Liverpool 0-0 Fulham: Anfield stalemate as Reds' late pushes go unrewarded
By Ali Ammar · goals2026.org
Liverpool and Fulham played out a goalless draw at Anfield on Saturday, a contest short on goals but not on incident as both managers turned to their benches repeatedly in search of a winner. The Liverpool attack pushed hard in the closing stages, but a resolute Fulham backline held firm to secure a point that will be viewed as a solid away result for the visitors. Full coverage of this fixture, including the build-up and reaction, can be found via the match hub.
A tight, watchful opening
Neither side found the breakthrough in a first half that was cagey by nature. Liverpool saw more of the ball early on, but Fulham's shape restricted clear sight of goal, and the only alteration before the break came from the home side, who introduced Konstantinos Tsimikas at half-time in place of the starting left-back. Alisson Becker, in goal for the hosts, was rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes, while B. Leno was similarly untested at the other end as both teams probed patiently rather than committed men forward recklessly.
Liverpool freshen things up after the hour
The hosts made their intent clear just after the hour mark, bringing on Víctor Muñoz and Ryan Gravenberch in a double change on 60 minutes as they looked to inject fresh legs and ideas into their approach play. Fulham responded almost immediately, introducing Oscar Bobb three minutes later as manager sought to add width and pace to counter Liverpool's growing control. The game continued to ebb and flow without either goalkeeper being seriously called into action, though the introduction of Gravenberch — who earned a solid 6.79 rating for his cameo — added a further dimension to Liverpool's midfield.
A flurry of changes and Fulham's late rally
The final third of the match was defined by wholesale changes from both benches. Liverpool turned to Bradley Barcola and Ronald Araujo on 72 minutes, while Fulham simultaneously brought on Timothy Castagne in an effort to shore things up defensively. Five minutes later, Fulham made a triple substitution, sending on Gonzalo García, Josh King and Alex Iwobi in one go — a bold statement of intent from the visitors as they searched for a winner of their own late on. Joshua King, in particular, made an instant impact off the bench, finishing the match with a 7.00 rating from his 77 minutes on the pitch, one of the standout individual contributions of the afternoon. Kenny Tete picked up a booking in the 81st minute for Fulham, the only card of the contest, but neither side was able to fashion the decisive moment, and the match petered out goalless.
What the numbers say
Liverpool shaded possession at 56% to Fulham's 44% and also edged the shot count 14 to 10, though the away side were arguably the sharper of the two in front of goal, registering four shots on target compared to Liverpool's three. Fulham also had the better of the corner count, winning eight to Liverpool's five, a reflection of their willingness to sit in and look to work set-piece opportunities. Both goalkeepers were called upon three times each, underlining how, for all the possession and territory, clear-cut chances were at a premium throughout.
In terms of individual performances, J. Jacquet topped the ratings for Liverpool with a 7.50, just ahead of Alisson Becker's 7.39 and Dominik Szoboszlai's 7.20, while Virgil van Dijk continued his commanding presence at the back with a 7.06. For Fulham, Joshua King's second-half impact was matched by solid outings from D. Affengruber (6.93), B. Leno (6.84) and C. Bassey (6.82), all of whom will take confidence from a difficult away point earned at Anfield.
Context and what's next
The draw does little to alter the wider tournament picture at the top of the scoring charts, where Kylian Mbappé continues to lead the race on 10 goals, with Lionel Messi (8) and a chasing pack including Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham (7 apiece) still in pursuit. Liverpool's own leading marksman, Alexander Isak, has three goals to his name this campaign but was unable to add to that tally on this occasion, while Fulham's Joshua King and Gonzalo García will hope their respective contributions can help kick-start a stronger run of form. Both clubs return to Premier League action shortly, with the latest fixtures available on the fixtures page, and further reaction and analysis to follow on the news section in the coming days.