Frustrated Liverpool lack any spark as Fulham claim deserved first point

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On his return to Anfield, and under the watchful eye of former manager Rafael Benítez, Arbeloa thwarted Iraola once again to claim his first Premier League point as Fulham head coach against an ineffective Liverpool.Fulham belied their lowly position and run of three league defeats to take a merited point from a Liverpool team that was a pale imitation of the one that beat Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. With more conviction in front of goal, Arbeloa’s side could have capitalised on Liverpool’s malaise.Bradley Barcola created an early, difficult chance for Alexander Isak that the striker swept wide of the far post.

But that was the sum total of Liverpool’s first-half enterprise.Fulham were gifted a glorious opportunity when Alisson played a ridiculous pass to Gravenberch, who was under pressure from Sander Berge. Jacquet came to Liverpool’s rescue once again seconds later when preventing García breaking through with an excellent challenge.Liverpool were deserving of a few home truths during the break – chiefly, you would have been lambasted for this last season under Arne Slot – and performed with more intensity in the second half.

Isak finally escaped Bassey’s attentions in stoppage time but his flicked header from a Szoboszlai corner sailed wide.Arbeloa said: “When you are not winning games it’s not so easy for your players to believe in your ideas. But they believe in the way we have been working and I showed them the things that we were doing so well.