By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-09-12 16:22:06 | Updated at 2026-09-19 07:05:19
6 days ago
Liverpool slipped to a third draw in four Premier League games under their new manager as Fulham came away from Anfield with a share of the spoils.
Andoni Iraola remains without a home Premier League win in charge of Liverpool after they were held to a goalless draw by Fulham at Anfield.
Liverpool handed big-money acquisition Bradley Barcola his first start in the English top flight, but they still failed to find the same attacking gear as they showed in their back-to-back victories over Ipswich Town and Atlético Madrid.
And if not for a goal-line clearance from Jérémy Jacquet and one smart save by Alisson, Liverpool could even have lost the game, as an impressive Fulham display earned them their first point under Álvaro Arbeloa.
Alexander Isak passed up the first chance when he drove across goal and wide, after being fed by Barcola.
But Liverpool were sloppy throughout the first half and were fortunate not to fall behind when Ryan Gravenberch showed for a short pass from Alisson and was dispossessed, with Josh King seeing a penalty appeal waved away before Gonzalo García’s shot was cleared off the line by Jacquet.
Oscar Bobb was also let down by his first touch as Fulham continued to test a shaky Liverpool backline, while at the other end, Bernd Leno got a strong hand behind Víctor Muñoz‘s powerful header and Florian Wirtz hit two shots the wrong side of the right post.
Led by the lively King, Fulham continued to threaten and Antonee Robinson headed wide at the end of a neat move, with groans of frustration audible from the home fans at half-time.
Iraola attempted to change things up with the introductions of Milos Kerkez, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister, the latter of whom saw a powerful drive parried by Leno soon after the German had dived to his right to stop Isak’s low attempt.
Fulham’s threat did not go away, though, with Alisson standing firm to gather a Calvin Bassey header then leaping towards the top-right corner to touch King’s strike wide, with the teenager having just slipped as he curled his shot goalwards.
Liverpool’s attacking play grew increasingly desperate and haphazard as the minutes ticked away, and after an Isak header drifted wide and Rio Ngumoha failed to direct Jeremie Frimpong’s cross goalwards, the full-time whistle sounded.
Liverpool’s Home Woes Continue
Going into matchday four, only Brighton (16.8%) and Chelsea (18%) had spent a lower proportion of their time in a drawing game state in the Premier League this season than Liverpool (21%).
That stat demonstrated just how chaotic Liverpool’s previous draws – against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest – had been, with the Reds fighting back on both occasions.
But there was no breakthrough to be found on Saturday, and Liverpool have now drawn each of their last four Premier League games at Anfield, dating back to last season.
They last endured a longer winless run on home soil in the competition between December 2020 and March 2021 (D2 L6).
And in truth, Iraola’s side did not do enough to warrant the three points, only narrowly edging the shot count (14 to 10) and the expected goals battle (1.13 xG to 0.71).
Fulham’s point will ease the pressure somewhat on Arbeloa following three straight defeats to open the campaign. They had only lost their first four matches of a top-flight season on two previous occasions, both of which ended in relegation, in 1951-52 and 2020-21.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Liverpool vs Fulham stats from their Premier League meeting at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own match analysis.
Underneath the match centre, you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Liverpool vs Fulham: Post-Match Opta Facts
- For just the third time in the last 63 seasons, Liverpool have failed to win both of their first two home games of a league season, after 2003-04 and 2012-13. Indeed, this is the first time ever that the Reds have drawn both of their first two Anfield games in a league campaign.
- Fulham picked up their first point of the season in the Premier League, although the Cottagers have won just one of their last 12 away games in the competition (D5 L6).
- Liverpool have drawn four consecutive Premier League games at Anfield for the first time since November 2011 under Kenny Dalglish.
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