LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool produced a frustrating display on their return to Premier League action, failing to build on back-to-back wins as they drew 0-0 with Fulham.
Premier League (4) | Anfield
September 12, 2026
Tsimikas given rare chance as Iraola rests trio
With the visit of Tottenham to come in the Carabao Cup three days later, Andoni Iraola made three changes from the side that took on Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha came out of the side as Kostas Tsimikas made his first start of the season alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz.
It meant another start for Bradley Barcola despite his bout of cramp in midweek, while Cody Gakpo was able to take a place on the bench after adductor issues.
Munoz goes closest in slow first half
With the penetrative pace of Barcola and Munoz out wide, Liverpool had the onus to take the game to Fulham early on but struggled to find their fluency.
Fulham had early opportunities with Josh King particularly dangerous, while Jeremy Jacquet was forced to make a goal-line clearance as Alisson scrambled to deny Gonzalo Garcia.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno with a save during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno with a save during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Munoz, one of the smallest players on the pitch, struck the bar with a header from the corner before Florian Wirtz fired wide after an interchange between the Spaniard and Dominik Szoboszlai.
There was little in terms of chemistry between the front four of Wirtz, Barcola, Munoz and Isak, despite the No. 7 in particular working tirelessly to keep Liverpool moving.
Perhaps the tight turnaround of 65 hours had its effect, but as the half-time whistle blew Iraola will have known he needed to make an intervention.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Iraola brings off all three ‘changes’
That came with Tsimikas brought off at the break, with the Greek enduring a difficult half and his replacement Kerkez offering more width to allow Barcola to play inside.
Isak recorded the Reds’ first open-play shot on target in the 52nd minute, twisting into space before firing an effort towards the bottom corner which Bernd Leno collected.
Gravenberch and Munoz, the other two players brought into the side on the day, then made way on the hour as Mac Allister and Gakpo were brought on.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Jérémy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Jérémy Jacquet during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool grew frantic as the game wore on and opportunities weren’t developing, with a half-shout for a penalty on Mac Allister arguably their best hope before the closing stages.
With four minutes added on, Isak flicked a header wide from a corner in what proved to be the last real chance and summed up a disappointing afternoon for the Reds.
TIA Man of the Match: Jeremy Jacquet
Next match: Tottenham (H) – Carabao Cup – Tuesday, September 15, 8pm (BST)
Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo (Frimpong 72′), Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Kerkez 46′); Szoboszlai, Gravenberch (Mac Allister 60′); Munoz (Gakpo 60′), Wirtz, Barcola (Ngumoha 72′); Isak
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Endo, Nyoni, Koumas
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Gonzalo
Subs: Lecomte, Tete, Anderson, Larsson, Angel, Smith Rowe, Palacios, Kevin, Muniz
Referee: Thomas Bramall
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