There’s a version of this where you shrug and say “it’s not ideal” and move on. Two midfielders asked to fill wide roles, a wide attacker leading the line, and a general sense we were making do. But the truth is the first half still can’t be dressed up. It was abysmal, not just in quality but in intent.
And what’s annoying is that it wasn’t even one of those halves where you’re pinned back and hanging on. Fulham didn’t carve us open repeatedly. They had a big moment, Harry Wilson took it well, and that was basically it. We, meanwhile, had enough looks to make you think we should at least be level, including a chance for Gakpo that really has to hit the target.
Where was the stretch?
Most of the half felt like Liverpool attacking without any real threat of hurting anyone. You can see why Fulham were comfortable: we rarely pulled their line around, rarely got beyond them with purpose, and when we did wriggle in behind we somehow found a way to mess it up.
It became the same couple of patterns on repeat. Kerkez crossing to nobody. Bradley driving into a cul-de-sac. The sort of possession that looks busy but doesn’t actually test a defence. A packed box, floated balls, and not enough bodies arriving with the right timing.
Second half control, but not much bite
After the break, Fulham didn’t really threaten. That’s a positive, and it does point to Liverpool being more secure. But it also came with the nagging feeling that we weren’t exactly peppering them at the other end either.
The bigger issue is creativity. Without pace in behind, we don’t create. Even when there is a run on, we’re either reluctant or unable to find it early enough. And without the equivalent of a Trent-style passer, that directness through the lines just isn’t there. Everything becomes a touch too safe, a touch too slow.
Chaos helps, and Frimpong changes the feel
The best moments came when we counter-pressed well and the game went messy for a few seconds. That’s when a proper wide player can make something happen. Frimpong beating his man and sprinting away instantly looked like a different type of problem for Fulham.
If Arne kept him back because he’s returning from injury, fair enough. But when he played right-back, it also made us weaker down that side defensively. Right now, he feels much more like a right winger option than a solution at full-back.
I get the sense there’s caution in the group after a rough spell. But if you don’t fully commit to the press, and then you’re slow in possession too, you end up with the worst of both worlds. We might nick results because the back line’s steadier and the squad has quality. Long term, though, this level of bluntness won’t hold.
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