Liverpool just played Fulham to a drab draw at Anfield, and man, what a gut punch. After a busy Champions League week, the Reds’ new boss Andoni Iraola had his first big test on mastering how to win Premier League games, and he absolutely failed it. This was supposed to be a gimme, a perfect way to get back on track against a Fulham side that had been struggling. Instead, Fulham walked out with their first point of the season, and honestly, they deserved it.
Arbeloa’s Masterclass vs. Iraola’s Mess
Credit where it’s due: Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa, a former Liverpool defender under Rafa Benitez, put on a defensive clinic. His team came to Anfield having given up three goals to left wing-backs against Crystal Palace just last week. So what happened today? They conceded exactly zero to Liverpool’s three £100 million men. That’s a huge bounce-back! Arbeloa was stoked, saying he was “happy with the point and more happy with the performance.” He even rolled the dice and gave Austrian centre-back David Affengruber his Premier League debut at Anfield, and Arbeloa said the kid “proved how good he is.” Meanwhile, Iraola’s side delivered a totally disjointed display. They looked miles off the electric performance we saw in their comeback against Atletico Madrid, and this was the first time they’ve failed to score under Iraola. He admitted it point blank: “What was lacking was quite clear. It is the first game we had problems to create chances and score goals.” You can say that again.
The “No Excuses” Excuse Won’t Fly
Iraola pointed to the busy week as a factor, but he was quick to say it “cannot be an excuse.” He knows it’s easy to claim players were tired or lacked freshness after only 60 or 70 hours between games, but as he put it, “this is going to happen in the season and we have to adapt.” The problem is, Liverpool just didn’t adapt. This isn’t just an Iraola issue either. They’ve now drawn their first two league games at Anfield under him, following the last two under Arne Slot. That’s four straight home league draws! Iraola himself has drawn half of his last 42 league matches, which is wild. The really concerning part is that these last three draws, against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and now Fulham, all came against teams that finished in the bottom half last season. This isn’t just a new boss problem; Liverpool has only won four league games at Anfield all year in 2026.
Iraola’s first crack at squad rotation was also a total bust. He made three changes, but Kostas Tsimikas, one of the guys he brought in, was mercifully hooked at halftime after looking absolutely helpless. The other two subs, Victor Munoz and Ryan Gravenberch, didn’t even make it to the hour mark. You have to wonder if, despite spending a whopping £670 million in the last 16 months, this squad simply isn’t deep enough. Iraola and the boys need to figure this out, and fast. With a demanding schedule ahead, they cannot keep dropping points like this, especially at home.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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