Sixty-odd hours after Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool arrive late to every press and Fulham leave Anfield with their first point.
The numbers
| Liverpool | Fulham | |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 55.8% | 44.2% |
| Shots | 14 | 10 |
| On target | 3 | 4 |
| xG | 1.28 | 0.7 |
| Corners | 5 | 8 |
| Pass accuracy | 83.2% | 76.6% |
Result the chances deserved: Liverpool 50% / 29% / Fulham 20% (Poisson).
Starting line-ups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Muñoz, Wirtz, Barcola, Isak.
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno, Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Charles, Bobb, King, Iwobi, García.
Fulham subs: Tete (63', Bobb), Muniz, Smith Rowe & Larsson (77', García, King & Iwobi). Fulham head coach: Álvaro Arbeloa. Line-ups and minutes from FotMob; TNT Sports timed the last changes at 73' and 78'.
Key moments, move by move
Late to the press, slow on the ball
- A press that arrived late. Iraola said it himself: "especially first half, we were arriving late to the presses". This was the shortest turnaround of his tenure, about 60 hours after beating Atlético de Madrid, and a pressing side without fresh legs gives the opponent time on the ball.
- Midfield platform: Szoboszlai and Gravenberch played as a double pivot, and neither screened the back four well, so Wirtz kept dropping to help and Isak was left alone (Yahoo Sports). Fulham also had a penalty appeal after winning the ball off Gravenberch (Opta Analyst).
- Fulham's plan: a 4-2-3-1 with Berge and Charles holding and Castagne staying deep. Their outlet was the left, through Robinson and King. Fulham had more touches in Liverpool's box than Liverpool had in theirs (24 to 18) and won more corners (8 to 5) (FotMob, Sky Sports).
- Near misses: Jacquet cleared García's shot off the line after an Alisson error. Muñoz's header from Tsimikas's corner (22') was tipped away by Leno according to TNT Sports and Opta Analyst, while Sky Sports says it hit the bar. Alisson saved from King (76'), Muniz missed a late chance (79') and Isak headed wide from a corner (90+1').
Recreate it in FM26
Liverpool · Iraola's 4-2-3-1 press after Atlético de Madrid · 4-2-3-1Show cardHide card
Iraola's 4-2-3-1 press after Atlético de Madrid
| Pos | Player | In Possession | Out of Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alisson | Sweeper Keeper | Sweeper Keeper |
| RB | Araujo | Full-Back | Holding Full-Back |
| RCB | Jacquet | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Covering Centre-Back |
| LCB | Van Dijk | Ball-Playing Centre-Back | Stopping Centre-Back |
| LB | Tsimikas | Full-Back | Full-Back |
| RDM | Szoboszlai | Box-to-Box Midfielder | Pressing Defensive Midfielder |
| LDM | Gravenberch | Deep-Lying Playmaker | Defensive Midfielder |
| RW | Muñoz | Winger | Tracking Winger |
| AM | Wirtz | Advanced Playmaker | Tracking Attacking Midfielder |
| LW | Barcola | Inside Forward | Winger |
| ST | Isak | Centre Forward | Tracking Centre Forward |
Team instructions
In Possession
- Passing DirectnessShorter
- Attacking TransitionPatient Build-Up
- Build-Up StrategyPlay Through Press
- TempoStandard
Out of Possession
- Line of EngagementHigh Press
- Trigger PressMore Often
- Defensive TransitionCounter-Press
- Defensive LineHigher
The idea: The plan is to win the ball high with Isak and Wirtz leading the press and Szoboszlai jumping forward from midfield. It only works with fresh, fit runners; with tired legs Fulham's midfielders turned behind the first press and Robinson ran into the space on Liverpool's right.
What FM26 can't copy: FM26 can't reproduce tiredness from a midweek game except through the fitness of your players, and Wirtz dropping deep is only approximated by the Advanced Playmaker role.
Our reading of this match in FM26 terms, not an exported tactic file. Role names as in FM26.
What if? Replay it with a different plan
Our best alternative plan: Formation 4-3-3, Gakpo & Mac Allister at 46' not 60', Ngumoha on at 60' not 72' (for Barcola). A holder plus two 8s gives Wirtz a fixed place, and bringing Gakpo, Mac Allister and then Ngumoha on earlier adds the freshness Iraola said was missing. Enough to make Liverpool favourites, but Fulham's block would still make it hard. It moves Liverpool's win chance from 50% to 64% (xG 1.28–0.70 becomes 1.63–0.55). Try your own changes to formation, pressing, approach and substitutions.
The game-changer Liverpool needed
Cody Gakpo
Liverpool's problem was a slow build-up and an isolated Isak. Gakpo had scored at Newcastle United and set up both goals at Ipswich Town. He comes inside from the left, links with the striker and keeps the ball under pressure, the qualities Liverpool lacked in a flat first half. Starting him instead of a winger still short of fitness was the obvious alternative.
Michael Olise
Fulham sat in a 4-2-3-1 block with Castagne staying deep, and Liverpool's right side never got behind it: Muñoz's best moment was a header from a corner. Olise beats a full-back one against one and creates from the right half-space, which is what a side short on ideas and legs needed against a deep back four.
What the analysts said
“I think there is a lack of freshness, definitely – we cannot hide it.”Andoni Iraola
“I think today, especially first half, we were arriving late to the presses. It's clear.”Andoni Iraola
“It's the first game since I'm here that we've had problems to create chances to score goals, to make the difference offensively.”Andoni Iraola
“Everything changed after the Crystal Palace game… how important it is to be balanced when you have the ball.”Álvaro Arbeloa (Sky Sports)
Blame the legs, but the ideas were thin too.
On xG Liverpool edged it, 1.28 to 0.70 (FotMob; Opta Analyst has 1.13 to 0.71). But they had only three shots on target, and their two clearest chances were headers from corners: Muñoz in the 22nd minute and Isak in stoppage time. From open play they created little against a Fulham side that had lost its first three league games.
Iraola's explanation is fair as far as it goes. His Liverpool depend on the press, and about 60 hours after Atlético de Madrid it came too late, especially before half-time. When the first press fails, Fulham's midfielders can turn and play. Berge and Charles did exactly that, and Robinson kept getting forward down the left. The damning number is box touches: Fulham 24, Liverpool 18.
Tiredness does not explain the build-up, though. With Szoboszlai and Gravenberch side by side, Wirtz dropped deep to get the ball, which left Isak isolated and Barcola, on his first league start and still short of fitness, with little to work with. Iraola said it was the first game of his time here in which Liverpool struggled to create. He responded by making ten changes for Tottenham Hotspur three days later.