Fulham claimed their first Premier League point under Alvaro Arbeloa as they held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield.

The Cottagers headed to Merseyside on the back of three successive league defeats, with some supporters booing during their 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage last time out.

But they were much more defensively solid against a Liverpool side that laboured for long periods three days on from their Champions League win over Atletico Madrid.

Indeed, Fulham had the chances to claim all three points and may head back to west London with a tinge of regret after failing to do so.

While Fulham are off the mark, Liverpool will be frustrated after drawing for the third time in four games. They could end the weekend already six points off the top.

Alexander Isak wasted an early opportunity when he pulled wide after perfectly timing his run to collect Bradley Barcola’s throughball.

But Liverpool were almost punished for a dreadful error by goalkeeper Alisson, whose ill-advised pass to Ryan Gravenberch saw the Reds surrender possession and gift Fulham a gilt-edged opportunity.

Josh King teed up Gonzalo Garcia, only for Jeremy Jacquet to spare Alisson’s blushes by clearing off the line.

Liverpool struggled to dominate the game in the manner most might have expected, but only the crossbar prevented Victor Munoz from giving them a first-half lead as he headed against the woodwork from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

Florian Wirtz then shot wide from a tight angle as Liverpool continued to be frustrated by an impressive performance from Fulham, which continued into the second half.

Szoboszlai had an effort beaten away by Bernd Leno following a give-and-go with Alexis Mac Allister, but Liverpool were grateful to Alisson for preserving parity as he denied Josh King with an acrobatic save.

Liverpool applied late pressure on the Fulham goal and Isak headed wide from a corner in stoppage time, but that proved to be the Reds’ last opportunity as the Cottagers deservedly held on for a share of the spoils.

Liverpool team v Fulham

Bradley Barcola made his first Premier League start after making his full debut against Atletico Madrid.

Iraola made three changes from the starting XI in midweek, with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz replacing Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha.

Cody Gakpo, who missed the Atletico game, was back in the squad among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Munoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak.

Liverpool substitutes: Endo, Frimpong, Gakpo, Kerkez, Koumas, Mac Allister, Mamardashvili, Ngumoha, Nyoni.

Fulham team v Liverpool

Arbeloa made two changes to the side beaten 3-2 by Crystal Palace last time out.

David Affengruber came in for Joachim Andersen to make his Fulham debut

The other change saw Sander Berge replace Exequiel Palacios.

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia.

Fulham substitutes: Andersen, Kevin, Larsson, Lecomte, Manuel Angel, Palacios, Rodrigo Muniz, Smith Rowe, Tete.