Liverpool v Fulham - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Liverpool v Fulham A Liverpool Perspective



An horrendously flat performance and atmosphere. Even under Klopp, there were times that the weekend game following a midweek UCL match were similarly bad, though not quite this bad. Iraola's attempt to freshen up the line-up failed to have the effect of boosting energy, instead the changes just affected the team's fluency and the link ups were simply not happening. The lack of movement was shocking, with Isak playing musical statues without the music and Barcola and Munoz offering little in the way of runs in behind. That left Fulham able to condense the spaces and there was no one moving them around to create spaces for their teammates to get on the ball. The few times there was movement, Liverpool created their chances from.

The midfield set up did not work, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai do not have the defensive nous and allow themselves to be dragged all over the place. Often they just wander about and completely forget to work as a pairing. They both have excellent mobility and the ability is there to work as a pair, but they lack the mentality to make it work and were completely shown up by the midweek performance of Nyoni and Mac Allister, who did act in concert. On the left side, Tsimikas, Wirtz and Barcola had no understanding and were on completely different wavelengths, resulting in a mess down that side and it was little surprise that Iraola sought to make a change at half-time.

The second half did see an improved performance from the Reds, but it was still very poor. If Fulham were not such a weak side, this could have been a totally different result. As it was, LFC could really have gone on to win the game but for some dreadful finishing and a complete lack of running from the forwards. The biggest overall issue was something that has been a recurring issue of poor performances for years, slow movement of the ball. The play was just always too slow, there was no sudden injection of pace to catch anyone out, it was just constant slow, slow, slow, giving Fulham plenty of time to adjust defensively as the ball rolled about at a leisurely pace.


Fulham


The London side are very poor under Arbeloa, it is no surprise they are down near the bottom as they showed little sign of being a genuine threat against Liverpool, despite having wide open spaces in midfield to run through. Unless Arbeloa improves things quickly there, he will soon be picking up his P45, as they look like certain relegation battlers right now. It is only that Coventry have been so shockingly poor that has seen them avoid the spotlight for their poor form. It has not been helped by letting Lukic go, who was key for them last season.



Liverpool


Alisson - made one big error early on, giving the ball away in the box, which caused absolute panic stations. Other than that he was solid and, when the chance was there, he looked to pick out the runner, as he did with an early ball to Wirtz.


Araujo - despite being at right-back, he is playing very well. Not as effective as a natural full-back would be when getting forward, but he supports the attacks very well, as well as being solid defensively.


Jacquet - apart from one lax moment, when he gave away a throw deep inside the Liverpool half, he was very good.


van Dijk - his passing out from the back was very poor, those big diagonals were unusually inaccurate from him. Defensively he was sound, though Fulham did not exactly push him.


Tsimikas - had an awful half, could not link up and his only good point was a decent early cross which was let down by the lack of players attacking it. It was no surprise when he was taken off at half-time, though he was not the only candidate for the hook!


Szoboszlai - his set pieces were good, but the rest of his play was poor and he shows a tendency towards the casual that is maddening. There is so much there, but he is drifting as a player, not showing full focus and sloppy on the ball, it needs to be sorted before he loses his way.


Wirtz - he was the only one working for the team of the front four that started the game. He was moving players to create space for others off the ball, but when he gets the ball every one just drops off towards, pulling the defenders closer to him and leaving him hemmed in. It is frustrating to watch him play a good through ball which ends up looking poor because the intended target could not be bothered to run. That was particularly prevalent in this match. He also pulled the centre back away with a run to create space for Barcola to shoot, but the shot was awful. He is certainly not the issue in the midfield, but he was being made to look bad by those around him. At one point, his only alternative was to turn around and play the ball back to Araujo, after every player in front just dropped off and blocked up any possibility of forward movement.


Gravenberch - he was terrible, his passing is abysmal and he was not having a good game defensively. His lack of positional discipline is appalling.


Munoz - he had the beating of Robinson but had no idea what to do with the ball. He just ended up running with it head down and eventually losing it, usually, or, occasionally, playing a blind pass to no one. His movement was poor as well, but he did have one of the better chances when his header was well saved by Leno. He needs to learn to get his head up when on the ball and could do with utilising his pace more to make runs in behind the defence. He is a willing worker, but does tend to get caught ball watching when he has tracked back.


Isak - possibly the worst player on the pitch. Not just because of how weak and ineffectual he was on the ball, but because of his complete lack of effort. He made no runs to open up the play for others or to get in behind himself. Worst was a number of times a ball was played that he could have got to but he did not make the effort. Sometimes it was through balls that he just stood and watched, the worst example being a ball played through by Mac Allister that he just stood and watched, but he also gave up on one overhit pass that he could easily have kept in but it was too much effort and he just stopped running. He did have one good moment, but his shot was as weak as his effort.


Barcola - struggled to get into the game. The understanding is not there yet with others. His finishing was poor.


Kerkez - came on at half-time in the place of Tsimikas. Much as I love the Greek Scouser, Kerkez was an immediate upgrade, his link up with Wirtz is showing a lot of positive signs.


Mac Allister - took the place of Gravenberch in the 60th minute. His arrival allowed the team to create pressure on Fulham for the first time in the match, due to him not wandering around and leaving a huge hole for Fulham to get out. He does look like a player playing for a new deal.


Gakpo - subbed on for Munoz in the 60th minute. The Dutchman is having a good season and he offered improved movement and link up play.


Frimpong - replaced Araujo in the 72nd minute. Got forward at every opportunity and managed to get a good cross in which Ngumoha really should have done better with.


Ngumoha - came on in the stead of Barcola. Apart from failing to put away that Frimpong cross, Ngumoha was again awful. It is not just that he is not playing well, it is the lack of effort which is frustrating. He is little help defensively, very half-hearted (at best) with his pressing and never wants to work for the team off the ball. He does not want to create space for others, he just wants to get the ball to feet and run with it. He needs to learn that it is a team game and sometimes you have to make runs knowing the ball is not going to come, but simply to create a gap for a teammate to use. It is understandable that he will make mistakes, but the lack of effort for the team is something that is not excusable. Especially when you are 18 years old, you should be working your backside off to make an impression, but he does not do that at all.

Written by Tris Burke September 18 2026 12:56:04