Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage in London on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage in London on January 4, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw against Fulham in the Premier League at Craven Cottage.
Arne Slot has insisted that he has not swayed from his attacking philosophy despite Liverpool’s ongoing troubles in attack.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno barely had a save to make all afternoon, with Gakpo dragging a shot wide while Alexis Mac Allister headed against the crossbar. But after a goalless stalemate with Leeds United on New Year’s Day - as well as not being fluent in a 2-1 win over basement side Wolves - Liverpool’s concerns in the final third continued.
The Reds were without a recognised striker against Fulham, with Hugo Ekitike not risked because of a hamstring issue while Alexander Isak continues to recover from a broken leg. In addition, Mo Salah is unavailable as he represents Egypt at the African Cup of Nations.
What’s been said
Slot believes that was a contributing factor to Liverpool’s lack of firepower. The Reds boss said: “We showed great resilience from the start if you miss out on so many attacking options and you come here against Fulham. They are a good team having good ideas about football and we hardly conceded a chance against them. I think they had one other chance in the second half when we maybe messed it up a little bit ourselves when they had a chip on the bar. But for the rest I think we controlled the game and yes, I would love us to create more from our ball possession.
“I can tell you this. My philosophy of football hasn't changed this year compared to all the seasons I was a manager before. But we have to do it with the players that are available. I think today 11 very good football players were on the pitch.
“Maybe not all of them in their normal position. But in the first half they controlled the game and just before [Fulham] scored, we had exactly the same chance from Cody Gakpo, which went on the other side of the post. In the second half, two disallowed goals, two goals scored and a header onto the bar. So, [there] are things to like - but the result is again probably not what we deserved.
“Like I said, I would love to create five times as many chances as we do now and not concede a chance at all. But I do know in the period of time when we were playing maybe either with different players or more open, I don't think we created that many more chances, but we conceded much more. Unfortunately, we don't concede a lot at the moment in terms of chances, but goal-wise maybe not a lot has changed. Like I said, I didn't change as a manager: I would love to play with eight attackers if that is possible defensively as well, but if those eight attackers don't defend enough then it's hard to win a game of football. But we don't have eight attackers, so that's not possible.”
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