A major issue with Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool was exposed on Saturday afternoon as the Reds were frustrated by Fulham – who picked up their first point of the season
A major issue with Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool was exposed on Saturday afternoon, as the Reds were held to a bore draw by rock bottom Fulham.
The Cottagers are finally off the mark, but it should, really, have been so much better from Liverpool who sleepwalked throughout the clash. The Reds have now just won a single match this season – registering three draws, and it’s starting to become a problem.
Liverpool, who had looked excellent in midweek against Atletico Madrid, started slowly and sluggishly on Saturday afternoon. After such a demanding game in Europe, that perhaps could have been expected, but it was still a surprisingly even opening to the match.
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And with that slow start come questions about Andoni Iraola’s style of play. It worked so well at Bournemouth last season, with the intensity and relentless pressing allowing his side to overwhelm opponents.
But questions will now rise if that same approach can survive the demands of two games per week, with the Reds fighting on four fronts this season.
Liverpool looked like they were huffing and puffing in the second half as they desperately tried to get going. The intensity eventually increased, but there was a sense that the players were having to dig deep just to reach the level of energy we have come to expect from an Iraola side.
If Liverpool cannot consistently handle those physical demands without eventually gassing out, then Iraola may have to find ways to adapt his approach.
The Reds were seemingly controlling the game in terms of possession and territory, but Fulham were creating the better chances.
Liverpool struggled to turn their control into anything meaningful in the final third, while Fulham looked increasingly dangerous whenever they were able to break forward.
Even when Liverpool finally began to increase the tempo, they still failed to create that one clear-cut opportunity that could have changed the game.
There was plenty of effort and plenty of pressure, but very little end product as they played in front of the Fulham backline.
It was Fulham’s first point of the season, after losing their opening three points, and it really felt like one point gained for the Cottagers and two points lost for Liverpool.