Fulham fully deserved their first league point of the campaign after a disciplined display that was far from purely defensive. The visitors defended compactly, broke forward with purpose after turnovers and caused Liverpool particular problems in central areas. As a result, the Reds found it difficult to consistently bring their star-studded attack into dangerous positions.
Fulham shut down the middle
Just 65 hours after the 2-1 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid, Andoni Iraola made three changes to his starting XI. Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Víctor Muñoz all came into the side. Liverpool lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in front of the defence, Florian Wirtz as the number ten and Muñoz and Bradley Barcola supporting Alexander Isak.
Fulham mirrored that basic shape. Sander Berge and Shea Charles protected the centre of midfield, while Oscar Bobb, Joshua King and Alex Iwobi were tasked with providing transition support for Gonzalo García. That compact central structure caused Liverpool problems from the outset. Wirtz was rarely able to find enough space between the lines, with Fulham repeatedly forcing the hosts wide and denying them straightforward passing lanes through the middle.
Liverpool dominated possession early on but found it difficult to get in behind Fulham’s back line. Isak provided the first threat after eight minutes, making a sharp run in behind before dragging a left-footed effort narrowly wide. Fulham then produced the more dangerous situation shortly afterwards. Following a Liverpool turnover, the visitors attacked quickly, even managed to bypass Alisson, but the eventual shot was cleared before it could cross the line.
That opening spell already showed Fulham had no intention of simply sitting deep. After winning the ball, several players immediately pushed forward and looked to attack the spaces Liverpool left open through their aggressive positioning.
Liverpool struggle to connect midfield and attack
The hosts’ bigger problem, however, came in possession. Gravenberch and Szoboszlai struggled to find Wirtz in open pockets often enough. As a consequence, Barcola and Muñoz frequently had to drop deeper to receive the ball, while Isak became isolated for long periods through the middle.
Muñoz at least added some dynamism with his direct running and was one of Liverpool’s more noticeable performers. The high-profile attacking axis of Wirtz, Isak and Barcola, by contrast, rarely managed to take control of the game. Fulham shifted across the pitch with impressive discipline, closed off central passing lanes and repeatedly forced Liverpool to build attacks down the flanks.
The Reds often lacked precision once they got there. Liverpool delivered numerous balls from wide and from the half-spaces towards the penalty area, but Fulham’s centre-backs dealt with those situations effectively. Isak was rarely provided with passes that allowed him to get a clean shot away immediately.
It was also notable how rarely Liverpool turned their possession into sustained spells of pressure. Fulham were not pinned inside their own penalty area for long periods and repeatedly managed to play their way out before carrying a threat of their own. The fact that the visitors ultimately registered more touches inside the opposition box reflected just how even the overall contest was.
Iraola changes things early, but Fulham stay compact
Iraola reacted at half-time by replacing Tsimikas with Miloš Kerkez. The change was intended to give Liverpool more pace and penetration on the left. Another adjustment followed around the hour mark, with Alexis Mac Allister replacing Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo coming on for Muñoz.
Liverpool increased their presence in the final third and occupied the attacking spaces a little more consistently, but Fulham never lost their defensive structure. The visitors dropped deeper at times, yet remained tightly organised and continued to defend the central zones with great discipline.
That prevented the kind of late Anfield onslaught that might normally have been expected. Liverpool tried to raise the tempo, but Fulham kept the distances between their lines short and continued to force the Reds into difficult solutions. David Affengruber and Calvin Bassey, in particular, defended the centre well and gave Isak very little room in which to make a decisive impact near goal.
Fulham also remained a threat on the counter. Liverpool therefore had to be careful not to commit too many players forward at once, even late in the game. That risk further reduced the attacking wave the home side would usually be expected to generate in the closing stages.
Liverpool edge the chances, but never dominate
The xG figures reflected the overall pattern. Liverpool finished on 1.13 xG, with Fulham on 0.71. The Reds therefore created the slightly better chances overall, but the gap was nowhere near large enough to suggest clear dominance.
It was also telling that Fulham looked more threatening with the shots they actually put on target. Alisson was seriously tested on several occasions, whereas Liverpool, despite the individual quality in their attack, rarely created truly clean shooting situations. The 0-0 draw was therefore far from a result that completely misrepresented the balance of play.
For Liverpool, the outcome is frustrating. After the 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest and the 2-0 victory at Ipswich, this was already their third draw in the opening four Premier League matches. The Reds remain unbeaten, but have yet to build real momentum in the table.
For Fulham, the assessment is entirely different. After three defeats to begin the season, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side collected their first point at Anfield of all places and, above all, produced a much more stable tactical performance than in previous weeks.
Tottenham next in the League Cup
Liverpool have little time to dwell on the result. They are back at Anfield on Tuesday evening, when Tottenham Hotspur visit in the third round of the League Cup. Just a few days after the frustrating draw, the Reds therefore have an immediate opportunity to return to winning ways.
Their next Premier League assignment follows on Sunday with a trip to AFC Bournemouth. After three draws from their first four league matches, Iraola’s side will be looking above all to turn their considerable attacking quality into far greater cutting edge.
