Andoni Iraola was denied a third win on the bounce as a drab Liverpool side were held to a draw by out-of-form Fulham.
Liverpool very nearly gifted the visitors an opener after calamitous play out from the back saw Alisson give the ball away in his own box, but there was Jeremy Jacquet on the line to deny Gonzalo Garcia and spare his goalkeeper’s blushes.
The Reds then came close themselves in the 22nd minute, with Victor Munoz – the smallest man on the pitch – latching onto a corner and heading onto the crossbar.
Iraola tried to shake things up in the second half with Fulham holding firm, but the arrivals of Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha failed to inject enough attacking vigor into Liverpool as Alvaro Arbeloa recorded his first point as Cottagers boss.
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Next up for Fulham
Arbeloa now switches attention to a District Line derby away to West Ham in the EFL Cup midweek before Manchester United visit Craven Cottage next weekend.
Next up for Liverpool
Iraola’s side now face Spurs in the EFL Cup at Anfield on Tuesday night before the head coach returns to Bournemouth for a Premier League fixture next Sunday.
Still to come…
Spurs and Everton have just kicked off in north London and you can also join our live coverage from the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland host the champions Arsenal at 8pm.
Saturday’s other early results
Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford
Chelsea 2-2 Hull
Crystal Palace 2-3 Ipswich
Goals everywhere else but on Merseyside, then.
Iraola’s learning curve
A hugely deserved first point for Fulham, Alvaro Arbeloa and his rather impressive beard. An afternoon of frustration for Liverpool. A big test this season is how he copes in the Premier League games after Champions League matches. Not very well today, it transpired.
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
That’s the last piece of action. Fulham have their first point of the season and it is entirely deserved. Liverpool will be disappointed with an absence of ruthlessness in attack. They were flat throughout, the midweek toll of their Atletico win perhaps a major factor.
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
94’ – What a chance for Ngumoha. Frimpong dribbles down the right and crosses. It works through a cluster of players but just as the youngster looks primed to finish, Kevin gets in the way and preserves a point for Fulham.
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
94’ – Affengruber heads a Szoboszlai cross away. We’re into the final minute and fans are heading for the exits at Anfield.
