Liverpool Had Every Weapon. Fulham Never Let Them Become an Attack.

0:00Liverpool followed their dramatic Champions League victory over a clinical Madrid with a frustrating goalless draw against Fulham at Anfield. This was not one of those scourless games filled with brilliant goalkeeping and countless missed opportunities. Liverpool simply never discovered the attacking rhythm that is required to take control. Yira Ola's team remains unbeaten, but that offers very little to absolutely no satisfaction. Considering Liverpool was expected to win this game, especially at home, but instead, Fulham matched them physically, disrupted their midfield, and created enough danger to believe they could have taken all three points. For Liverpool, this was a performance lacking freshness, lacking precision, as well as chemistry. For Fulham, it was a disciplined performance that comes with a fully deserved result. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Into the Net FC. My name, of course, is Alex Alcazaz, and I'm also known as the Bear of Texas. Liverpool's manager, Yira Ola, made changes following

1:05the short recovery period after Wednesday's Champions League match against Alcazazaz. Costa, Semycas, Ryan Gravenberg, and Victor Munoz entered the starting lineup. Bradley Balkola was fit enough to make his first Premier League star while Cody Goppo returned to the squad after missing the Athletico Madrid Champions League match with a minor injury. Now, I should address that I did not mention this in the episode talking about the game between Liverpool and Athletico Madrid about Cody Goppo being injured, so I apologize for that. I guess I just must have never noticed it. Liverpool's attacking group looked extremely talented on paper. Alexander Isac led the line. Florian Verts operated behind him with Bradley Balkola and Victor Munoz providing the width. Dominic Zobozlai and Gravenberg formed the midfield partnership. Once again, I forget as a Gravenberg or Gravenberg. I apologize. However, as we know, individual quality does not

2:07automatically produce a collective understanding and that ladies and gentlemen was Liverpool's biggest problem. The passes were not arriving at the correct moment. The runs were not synchronized. Liverpool's midfield struggled to move the ball into Verts and Isac fast enough while the two wingers frequently received possession without support required to attack Fulham's defensive structure. Fulham manager Alveiro Arbelloa returned to Anfield with a very clear plan. A very clear plan. His team remained compact without becoming completely defensive. Fulham protected the central spaces. They pressured Liverpool's midfield and they looked to attack whenever possession changed hands. They did not treat the game as an exercise in survival. They believed they were able to compete. Liverpool produced the first notable opening when Bradley Balkola created an opportunity for Isac from a very difficult angle. The striker directed his

3:10attempt wide but the move offered an early glimpse of what Balkola is able to provide. His acceleration allowed Liverpool to advance rapidly but those moments unfortunately were way too isolated. The most alarming incident for Liverpool arrived through a mistake inside their own penalty area. Alicin the goalie attempted to pass to Gravenberg who was already under immense pressure. Fulham recovered the ball and Josh King became involved before Gonzalo Garcia received an excellent opportunity to score. Jiremi Jaki rescued Liverpool with a goal line clearance. Jaki's intervention was one of the most important moments of the game and without it Liverpool could have found themselves chasing Fulham from behind. It also however exposed Liverpool's uncertainty when building from the back. The idea was to invite Fulham forward and pass through their pressure and the execution was in fact careless. Liverpool came the closest to scoring when Munoz met a sub-buzz-like corner with

4:13a glancing header. A player by name of Burnd Leno reacted very well and the ball simply struck the crossbar. It was a very good attempt from Munoz particularly considering his size but it was also significant that Liverpool's clearest first half opportunity came from a set piece rather than sustained attacking football. Fulham increasingly looked like the more coherent team in open play. Josh King repeatedly found useful position between Liverpool's midfield and defence. Anthony Robinson advanced from the left while a player by the name of Alex E. WoB provided intelligence and composure on the ball. Fulham were especially effective in attacking Liverpool's right side. They moved the ball quickly enough to pull Liverpool's defenders out of position while the home side's pressure regularly arrived too late. Oscar Bob received an excellent opportunity from an E. WoB delivery but failed to control the ball cleanly. Jeremy Jacque then made

5:14another important intervention to prevent Garcia from breaking through. Liverpool's young defender emerged as one of the strongest performers on the pitch. He defended proactively, recovered from dangerous situations and protected his team when the players ahead of him lost control. At half time Liverpool needed more than a slight tactical adjustment. They needed greater urgency and they needed it bad. Iraola replaced Semiqas with Miloz Kerkhez. The change gave Liverpool more energy and natural width on the left which allowed Braille Bacquilla to move into narrower positions. Neroer positions. Liverpool began the second half with greater response. ESAC created space for himself near the edge of the penalty area and forced a comfortable save from Leno. So Bozlai then combined with substitute Alexi McGalister before striking powerfully but Leno pushed the effort away. There was some improvement because Liverpool advanced with greater

6:15speed, recovered the ball more effectively and spent more time around Fulham's penalty area. However, the final action continued to let them down. Bacquilla reached a promising position but attempted to find ESAC with a cutback instead of shooting. The pass was unsuccessful and another potential dangerous attack simply disappeared. That moment reflected Liverpool's entire performance. The attacking players appeared uncertain about which decision to make and when to make it. Iraola introduced McGalister and Gapo for a Graven Burke and Munoz. He later added Jeremy Frimpong and Rio and Gamoha giving Liverpool even more pace on the outside. The substitutions altered the personnel but they did not solve the fundamental problem. Liverpool could still cannot manipulate Fulham's defensive shape. Their attacks became increasingly hurried and their frustration was highly visible. Fulham's defending deserves a massive considerable amount of credit. Calvyn Basie handled his battle with

7:21Alexander ESAC extremely well. He remained physically strong without becoming reckless and prevented Liverpool's striker from consistently receiving the ball into dangerous areas. A player by the name of David Affengruber also delivered an impressive performance on his Fulham debut. Together with Basie, he protected the penalty area and dealt calmly with Liverpool's crosses and behind them, Leno provided security whenever Liverpool did find a breakthrough. The visitors also continued to threaten on the counterattack. King Force Allison, the Liverpool goalie, into an important save and Fulham had other opportunities to punish Liverpool's increasingly aggressive positioning. They were not merely clearing the ball and waiting for the final whistle and such ambition is one reason why the point was deserved. Liverpool had two late chances to rescue the win. ESAC glanced ahead or wide from another sub-boss-like corner and Goumouha then met a frim pong cross but sent his attempt over the bar.

8:23Neither opportunity found the target and the final whistle confirmed a disappointing afternoon for Liverpool. The short recovery period undoubtedly influenced Liverpool's performance. They played an intense Champions League match against Latteco Madrid on Wednesday and Iraola admitted afterwards that his players lacked freshness. That explanation is legitimate but it cannot become an excuse. Liverpool are expected to compete across several competitions and that includes tight schedules with difficult European matches and rapid turnarounds that are of course part of the responsibility. On days when the team lacks energy it must also discover another way to win and that can come from a set piece, a long-range strike or one decisive moment of individual quality against Fulham none of those moments arrived. Liverpool's attacking chemistry remains a work in progress. Bradley Bakkola has only recently joined Liverpool and he is still building his physical

9:24condition. Alexander ESAC is learning the movement of the players around him. Florian Verts is adapting to a new system while Iraola continues experimenting with his wide players. Bradley Bakkola played from the left after operating from the right against Atletico Madrid. That versatility will become valuable but relationships cannot be developed instantly. The problem was not a lack of talent. Liverpool had an extraordinary amount of attacking quality on the field as well as on the bench. The problem was that the individual pieces did not function as one attacking unit. Florian Verts struggled to influence the game consistently. Alexander ESAC worked hard but was isolated for long stretches. Bradley Bakkola displayed flashes of acceleration without receiving enough opportunities in space and Munoz struck the cross-broad but otherwise found it difficult to enter the game. Liverpool's midfield unfortunately deserves some scrutiny. So Bozlai provided some of the better deliveries and tested Leno but the partnership

10:29with Gravenberg did not control the first half. Fulham were able to play through Liverpool's pressure because the distances between the midfielders and attackers were way too large. McGalister improved Liverpool circulation after entering but even that change was simply not enough to produce the breakthrough. Alison was unusually critical after this game. He acknowledged his own mistake and described Liverpool's collective display as poor. His reaction matters because it prevents Liverpool from hiding behind their unbeaten record. Remaining unbeaten sounds positive but draws that anfield cannot become acceptable when Liverpool have ambitions of competing for the Premier League title. For Fulham however, this performance could become an important turning point. Our below us team arrived under pressure after a difficult beginning to the season. Instead of playing with fear, they showed organization, composure as well as some personality. They defended together, they controlled Liverpool's transitions, they remained brave in possession and they created opportunities

11:30of their own. Arbel Loa, a former Liverpool defender returned to anfield and produced a tactical performance worthy of respect. His side understood exactly where Liverpool were too vulnerable and he executed the plan with such discipline. So the final assessment as far as I'm concerned for this game, my final assessment is pretty much straightforward. Fulham earned this point and Liverpool did not simply suffer from bad luck. Munoz, again, struck the crossbar. Liverpool had opportunities late in the game but Fulham also threatened forcing Alison into action and requiring Jeremy Jacque, the defender, to make a crucial goal line clearance. Liverpool were tired, they were disconnected and short of attacking inspiration. The playing sheet is in fact positive. Jeremy Jacque was excellent. Balkwala gained more valuable minutes and Cody Goppo successfully returned. Unfortunately, those positives cannot disguise the central truth. Liverpool possessed the talent to win the game but

12:35they did not produce the football required to win the game. Let me say that again. Liverpool possessed the talent to win this game but they did not produce the football required to win this game. Either OLS project remains unbeaten but it also remains unfinished. The win against a clinical Madrid demonstrated Liverpool's resilience as well as their ability to respond under pressure. But the Fulham draw demonstrated that they must become better at controlling matches in which they are expected to dominate. A goal is draw in September will not define Liverpool season. What happens next will be more revealing. Number one, if the attacking relationships develop and Liverpool learn to perform through fatigue, then this can be remembered as an early inconvenience. If the disconnection continues however, this afternoon at Anfield may be remembered as the first serious warning. So Liverpool has got to get it together because sooner or later,

13:36performances like this are going to lead to some very embarrassing and frustrating losses. And Liverpool simply cannot afford that. Ladies and gentlemen, into the net FC is available on Spotify as well as Apple Podcasts. As always, when I need you all to do, I need you all to hit that subscribe button. I need you all to hit that notification bell because I need to know for sure that you will not miss out on any exciting upcoming content. Thank you all very very much. You all have a good one and God bless.