Liverpool's expensively-assembled attack failed to click into gear as Fulham claimed their first point of the Premier League season in a 0-0 stalemate at Anfield.
Andoni Iraola started with a front four worth £398.5million in Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Victor Munoz, but they did not play up to their cumulative price tag as Liverpool recorded their fourth straight draw in the Premier League at Anfield - their longest such winless stretch at home for five and a half years.
Fulham's early chances
Fulham should have taken the lead when Alisson made a mess of a pass out to Ryan Gravenberch, but Jeremy Jacquet cleared Gonzalo Garcia's shot off the line. Munoz then forced a strong save from Bernd Leno with a header from a corner as Liverpool threatened.
Dominik Szoboszlai shot straight at Leno as Liverpool failed to build up any sort of momentum, despite Iraola ringing the changes after the break. Josh King tested Alisson with an effort from the edge of the box before Rodrigo Muniz's poor touch spurned another opening for the away side.
There was no grandstand finish as a subdued Anfield crowd went home frustrated, with Isak flicking a late header wide from a corner.
Ropey Reds
Liverpool's defence has looked vulnerable this season and there was a nervy start at Anfield against Fulham. Alisson held his hands up after they got away with conceding early on, but Iraola should be worried by the fact the experienced goalkeeper is making blunders.
Alisson's pass to Gravenberch was a terrible decision and the Brazil international was also fortunate that Josh King decided to hurdle his rash challenge inside the box, rather than accept the contact and earn a penalty. Alisson was indebted to Jacquet, who retreated to the line to clear Garcia's effort.
Wirtz needs to step up
Florian Wirtz has a huge weight on his shoulders for Liverpool as the fulcrum of their creativity in attack. The German never shies away from his responsibilities, but his output is still some way off what the club expected when they paid Bayer Leverkusen £116.5million last summer.
His tally of seven goals for Liverpool is well short of where it should be and the way he dragged an effort wide from the edge of the box in the first half showed what needs to be improved.
Not happening for Barcola
Liverpool's £123m summer signing missed two great chances to get his first goal for the club against Atletico Madrid in mid-week before leaving the pitch with cramp. Iraola has called for patience, citing the Frenchman's minimal pre-season, and his sharpness is definitely still lacking.
Timothy Castagne did well to block a back-post volley from Barcola in the first half, but his effort was going nowhere near the goal. In the second half, he got to the byline, but his cutback was easily cleared. Barcola was then taken off in the 72nd minute, having shown very little.
Fulham on the board
Alvaro Arbeloa arrived at his former stomping ground under pressure following a poor start to the season. Defeats by Chelsea, Sunderland and Crystal Palace had left the Cottagers without a point from their opening three games, despite four goals scored and some encouraging play.
Arbeloa will be happy with much of his side's play at Anfield, with Fulham limiting Liverpool to few chances. But having scored twice against Chelsea and Palace, they couldn't produce the bit of magic they needed to grab all three points.
No impact off the bench
Iraola brought on Milos Kerkez for Kostas Tsimikas at half-time before introducing Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha. But there was to be no late winner, with Leno relatively untroubled in the Fulham goal as the game petered out.
Anfield is supposed to be a fortress for the Reds but at the moment it is far too easily breached.
