Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has called on his players to raise their levels of energy and improve their attitude following a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in the Premier League.

The loss left Arbeloa visibly frustrated, with the Spaniard making clear that the performance fell well short of the standards he expects from his squad. He specifically pointed to a lack of drive and commitment as the defining issues on the day.

Sunderland claimed all three points thanks to the single-goal victory, dealing Fulham a setback in their Premier League campaign. Arbeloa acknowledged that his side must respond with greater urgency and a sharper mindset if they are to turn their fortunes around.

The result piles pressure on Fulham heading into their next fixture, with the manager demanding an immediate and visible improvement from the group. Arbeloa left no room for doubt — he expects a different kind of performance, in terms of both character and application, from his players going forward.