{"id":227398,"date":"2026-01-04T20:12:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T20:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/227398\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T20:12:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T20:12:11","slug":"5-talking-points-cracks-in-unbeaten-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/227398\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Talking Points; Cracks In Unbeaten Run"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool were minutes away from snatching an unlikely three points, but a top-class finish meant points were shared at Fulham<\/a>, and the frenetic finish did not paper over the cracks.<\/p>\n

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool<\/p>\n

Premier League<\/a> (20) | Craven Cottage
January 4, 2026<\/p>\n

Goals: Wilson 17\u2032, Reed 90+7\u2032; Wirtz 57\u2032, Gakpo 90+4\u2032<\/p>\n

1. Nine unbeaten, but so what?<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

Arne Slot<\/a> clearly deserves some credit for the change in approach that has seen Liverpool go from losing nine games in 12 to an unbeaten run that now comprises nine outings.<\/p>\n

But it is hard to shift the feeling that the Reds are simply benefiting from a slight change in fortune, rather than guaranteeing positive outcomes with their performances. <\/p>\n

Previously, Slot\u2019s side were generating a lot of shots and xG only to concede a lot, and fell on the wrong side of the margins in so many of those ending in defeats.<\/p>\n

Now, however, they are conceding very little of either but at the expense of offering much attacking threat themselves.<\/p>\n

Clearly, that can work, as this period without defeat proves, but it also feels like Liverpool are on a knife-edge and that this brand of football means another poor run is in the post. <\/p>\n

As much was proven by the fact that this one was thrown away at the death despite Fulham<\/a> having offered so little throughout.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Only seems to be going one way for Slot<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

Of course, Slot had little choice but to turn to this style as he looked to stem the bleeding sufficiently to save his job.<\/p>\n

Yet the Liverpool hierarchy cannot seriously believe that this is a sustainable route to success and so surely need to see more between now and the end of the season from their head coach.<\/p>\n

If the Reds are to challenge for the title next year, as this squad should, then you would imagine they need to finish this campaign showing that sort of form.<\/p>\n

But there are no signs of a more expansive yet balanced team emerging, while so many individuals are playing below their best.<\/p>\n

If this continues until May, then it would be no shock if Slot is dismissed before he has the chance to enter the final year of his contract.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Forward options not the manager\u2019s fault<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

Still, if there is one thing the head coach shouldn\u2019t be blamed for, it is that he went into this game with just one senior forward in Cody Gakpo<\/a> in the line-up.<\/p>\n

Of the other options, Alexander Isak<\/a>\u2018s absence was a direct result of a poor challenge, and that had clearly led to Hugo Ekitike<\/a>\u2018s overuse and subsequent hamstring trouble.<\/p>\n

International duty for Mohamed Salah<\/a> was also unavoidable, while the fact that the untrusted Federico Chiesa<\/a> and very young Rio Ngumoha<\/a> were the only alternatives is a squad-building issue more than anything.<\/p>\n

As such, Slot could probably argue that it is little wonder that Liverpool are struggling for goals or to look convincing going forward.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Florian Wirtz can take the positives<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

Watching Florian Wirtz<\/a>\u2018s performances across the last two games, you have been left to wonder just how much that hamstring is troubling him.<\/p>\n

The German was on a clear upward trajectory prior to these fixtures, yet has gone back to largely being a peripheral figure. <\/p>\n

Still, he had another positive to take from this one in the form of a well-taken finish that brought Liverpool back into the game.<\/p>\n

You can only hope that adds further confidence to his game and that, once this muscle problem is shaken off, Wirtz can continue to thrive.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Frimpong continues to impress<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

Another upside from yet another forgettable afternoon was the performance of substitute Jeremie Frimpong<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman came in to create what looked to be the winner, continuing a run of games in which he has looked like Liverpool\u2019s biggest attacking threat.<\/p>\n

It has been a difficult start to life at Anfield for Frimpong due to a run of injuries that is not really in-keeping with his career fitness record.<\/p>\n

But he clearly makes the Reds a better team when available, and proved it again against Fulham<\/a> here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Liverpool were minutes away from snatching an unlikely three points, but a top-class finish meant points were shared…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":227399,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[116720,42,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":["post-227398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-fulham-vs-liverpool","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}