Liverpool just played out a goalless draw against Fulham at Anfield, and man, it was a deflating follow-up to that Champions League urgency. For only the third time in 63 years, Liverpool has failed to win both of their opening home games of a league season, which is definitely not the start new boss Andoni Iraola was probably dreaming of after taking over. After seeing how fired up the Reds were mid-week against Atletico Madrid, this flat Saturday performance against a Fulham side that had already given up seven goals in their first three league games felt rough. The team looked physically and mentally drained, like a totally different squad from the one that beat Diego Simeone’s Champions League semi-finalists.
The Iraola Era Kicks Off With Questions
This goalless draw was the first real test of how Iraola’s style handles two games a week, and honestly, it’s not what the head coach or the Anfield crowd wanted. Former boss Jurgen Klopp always talked about recognizing his team by their identity and intensity, not just the jerseys, and Iraola clearly wants that same vibe. He straight up said, “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.” While the team is still unbeaten, and it’s not a full-blown crisis, six points from their first four Premier League games is a tough look, especially dropping four points at home against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. Another draw came at Newcastle, with their only win at Ipswich.
Alisson’s Blunt Assessment Hits Hard
Even Alisson, the keeper, didn’t pull any punches, telling Sky Sports, “We are not happy at all with the draw. It is not something that should happen with Liverpool. To be unbeaten, but with three draws, is not something to celebrate too much with this shirt.” He’s right, an unbeaten run with three ties isn’t exactly lighting up the league. Alisson continued, “If we want to do something special [this season] we have to cope with playing a game Wednesday, Saturday and then Tuesday. We need to have the right mental state and that was not the case from what we showed. Inside we have it, but we have to just put it out and put more energy on the pitch.” That £364m attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, and Florian Wirtz started together for the first time in a league game, and while there were some decent chances, they just didn’t create nearly enough. Isak had only 16 touches in 90 minutes, which is the second fewest for an outfield Reds player on record, and he had the fewest (14) against Forest just two weeks ago. Wirtz looked like a shadow of the player who tore it up against Atleti, and while Barcola and Isak showed some flashes, that partnership needs serious time to develop. Iraola explained to Match of the Day, “Bradley is one we are building up physically with games and the games will give him the condition we want. But it is not just Bradley, we lack the freshness. I only remember one clear chance [for Fulham] and we kept the structure but offensively we need to do much better.” Before the Atletico Madrid game, Iraola talked about not wanting his players to save energy for another game, saying, “You play 55 minutes for me and you are dead and ask for a sub, then perfect. We have a top-level 55 minutes and then a top-level 35 minutes.” But it clearly wasn’t enough against Fulham.
The schedule just keeps coming, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, so the mental and physical state Alisson talked about needs to show up big time. The team has to find that “freshness” Iraola mentioned, or these frustrating draws are just going to keep piling up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
Leave a Reply