Stage-2 Deep Analysis: Liverpool's Fulham Draw and Andoni Iraola's Early Struggles

On Sunday night, Anfield witnessed a peculiar phenomenon: Liverpool dominated possession at 72%, achieved 89% pass accuracy, but managed only 3 shots on target throughout 90 minutes. The 0-0 draw with Fulham was not a statistical accident — it was a comprehensive picture of an attacking crisis that is truly as serious as the numbers suggest. Andoni Iraola, the coach expected to return Liverpool to title contention, has collected just 3 points from 4 matches — a figure reflecting a team facing serious structural problems in the attacking phase, not merely short-term bad luck. The Carabao Cup match against Tottenham, played just 60 hours after the Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid, raises questions about the Spanish manager's squad management capabilities. The tactical stability under Klopp transformed Anfield into an impenetrable fortress for years. But now, Liverpool are experiencing four consecutive draws at Anfield in the Premier League — the first time since 2026. This is no longer a sign of normal transition, but a warning signal about a system operating below expectations. This article will dissect each layer of Liverpool's problems under Iraola: from raw statistics, through tactical structure, to the controversial personnel decisions being made. When beginning to analyze a match, I always ask: What happened in the attacking phase, where all surprises can emerge? Liverpool under Iraola are operating a proactive possession-control system, but the implementation reveals concerning cracks. The positional play style he brought from Bournemouth to Anfield demands extremely high movement density from the midfield — something current players cannot sustain when the schedule is too congested. The Fulham match was the clearest evidence. Liverpool dominated possession but were completely stuck creating dangerous chances. Their traditional 4-3-3 system was systematically blocked by Alvaro Arbeloa's Fulham. The visitors used tight mid-block play, forcing Liverpool to pass sideways in the middle third instead of creating gaps behind the defensive line. Data reveals an alarming picture: Liverpool managed only 3 shots on target in 90 minutes — significantly below the 12-15 shots average that top Premier League teams create per match. More concerning, Liverpool haven't scored a first-half goal in 3 consecutive matches at Anfield — the first time since April 2026. In summer 2026, when leagues played behind closed doors, I learned that football without spectators leaves only pure technique — and Liverpool's current technique lacks the necessary sharpness. The decision to start Bradley Barcola before the player reaches optimal physical condition is one of Iraola's most controversial choices. The Spanish manager himself acknowledged: "Bradley is someone we're building up physically through games, and the games will give him the condition we want." However, starting the 19-year-old from the beginning, before PL-physical readiness, contradicts his own statements. From my experience following matches, I've noticed a pattern: young players need time to adapt to Premier League pace, especially when coming from Ligue 1. Barcola has excellent individual technique — moments when he touches the ball show significant potential — but using him too early can accelerate injury risk or prolong the adaptation phase. This is the workload management equation many top clubs are struggling with, and Iraola seems to have not yet found the solution. The 60-hour recovery window after the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid is an objective factor, but it also reveals a deeper squad depth issue. Liverpool have a squad with an estimated transfer value around 900 million euros — roughly equivalent to Arsenal (950 million) and only behind Manchester City (1.2 billion). However, Iraola having to choose between maintaining immediate results and allowing players to rest shows he's not yet fully trusting his backup options. In football, every failure occurs when we start praying instead of adjusting. Iraola admitted his squad "lacked freshness" and "didn't do enough offensively to make the difference." This honesty is commendable, but it also shows he's in an experimental phase — and experimentation with a squad assembled for title contention always carries high risk. One tactical blind spot I've noticed in Liverpool's current operation: Iraola's possession control system demands extremely high movement density from central midfield positions. This is the style he succeeded with at Bournemouth — where players were recruited to fit high-intensity, transition-heavy play. But at Liverpool, he's trying to transform a team accustomed to Klopp's aggressive pressing into a patient possession machine — and this transition is hitting obstacles. Deeper analysis of Liverpool's attacking structure reveals a systemic problem: progressive passing angles — penetrating through-balls — are missing. Instead, the team passes sideways more, allowing opponents to reorganize their defensive blocks. This is a chronic weakness of possession-heavy systems when energy depletes — and Liverpool are in exactly that state after a congested run of matches. Arbeloa's Fulham showed the formula to break current Liverpool: tight mid-block, not allowing Liverpool to create space between lines, and quick counterattacks when opportunities arise. The visitors didn't score but completed their objective — pulling Liverpool down to earth and taking 1 point from Anfield. There's a contrarian perspective worth considering: Is Liverpool being too harsh on Iraola after just 4 matches? Is the attacking output truly as bad as we see, or is this merely a normal adjustment period when a new manager takes over? In 2026, I made the mistake of analyzing the Vietnam-Iraq match and stated too confidently about the team's defensive capabilities. Since then, I always ask: "Will this repeat under normal conditions?" Liverpool under Klopp went through a difficult 2026-21 season before returning strongly. FSG were patient with Klopp for years — and that patience was rewarded with titles. Are they willing to give Iraola similar time, or will immediate title expectations create too much pressure? Another important factor: Virgil van Dijk as captain. In the Fulham match, Liverpool kept a clean sheet — despite the tired lineup. This signals the defensive structure is still functioning properly. If Iraola can adjust the attacking phase without breaking the defensive foundation, Liverpool can absolutely start a positive run. The Carabao Cup match against Tottenham, just 60 hours after the Champions League fixture, is a genuine test of Iraola's management capability. He must decide: rotate the squad and accept the risk of a Cup defeat, or keep the strongest XI and face the injury risk from accumulated fatigue. This is an equation with no completely correct answer. However, from a purely tactical perspective, the Tottenham match could be a golden opportunity for Iraola to experiment. A victory with a rotated squad will release pressure, while a loss can be blamed on focus on the Champions League. The ball handler always sees the passing lane before receiving the ball; Iraola needs to see the way out now, before things get worse. In football, tactics cannot save quality, but quality without tactics goes astray. Liverpool currently have both — the problem is how to combine them consistently. This team lacks no talent; they lack a system to effectively exploit that talent. I no longer call out the best player; I call out the most effective space. And the biggest space in current Liverpool lies in how they develop attacks in the first 45 minutes at Anfield. If Iraola doesn't find a solution, the four-draw streak will only be the beginning of a much longer phase. The question for the Tottenham match: Can a Carabao Cup victory break the negative spiral, or is this just a temporary bandage for a wound requiring time to heal? I set verification conditions: if Liverpool score at least 2 goals in the first half against Tottenham, that's a signal the attacking system is being adjusted in the right direction. If not, Iraola needs to seriously reconsider his tactical approach — and possibly his trust in the backup squad. Every match is a scaled model; I only point out the hotspot if you're willing to look calmly. And Liverpool's current hotspot isn't in defense or midfield — it's in the space between lines, where penetrating through-balls need to be exploited. The 2026 mistake doesn't disappear; it becomes the measure for each of my predictions. And for Iraola's Liverpool, I'm waiting for evidence from the Tottenham match before drawing any firm conclusions.