behind leaders Arsenal. They have scored six and conceded four this season for a goal difference of plus two. Saturday's stalemate followed a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, 9 September, in which Marcos Llorente put the visitors ahead before Dominik Szoboszlai equalised and Alexis Mac Allister, assisted by Isak, scored the winner.
Recent Liverpool results
| Date | Fixture | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep | Liverpool v Fulham | 0-0 |
| 09 Sep | Liverpool v Atletico Madrid | 2-1 |
| 04 Sep | Ipswich v Liverpool | 0-2 |
| 29 Aug | Liverpool v Nottingham Forest | 2-2 |
| 23 Aug | Newcastle v Liverpool | 2-2 |
| 16 Aug | Liverpool v Como | 0-0 |
The wait for a home league win continues after draws with Nottingham Forest and now Fulham cost Liverpool four points from two games at Anfield, with their only win in the opening four rounds coming away at Ipswich. Readers can check the club's full record so far on the standings page, while the goalscoring detail from recent matches is broken down on the stats page.
Liverpool have at least seven more Champions League fixtures still to play this season, and their focus now turns to a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. Anyone wanting to see who Iraola selects can follow team news through the squad page ahead of that game, before Liverpool travel to face Bournemouth, who sit 15th, in the Premier League on Sunday, 20 September.
