Fulham secured their first Premier League point of the season as Alvaro Arbeloa’s side battled to a goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
Playing less than 72 hours after their Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, Liverpool lacked the intensity and urgency they had displayed in midweek.
Andoni Iraola’s team failed to score for the first time this season.
Arbeloa entered the match under pressure after losing his opening three league games in charge.
However, Fulham delivered a disciplined away performance and might have claimed all three points with greater composure in the final third.
Liverpool made three changes, with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz replacing Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha.
Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa made two alterations to his Fulham team.
David Affengruber was handed his debut in place of Joachim Andersen, while Sander Berge replaced Cesar Palacios.
Fulham nearly capitalised on an early misunderstanding between Alisson and Gravenberch, but Jeremy Jacquet cleared Gonzalo Garcia’s effort off the line.
The visitors continued to create the better opportunities during the first half.
Alisson denied Josh King from inside the penalty area, while Antonee Robinson headed another chance wide.
Liverpool threatened through Munoz, whose header was brilliantly saved by Bernd Leno.
Bradley Barcola also saw a volley deflected behind by Timothy Castagne.
Iraola responded at half-time by replacing the struggling Tsimikas with Kerkez.
Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo were then introduced for Gravenberch and Munoz shortly after the hour mark.
Alexander Isak forced a comfortable save from Leno before the Fulham goalkeeper produced a stronger stop to deny Dominik Szoboszlai’s powerful strike.
Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong were introduced in the 72nd minute as Liverpool searched for a breakthrough, but Fulham’s defence remained composed.
Isak headed wide from a corner in stoppage time, while Fulham also created late opportunities through King and Kevin before holding on for a valuable point.
Liverpool’s flat display represented a major drop in intensity from their midweek performance.
The result leaves them with six points from four league matches, having already dropped four points at Anfield following draws against Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
It was also Liverpool’s fourth consecutive home league draw stretching back to last season and their first failure to score in a Premier League match at Anfield since facing Leeds in January.
For Fulham, the performance was an encouraging response to a difficult start.
Debutant Affengruber impressed alongside captain Calvin Bassey, while the visitors registered more touches inside the opposition penalty area than Liverpool.
Although Fulham lacked the clinical edge needed to secure victory, Arbeloa could take plenty of positives from his return to Anfield.
He also became the first former Liverpool Premier League player to earn a point against the club as a manager.
