Liverpool have now drawn both of their opening home Premier League fixtures this season — only the third time in 63 years that the club has failed to win either of its first two home league games. It is far from the start that head coach Andoni Iraola would have envisioned.

Saturday's goalless stalemate against Fulham felt especially deflating given Liverpool's energetic showing against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League just days earlier. Fulham arrived at Anfield low on confidence, having conceded seven goals in their first three league outings, yet still managed to leave Merseyside with a point.

A tale of two performances

The contrast between the two performances was stark. Against Atletico Madrid, Liverpool were sharp, urgent, and purposeful. Against Fulham, they appeared physically and mentally drained — a shadow of the side that had dismantled a Diego Simeone team that reached the Champions League semi-finals last season.

Iraola acknowledged the problem plainly: