Jeremy Jacquet
Jeremy Jacquet
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Former Liverpool player Alvaro Arbeloa spent much of the late 2000s and early 2010s keeping Andoni Iraola out of the Spanish national team, and he spent much of his Saturday afternoon keeping the former Athletic Club defender's new side out at Anfield in the first managerial meeting between the two right-backs.
Liverpool dialled in a poor performance across the board against Arbeloa's previously pointless Fulham, struggling physically across the first half in particular and, after failing to create enough chances to make a win an inevitability, were bereft of any kind of invention to shift the result in their favour.
Iraola, who earned his first Anfield win with a completely contrasting performance against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, was brutally honest in his assessment, admitting his side were "clearly not as good offensively" as their previous performances this season had suggested they should be.
Indeed, Liverpool had scored in each of their previous 20 league games, a run that somehow defied the profligacy in front of goal of Arne Slot's flailing Reds last season.
Iraola, identifying the main issue with the first half as "arriving late for the presses", insisted he was happier with what he saw in the second half - even if he accepted his team didn't deserve the three points.
"We have been better structured and we controlled better the game in the second half," he told reporters after the game. "Even without scoring the goal, I was feeling more comfortable.
"Even if we haven't been incredible, and it was a struggle sometimes, we haven't conceded clear chances. The one we conceded was the one where we messed up the goal kick and that is the only clear chance we conceded.
"From there, we have defended quite well in terms of keeping a clean sheet. We had probably our best chances coming from set plays, hitting the crossbar, and one chance from Alex in the second half, but not a clear enough one that can score the goal you need in these kind of games when you are not playing well."
In truth, this was a performance all too similar to those that played out so often at Anfield last season. But why did Liverpool regress so badly against Fulham - and how can it get better?
Conversational football
Much has been made of the switch-up that Iraola's football will bring to Liverpool and the mood around the club and, even though the Reds have worn their imperfections on their sleeves this season, the green shoots of progress that have marked the Basque's first four games in charge have been enough for things to feel like they're starting to move in the right direction.
Supporters hear the positive assessments from the players and see the effort they're putting in on the pitch - and that's why the Reds were spared the boos that would have undoubtedly greeted Slot's Liverpool had they played this game in April.
Vocal dissent was audible and, at times, ugly in the ground, though, towards a performance that bore many of the hallmarks of those dark days, when optimism in the fanbase was at a generational low point.
For starters, Liverpool were slow. The Reds played just 129 of their 253 first-half passes in Fulham's defensive half and Alisson and Virgil van Dijk in particular were slow to release the ball when playing out from defence.
Liverpool also lost possession in their own half 15 times during the opening 45 minutes, the most shocking example of which was a heart-stopping blunder by their Brazilian No. 1, whose blushes were spared by Jeremy Jacquet's goal-line clearance.
Losing the ball in their own half so often was a consequence of their ponderous build-up and an infectious wastefulness in possession, their 81.4% passing accuracy the lowest the Reds have clocked in a single half since the first half of the opening day against Newcastle United (79.1%).
That dropped alarmingly to just 61.0% in the final third, meaning Liverpool were unable to sustain attacks. Kostas Tsimikas, hauled off at half-time, found it particularly difficult to link up with Bradley Barcola and completed just 64.5% of his passes.
It wasn't for the want of trying for Liverpool's attackers. Victor Munoz, who played 60 minutes before being withdrawn for Cody Gakpo, was industrious as ever - attempting the most dribbles (four) and winning four of his five duels.
Alexander Isak, too, looked confident. The Swede made only three touches in the box, but all three were shots, and tried to create something from nothing in the second half when he chopped past Antonee Robinson and hit a low effort through David Affengruber's legs.
But the No. 9 managed just four touches anywhere on the pitch in that dour first half, being almost completely isolated from his teammates. Only Florian Wirtz exchanged passes with Isak more than three times during the entire match (two from Isak to Wirtz, two from Wirtz to Isak), and the £125m man was on the fringes of proceedings.
Opta passing graphic: Alexander Isak was isolated in the Liverpool attack, Florian Wirtz the only player to exchange more than three passes with the No. 9
Opta passing graphic: Alexander Isak was isolated in the Liverpool attack, Florian Wirtz the only player to exchange more than three passes with the No. 9(Image: Opta)
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The isolation of Liverpool's central striker was something of a calling card for Slot's Reds, even in the title-winning season, and the toothless attacking play on display on Saturday showed those problems haven't been completely trained out just yet.
Bradley Barcola was quiet again but, like Isak, it would be harsh to attribute too much blame to the Frenchman, who played the Sweden international in on goal with a lovely through ball in the early stages.
But Wirtz was the only other member of Liverpool's four-man attack who actually passed the ball to Barcola on Saturday, which occurred on just two occasions during the No. 29's 60 minutes on the field.
Beyond that, both Tsimikas and Milos Kerkez passed to Barcola five times, and the only other two players to pass to the £123m signing from PSG were van Dijk (three) and Dominik Szoboszlai (four).
Liverpool's two most expensive signings of all time being essentially out of the game meant the Reds produced just seven touches in Fulham's box in that first half, while the Cottagers racked up 17 at the other end.
The west London side had found it easy to open up space on Liverpool's right, Alex Iwobi dropping into midfield to drag Ronald Araujo out of position while Robinson marauded from left-back.
It was precisely the kind of movement Iraola demands from his sides, players dragging their markers into uncomfortable positions, but Liverpool failed to come up with anything similar against a side lining up in a very similar formation where space was always going to be at a premium.
Lacklustre on the ball, sloppy in possession and weak off it, Liverpool won just 43.5% of their duels before the break and did not look like a team playing at home.
Something needed to change - and, to Iraola's credit, it did.
Better after the break
Though Liverpool didn't do enough to win the game, they did tighten things up in the second half - but that arguably produced an even duller affair from the perspective of the fan in the stands.
Taking off Tsimikas for Kerkez at the break and and introducing Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo for Ryan Gravenberch and Munoz after 60 minutes did enough to ensure Liverpool won more of the duels in the second half (62.1%), but otherwise, there was little in the way of sweeping tactical changes at the break.
Szoboszlai, already absent from the midfield again, moved even further into his favoured position in the right half-space in the second half, which was likely under instruction from Iraola to shut down Fulham's overloads.
It paid off defensively, Fulham's touches in Liverpool's box dropping to just seven in the second half, but arguably stifled the Reds even further in attack by reducing central passing options even further.
Opta duel map: Dominik Szoboszlai was once again missing from the midfield battle, losing all but one of his duels and contesting all but one of them in wide areas in Fulham's half
Opta duel map: Dominik Szoboszlai was once again missing from the midfield battle, losing all but one of his duels and contesting all but one of them in wide areas in Fulham's half(Image: Opta)
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Szoboszlai also lost possession more often than any other player on the pitch (22 times), completed just one of his nine duels - none of them in the central attacking third of the pitch - and attempted no tackles in another game that asked questions of his suitability for a role in Iraola's double pivot.
Despite creating the most chances for Liverpool (four), he appeared to be playing a separate game to his midfield partner, Gravenberch. The Dutchman had another disappointing game, completing only 80% of his passes and winning just two of five ground duels, but the lack of anything approaching an on-field relationship between him and the Hungary captain was even more concerning.
Szoboszlai passed to Gravenberch just three times over the course of the match, and Gravenberch to Szoboszlai just four. As things stand, this is not a midfield partnership, this is exactly what it looks like - two players ostensibly starting next to each other but playing completely different roles, with seemingly no understanding whatsoever between each other.
Liverpool won 71.4% of their duels after Mac Allister's introduction, after winning just 37.5% after the break before the Argentine replaced Gravenberch. This isn't to throw Gravenberch under the bus - other players were far below their levels on Saturday - but Mac Allister is currently allowing Liverpool to play with far better structure than the No. 38.
Aside from the improvements off the ball, Liverpool got better at keeping the ball as the second half went on. Possession rose from 52.5% before the break to 59.6% after it, and passing success in the final third improved to 81.6%.
This was Liverpool playing it safe, though, and they resorted to crossing the ball rather than attempting the riskier passes. With 12 crosses in the second half, the Reds doubled their tally from the first half, despite winning just two corners - one fewer than the first half.
It was far from an aerial bombardment, but it was a symptom of circulating possession around the edge of the box failing to generate openings. For that, the Reds will need to play quicker in future.
Jacquet the silver lining
There's only so much to be said about how much Liverpool lacked in attack, so it's only fair to take another look at what went well defensively. Aside from the changes Iraola made to shore things up, the most important factor in securing a second consecutive clean sheet was Jeremy Jacquet.
Jacquet's greatest attribute, which can only be demonstrated so much by the stats, is his composure. Coming into a team in transition and replacing French international Ibrahima Konate seamlessly should not be underplayed for a player who turned 21 over the summer.
Jacquet had the most touches for Liverpool (96) on Saturday, seven more than his centre-back partner van Dijk. That is significant - van Dijk has for nine years been the lynchpin in Liverpool's progression from the back, but that now seems to be shifting.
Jacquet finished level with the captain for passes into the final third (13), and made the most line-breaking passes (18) of any player on the pitch (Fotmob).
Jeremy Jacquet heatmap (Opta): the 21-year-old dictated play from the back against Fulham, getting on the ball early and driving Liverpool forward with line-breaking passes
Jeremy Jacquet heatmap (Opta): the 21-year-old dictated play from the back against Fulham, getting on the ball early and driving Liverpool forward with line-breaking passes(Image: Opta)
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Virgil van Dijk heatmap (Opta): the captain was more involved higher up the pitch than usual, with attacks instead starting more often with his partner at centre-back
Virgil van Dijk heatmap (Opta): the captain was more involved higher up the pitch than usual, with attacks instead starting more often with his partner at centre-back(Image: Opta)
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Alisson played more passes (seven) to Jacquet than van Dijk (six), and comparing their heatmaps shows how attacks frequently started with Jacquet, whose quality on the ball at such a young age is extremely promising.
The 21-year-old won eight of his nine duels, including all five of his aerials, in another towering performance that has made his adaptation to the Premier League look seamless.
A goal-line clearance from Gonzalo Garcia's admittedly tame effort was made to look even easier by how quickly Jacquet got back on his line after Alisson's early blunder, and the Frenchman was one of few players who could hold his head high leaving Anfield on Saturday night.
The press will unlock Liverpool's attack
With Alex Scott reportedly set to cost upwards of £100m, the chances of Liverpool strengthening their midfield with a more defensively-competitive signing in January appear to have fallen somewhat but, setting links with Lamine Camara aside for now, the Reds still need to get through at least the next three-and-a-half months of football with the options currently at their disposal.
Time can only increase these players' familiarity with Iraola's system, which should at least be able to improve Liverpool in an attacking sense.
Former Brentford and Spurs manager Thomas Frank, speaking on Match of the Day, drew attention to how Liverpool's numbers for high turnovers (5.3), shots from high turnovers (1.3), and direct attacks per 90 (1.5) have all gone down since last season, and are lower than either of Liverpool's previous two seasons and Bournemouth's 2025-26 campaign.
Frank called Iraola "a good coach", saying "I'm sure he will get that intensity up, because it's very important." In truth, the drop-off in the numbers is surprising precisely because it doesn't mirror what the eye test has shown up until now.
One limp performance out of four can obviously skew the numbers at this stage, and Liverpool played a much more conservative game after going 2-0 up early against Ipswich, but the defensive effort from the wingers in particular and the constant desire to play the ball forwards is something supporters can recognise and identify with.
This is no illusion and with time, Iraola will get this team pressing more efficiently. Liverpool supporters know all too well from watching Jurgen Klopp's sides that a good press can be your best playmaker, and that should see the Reds gradually improve in an attacking sense.
Florian Wirtz, who covered the most distance of any player in Red again on Saturday (12.3km), has already shown signs of improvement. Against Fulham, he won possession more times than any other player (six) and was also Liverpool's most effective player at winning the ball back in the final third, which he achieved three times.
There is obviously more to come from the German playmaker and he has still not shown his best in Red, but these are small signs that he is becoming better suited to the Premier League and that he can lead Liverpool's press.
With more time on the pitch for Liverpool than any of the three attackers who started alongside him on Saturday, it is to be hoped that a similar level of improvement can be expected from them. Barcola, who won all three of his tackles against Fulham, is showing plenty of positive signs already in that respect.
Saturday was a game every Liverpool fan will want to forget in a hurry - but there is plenty more to come from this team.
*All statistics used are from Opta unless otherwise stated.
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