Slot Faces Selection Call After Liverpool Ace’s Dismal Display Against Fulham
Arne Slot’s Liverpool made the trip to Craven Cottage targeting all three points but found themselves needing inspiration after Fulham struck first through Harry Wilson. While Florian Wirtz caught the eye with a composed equaliser, one of the Reds’ summer signings endured a disappointing afternoon, drawing heavy criticism from Liverpool supporters for his muted display away from home.
Wilson, a former Liverpool academy player enjoying a rich vein of form, broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. He timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, slipping between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté before calmly finishing past Alisson. Although initially flagged offside after latching onto a clever Raul Jiménez flick, the goal was allowed to stand, giving Fulham a deserved lead at the interval. Wirtz restored parity just before the hour mark, impressing throughout, though not all of his teammates matched his influence — a fact not lost on the Anfield faithful.
Liverpool Ace Fails to Deliver Against Fulham
Despite a difficult start to their title defence, Slot and his staff have overseen a recent upturn in form — even with record signing Alexander Isak (£125m from Newcastle) still adapting. Hugo Ekitike has arguably been the better acquisition, but both forwards were unavailable for Sunday’s clash in west London.
With Isak and Ekitike sidelined, Cody Gakpo was tasked with leading the attack and struggled to impose himself for large spells, despite netting what briefly appeared to be the winning goal. That effort was later cancelled out by Harrison Reed’s stunning strike, a goal-of-the-season contender that condemned Liverpool to another frustrating draw.
Once again, points were dropped — and much of the post-match focus fell on Alexis Mac Allister’s underwhelming performance in midfield.
Deployed centrally alongside Ryan Gravenberch, the Argentine — signed from Brighton for £35m and once hailed as a shrewd addition — saw plenty of the ball, registering 89 touches. However, his impact was minimal. He managed just four touches inside Fulham’s penalty area and, although he attempted 17 passes into the final third, many lacked precision, often leaving Gakpo and the wide players to fend for themselves.
Mac Allister did come close with a header that struck the crossbar from a corner, but otherwise struggled to influence proceedings. GOAL summed up his display with a 5/10 rating, noting his limited contribution across the 90 minutes.
Given Liverpool’s lack of cutting edge in attack, the performance only strengthened the argument that Mac Allister may benefit from a spell on the bench. For a club of Liverpool’s stature — particularly one pushing for a top-four finish — control and consistency in midfield are essential, qualities the World Cup winner failed to provide on this occasion.
Alexis Mac Allister vs Fulham – Key Stats
Minutes played: 90
Touches: 89
Touches in opposition box: 4
Shots: 1
Pass accuracy: 66/75 (88%)
Chances created: 0
Passes into final third: 17
Ground duels won: 2/7 (29%)
Overall rating: 6.5
Liverpool Fans Turn on Mac Allister
Supporters did not hold back in their assessment. One bluntly stated: “Alexis Mac Allister is shocking,” while another added: “He’s completely lost his game — fallen off a cliff.”
Others pointed to broader midfield issues, with one fan claiming: “Liverpool’s main problem is Gravenberch and Mac Allister — clueless and ineffective on the ball.” Another was even harsher: “Both are painfully slow. It’s embarrassing.”
Some criticism extended beyond the players, with Slot also coming under fire. One supporter argued that the manager’s rigid tactics were stifling creativity, adding: “Mac Allister looks awful when Slot enforces his system — no risk, no forward passes.”
Liverpool will aim to respond quickly as they return to London on Thursday to face league leaders Arsenal, before welcoming Barnsley to Anfield in the FA Cup the following Monday. As it stands, the Reds sit fourth in the Premier League on 34 points.