Andoni Iraola's Liverpool were held to a bore draw by rock bottom Fulham on Saturday afternoon, exposing a major issue with the Reds' approach. The Cottagers picked up their first point of the season, but Liverpool sleepwalked throughout the clash and have now won just a single match this season, registering three draws.
Slow start raises questions
Liverpool, who had looked excellent in midweek against Atletico Madrid, started slowly and sluggishly on Saturday. After such a demanding game in Europe, that perhaps could have been expected, but it was still a surprisingly even opening to the match.
With that slow start come questions about 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.
Struggles to create chances
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 expected 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.
One point gained for Fulham
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.
