Álvaro Arbeloa was often the obstacle to Andoni Iraola’s international ambitions back in the days when both were vying for a right-back role with Spain. On his return to Anfield, and under the watchful eye of former manager Rafael Benítez, Arbeloa thwarted Iraola once again to claim his first Premier League point as Fulham head coach against an ineffective Liverpool. Fulham belied their lowly position and run of three league defeats to take a merited point from a Liverpool team that was a pale imitation of the one that beat Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Iraola fielded a front four that cost almost £400m but the most impressive forward on display was the Fulham academy graduate Josh King. The draw was Liverpool’s third in four league games under their new head coach and the seventh in 12 Premier League matches at Anfield in 2026. Progress can be painfully slow at times.
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. Sometimes you need a set play or a moment of brilliance to win these kind of games but we were not as good offensively as other games.” Liverpool were sluggish and sloppy – Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas put simple passes straight out of play in the first half, setting the tone for a disjointed performance – while Fulham bypassed the central midfield pairing of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch repeatedly.
The visitors’ confidence and composure on the ball, along with their defensive organisation, was hugely impressive considering the start to the season under the former Real Madrid interim coach and Liverpool defender. With more conviction in front of goal, Arbeloa’s side could have capitalised on Liverpool’s malaise. Bradley Barcola created an early, difficult chance for Alexander Isak that the striker swept wide of the far post.
Victor Muñoz went closer still with a glancing header from a Szoboszlai corner. Bernd Leno, the Fulham goalkeeper, reacted superbly to claw the ball away. But that was the sum total of Liverpool’s first-half enterprise.
Fulham were gifted a glorious opportunity when Alisson played a ridiculous pass to Gravenberch, who was under pressure from Sander Berge. Berge’s challenge fell to King, who was sent flying by the Liverpool goalkeeper but the referee, Thomas Bramall, played a good advantage as Gonzalo García received the loose ball. García had time to pick his spot but Jérémy Jacquet blocked his shot in front of the goalline.
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