Two Premier League matches at Anfield. Two draws.
It is hardly the start Andoni Iraola would have imagined after taking charge of Liverpool.
For only the third time in 63 years, Liverpool have failed to win either of their opening two home league matches of a season. After the excitement surrounding the new era at Anfield, the early signs are beginning to raise a few questions.
The contrast between Liverpool’s midweek Champions League performance against Atletico Madrid and Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham could hardly have been greater.
Against Atletico, the Reds played with intensity, urgency and purpose. They looked like a side fully embracing Iraola’s approach and capable of causing problems for one of Europe’s strongest teams.
Against Fulham, however, that energy disappeared.
Liverpool looked tired both physically and mentally, struggling to break down a Fulham side that arrived at Anfield short on confidence after conceding seven goals in their opening three league matches.
The result was a frustrating afternoon for Iraola and the home supporters, who saw little of the attacking spark that had been on display only a few days earlier.
Iraola’s First Real Test
Liverpool remain unbeaten, so there is no reason for panic just yet. But this was the first real indication of how Iraola’s team might cope with the demands of playing twice a week.
The schedule will only become more demanding as the season progresses, particularly with Champions League football added to the Premier League.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp often spoke about wanting his team to be instantly recognisable through its identity, intensity and style of play rather than simply its famous red shirts.
Iraola appears to want something similar.
But against Fulham, that identity was difficult to see.
The Liverpool manager admitted as much after the match.
“What was lacking was quite clear,” Iraola said. “It is the first game we had problems to create chances and score goals and make the difference offensively.”
That lack of attacking threat was ultimately decisive.
Liverpool have collected just six points from their first four Premier League matches. They have drawn with Nottingham Forest and Fulham at Anfield, shared the points with Newcastle United away from home and picked up their only victory at Ipswich.
For a club with ambitions of competing at the top end of the table, that is a disappointing return.
Alisson Demands More
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was equally frustrated by the result.
The Brazilian made it clear that remaining unbeaten is not enough if the team continues to drop points in matches they are expected to win.
“We are not happy at all with the draw,” Alisson told Sky Sports. “It is not something that should happen with Liverpool.”
He also highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing Iraola’s squad: maintaining the same intensity when matches arrive every few days.
“If we want to do something special this season we have to cope with playing a game Wednesday, Saturday and then Tuesday,” Alisson added.
“We need to have the right mental state and that was not the case from what we showed.”
That comment perhaps summed up Liverpool’s performance better than anything else.
The quality is clearly there. The problem is finding the energy and consistency to produce it every few days.
Liverpool’s New Attack Needs Time
There was plenty of anticipation surrounding Liverpool’s attacking line, with the £364 million trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz starting together in a league match for the first time.
On paper, the combination looks frightening.
On the pitch, however, the chemistry is still a work in progress.
Liverpool created some opportunities against Fulham but nowhere near enough to reflect the attacking talent available to Iraola.
Isak, in particular, struggled to get involved. The Swedish striker managed just 16 touches during the entire 90 minutes, the second-lowest total recorded by a Liverpool outfield player in the available data.
His lowest total came against Nottingham Forest two weeks earlier, when he registered just 14 touches.
Wirtz was also unable to reproduce the outstanding performance he delivered against Atletico Madrid, while Barcola and Isak showed glimpses of what could eventually become a dangerous partnership.
But partnerships take time.
So does building a new attacking system around several expensive arrivals.
Iraola acknowledged that his players are still developing physically and tactically.
“Bradley is one we are building up physically with games and the games will give him the condition we want,” he said.
But the manager knows the problem extends beyond one player.
“We lack the freshness,” Iraola added. “I only remember one clear chance for Fulham and we kept the structure, but offensively we need to do much better.”
No Crisis — But Liverpool Must Improve
There is no need for Liverpool supporters to press the panic button after four league matches.
The team is unbeaten, the season is still young and Iraola is attempting to establish a new system with a squad that has undergone significant changes.
But the dropped points at Anfield cannot simply be ignored.
Liverpool have already shown what they are capable of producing, particularly in their impressive Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid. The challenge now is reproducing that level of intensity when the schedule becomes relentless.
If Liverpool are serious about competing for major honours, they cannot afford too many more afternoons like the one against Fulham.
The quality is there.
The depth is there.
Now Iraola needs to find a way to make sure the energy and attacking sharpness are there every time Liverpool step onto the pitch.
