Fulham secured their first Premier League point of the season with a resilient goalless draw at Anfield, frustrating a Liverpool side that looked jaded just days after their midweek Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.
Andoni Iraola's men, previously winless and having shipped three goals to Crystal Palace last time out, produced a disciplined and composed display against a Liverpool attack featuring three forwards whose combined transfer fees exceed £300million. Yet it was Fulham's academy product Josh King, not any of Liverpool's marquee signings, who looked the most threatening player on the pitch.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening exchanges was when Bradley Barcola slipped in Alexander Isak, but the Swedish striker's effort from a tight angle rolled just wide. From there, Fulham gradually took control, growing in confidence and repeatedly bypassing Liverpool's midfield pairing of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool were fortunate not to fall behind when goalkeeper Alisson played a poor pass into Gravenberch under pressure. Sander Berge won the ball back and released King, who was brought down by a diving Alisson — with Fulham left aggrieved that no penalty was awarded. The loose ball fell to Gonzalo Garcia, whose shot was cleared off the line by Jeremy Jacquet in a crucial intervention.
Fulham continued to press their advantage, with King turning smartly in the box but firing wide, and Victor Munoz forcing a fine save from goalkeeper Bernd Leno at the other end after rising highest from a Szoboszlai corner. Antonee Robinson also headed off target from an Oscar Bobb delivery as the visitors threatened down the left flank throughout.
Iraola made three changes to his side, introducing Kostas Tsimikas, Gravenberch and Munoz, but all three were substituted before the hour mark as Liverpool struggled to find rhythm. Isak twice went close after the interval, once weaving into the box for a tame effort and later heading narrowly wide from a stoppage-time corner, but Bassey and the debutant David Affengruber kept him largely subdued.
Liverpool improved slightly with the introduction of Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Milos Kerkez, and finished the game with greater intensity, but chances remained scarce. Szoboszlai fired straight at Leno after being teed up by Mac Allister, while Fulham continued to look dangerous on the break, with King testing Alisson from distance and substitute Rodrigo Muniz spurning a promising opportunity.
The result leaves Iraola still unbeaten as Liverpool boss but with obvious concerns after a flat, disjointed performance. It marked Liverpool's third draw in four league matches under the Spaniard and their seventh in twelve Premier League games at Anfield stretching back into 2026.
"It is the first game we've had problems creating chances and making the difference offensively," Iraola said afterwards. "It is easy for me to say the players were tired after Atletico. There was a lack of freshness and, we cannot hide it, it was the worst turnaround in terms of 60-70 hours. But this is going to happen in the season and we have to adapt."
For Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa, making his first return to Anfield since his playing days under Rafael Benitez, the result was a significant staging post. "When you are not winning games it's not so easy for your players to believe in your ideas," Arbeloa said. "I'm happy with the point but more with the performance of my players and the character, the personality and the ambition they showed in this stadium."
Based on reporting from The Independent, The Guardian, and The Standard.