Liverpool's dour goalless draw with Fulham has raised yet more questions about Andoni Iraola's side, with the Reds' boss having been warned what was to come by his own employers
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has had a tough start in charge of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Having seemingly taken a major step forward in the wins over Ipswich and Atletico Madrid, Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham felt like Liverpool had taken another two steps back.
Andoni Iraola remains undefeated as the Reds’ boss, but the momentum that had been built by those two victories feels as though it has been instantly deflated. A draw at home to a side that, up until that point, had not earned a single point is not the hallmark of a team that has turned a corner.
And in the stalemate against Fulham, we saw many of the same issues that plagued Liverpool last season. The Reds were ponderous, made the most basic of mistakes, and were ultimately lucky not to suffer a first defeat of the campaign.
It’s no surprise then that fans were leaving early, something which has become too familiar a sight over the last year. Just when they felt like they might have their faith in their side restored, they’re given a stark reminder of where they really are.
At this point, you can’t lay much of the blame at Iraola’s door. He was handed an underperforming side which had just lost three of its most important figures, and the experience of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate has not been replaced, even if Jeremy Jacquet looks to be a more-than able heir to the latter.
Rather more worrying is that Iraola was warned by the club’s owners that this would be coming.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola is yet to win a league game at home since taking charge of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
"When I came here, the owners told me everything is not perfect,” Iraola said upon beginning work with the Reds.
“They said we would have some challenges, we would have to replace important players leaving, we have some injuries. But we are here to solve these kinds of problems and to try to maximize what we have. In my opinion, we have a very good squad."
That makes Liverpool’s subsequent transfer business all the more confusing. Quality was prioritized over quantity, but the problem with that approach was in full view on Saturday.
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Iraola claimed his side was lacking freshness after the midweek win over Atletico Madrid. Such is the makeup of his squad though that he couldn’t make any major changes, and the ones he did simply didn’t work.
Telling him “everything is not perfect” feels like something of an understatement now. This does not look like a team built for the rigors of playing twice a week, and issues in midfield and defense that were glaring last season have still not been addressed.
Iraola is going to have to prove to be an incredible problem solver if his side is to meet the hefty expectations that should be in place for a club the size of Liverpool, and for a side that has been so expensively assembled. Right now though, it doesn’t look like he’s been handed the right tools for the job.