Liverpool were held to a drab goalless draw by Fulham at Anfield, and Liverpool 0-0 Fulham was the final score in front of their own supporters. It was Liverpool’s third Premier League draw of the season. This update, published on 3 October 2026, sets out Andoni Iraola’s explanation for why his side struggled to press in the first half, and why that changed once the second half began.
The existing sections, kept in order
Liverpool made three changes to the starting team that had beaten Atlético Madrid in their previous match, bringing in Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz for Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha. Despite the reshuffle, neither side could find a breakthrough. Fulham left Anfield with a point from a goalless contest.
How Andoni Iraola explains Liverpool’s pressing
According to Andoni Iraola, Liverpool did not press as well as he would have liked, particularly in the first half. His players were slow to close down Fulham’s defenders in those early stages, which allowed the visitors time to settle into the match. Iraola made this point directly to reporters after the final whistle at Anfield.
“Today, especially in the first half, we were arriving late to the presses,” Iraola said.
Iraola said that issue eased after the break, with Liverpool noticeably better organised in the second half as they searched for a winner. That shift in structure was central to how Liverpool 0-0 Fulham played out after the interval, even though neither side added to the scoreline.
“It’s clear and I think we improved this part in the second half, we’ve been better structured in the second half even if we didn’t score, I was feeling more comfortable,” he added.
What happens next
Liverpool’s attention now turns to their next Premier League fixture. Supporters can already find the confirmed team news and the match details ahead of that game, while those wanting more on how a recent fixture unfolded can also read our Bournemouth win report for the full result.
Iraola’s full remarks from Anfield are available in Iraola’s press conference, where he spoke in detail about the draw with Fulham. This piece updates the original report with his complete assessment of the pressing problem he identified after the game.
