Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Fulham as Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak all struggled to make an impact for Andoni Iraola's side at Anfield
Alexander Isak and Antonee Robinson during Liverpool vs Fulham.
Alexander Isak and Antonee Robinson during Liverpool vs Fulham.(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool has now dropped points in three of Andoni Iraola's first four Premier League matches in charge after his attack misfired against Fulham.
A dire first half saw Victor Munoz come close for Liverpool with a header, but Fulham was the likelier of the two teams to open the scoring with Gonzalo Garcia looking a threat. Iraola's side simply wasn't moving the ball fast enough.
Liverpool, playing a third game in eight days, looked jaded in the second half. There were half-chances for Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, but little more than that. Florian Wirtz was once again limited in his influence.
Winners
Alexis Mac Allister offered more than those in his role had when he entered the field, but it was a struggle for almost the whole Liverpool team here. Going forward, there was not much in the way of clear-cut chances to score.
Even Fulham, though, will feel frustrated that it didn't make more of the opportunity, having found things much easier than it might have. Jeremy Jacquet was one of the few to emerge with much credit.
Losers
Jeremie Frimpong could be forgiven for wondering how he might get back into the starting XI, given how well Ronald Araujo has settled in. It is as much that they are very different kinds of players stylistically than anything else, and the more stable, center-back at full-back approach seems to be working.
On the opposite flank, though, it is nowhere near as straightforward. Kostas Tsimikas was terrible and got taken off after 45 minutes to be replaced by Milos Kerkez. Across the board, but especially in attack, Liverpool's key players underperformed.
Player ratings
Alisson Becker (6). Got away with a crazy pass to Ryan Gravenberch in the opening stages when he could have given away a penalty on Josh King. Had less to do in the second half.
Ronald Araujo (6). Starting at right-back again, the Uruguayan carried on where he left off to begin with. Aerially dominant, in the right place at the right time, and increasingly comfortable in possession, without ever looking that likely to regularly create chances. He tired, though, and wasn't always able to keep up with Alex Iwobi.
Jeremy Jacquet (7). In possession, the 21-year-old is excellent. He made a good few tackles and blocks here, too, with Gonzalo Garcia at times a handful, but was part of a defense that was at times given the runaround.
Virgil van Dijk (6). Perfectly fine, as ever, but unable to stop the waves of Fulham attacks coming. Not helped by the opposition being too easily able to stroll through the center.
Kostas Tsimikas (4). In for Milos Kerkez, to say the Greek was rusty would be an understatement. Tried to keep it simple going forward and didn't try anything overly adventurous. A number of times, though, his miscontrolling of the ball frustrated the home fans, and Oscar Bobb got past him far too easily. Hooked at half-time.
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Ryan Gravenberch (6). Back into the side ahead of Alexis Mac Allister, he was a lot better than his cameo off the bench midweek, but it wasn't difficult. Good on the ball and covered plenty of ground, breaking forward to join the attack as often as he could, but couldn't really help establish the kind of control that Liverpool needs from him.
Dominik Szoboszlai (5). Some of his passing was wildly off, as it has been a few times this season so far. Ran into a few blind alleys and slowed the game down by putting his foot on the ball too much. Terrible is perhaps a tad harsh, but he was a mile off where he can be and needs to be.
Victor Munoz (6). He has electric pace, and it makes such a difference to the Liverpool team. Came close with a header in the first half and was a livewire throughout the opening 45 minutes, but looked very tired in the second half and was taken off.
Florian Wirtz* (6). *As ever, some nice touches and skills in tight corners, but often lacked conviction in the final third when it came to either a shot or a pass. Liverpool needed a lot more from him.
Bradley Barcola (6). Starting on the left here having looked comfortable on the right against Atletico Madrid, he wasn't as involved as he would have liked. There were flashes of what he can do, but there is much more to come. There has to be.
Alexander Isak (5). Like Barcola, he wasn't on the ball enough. Liverpool has to find a way of him being more influential.
Substitutes
Milos Kerkez (6). On at half-time, the left-back was better than Tsimikas, but still far from perfect. Everything still looks a little rushed.
Alexis Mac Allister (7). Surprisingly left out after an excellent showing midweek, the Argentine instantly looked like an upgrade on Gravenberch. One shot from 40 yards, though, summed up the lack of creativity.
Cody Gakpo (6). Back from injury, the Dutchman wasn't able to turn the tide in the final third. Playing from the right, he never really looked that comfortable.
Jeremie Frimpong (6). On at right-back rather than on the wing, he didn't make much of a difference.
Rio Ngumoha (6). Beat his man a couple of times but couldn't change the course of the game and blazed one shot over.