Liverpool, Chelsea stumble with home draws

AP:

Liverpool and Chelsea dropped more points in the Premier League after being held to surprise draws at home yesterday.

Liverpool’s big-money forwards Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola could not find a way past winless Fulham in a goalless contest at Anfield.

Chelsea’s fragile defence was exposed again by newly promoted Hull in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa’s nightmare start to the season continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Substitute Zian Flemming scored a 90th-minute winner as Ipswich beat Crystal Palace 3-2, while Bournemouth and Brentford shared a 2-2 draw.

Tottenham are still without a goal after a 0-0 draw with Everton.

Frustration for Liverpool

Liverpool have spent more than half a billion dollars rebuilding their attack over the past two seasons but were nullified by a Fulham team that had not kept a clean sheet and had yet to earn a point going into the game.

In front of a frustrated Anfield crowd, Andoni Iraola’s expensively assembled team were held to a draw for the third time this season, halting the momentum generated by back-to-back wins, including a midweek Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid.

British-record signing Isak (US$170 million) came up short, while Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for US$166 million, failed to make an impact in his first league start. It was the same story for Florian Wirtz (US$156 million) and the relatively inexpensive Victor Munoz (US$46 million).

“Collectively we didn’t play well. Many things we tried to do, we couldn’t do well,” Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson said.

Iraola is still finding his feet in his first season at Liverpool after previously impressing at Bournemouth. But it has been an unconvincing start that has left his team with ground to make up, even at this early stage of the campaign.

“When you draw, especially at home, you can’t be happy,” Iraola said. “Today we lacked a bit of freshness and we did not do enough offensively to make the difference. In the first half we started the game slow, we lacked energy and it was not enough.”

Problems mount for Chelsea

Chelsea’s defensive problems are becoming increasingly costly.

Xabi Alonso’s team have conceded at least two goals in each of their league games and 12 goals in six matches across all competitions. Their only clean sheet came against third-division Luton in the English League Cup.

“We can do better. We got what we deserved,” Alonso said. “We need to be more solid and be more controlled. New players and new staff. This is the process. In a few months I’m sure we’ll be able to control better.”

It took a goal from Joao Pedro in the 66th minute to salvage a draw after Mohamed Belloumi’s double saw Hull recover from 1-0 down to lead 2-1.

Morgan Rogers had given Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute.

Another blank for Spurs

Tottenham remained goalless and winless in the Premier League yesterday despite a summer of heavy spending, including the arrivals of Manchester City forwards Omar Marmoush and Savio.

A 0-0 draw at home to Everton extended Spurs’ scoreless run beyond six hours after spending more than US$400 million in the transfer market to overhaul a squad that has flirted with relegation in successive seasons.

A dour contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium produced few clear-cut chances, with neither team looking likely to find a winner.

The point moved Everton level with Merseyside rivals Liverpool on six points.

Jesus sinks Villa

Villa’s Champions League win in midweek did not prove to be a turning point in what has been a desperate start for Unai Emery’s much-changed team.

The loss of several star players is taking its toll on a side that won the Europa League last season and finished fourth in the Premier League.

Alysson Edward gave Villa fans hope of salvaging a point after Liam Delap put Midlands rivals Forest ahead shortly after half-time. But Igor Jesus struck the winner in the 88th minute.

Emery bemoaned Villa’s second-half performance.

“We started so poor, they scored and they were creating chances,” he said. “We lost because we decided to lose.”

Ipswich leave it late

Ipswich picked up their second win since returning to the top flight against 10-man Palace.

Flemming’s 90th-minute winner at Selhurst Park settled a match that swung from one side to the other.

Anan Khalaili put Palace ahead before Ipswich took a 2-1 lead into the break through Emerson and Leif Davis, either side of a red card for Axel Disasi.

Jorgan Strand Larsen scored his third goal in two games to level the match again, but Flemming converted after Davis struck the bar to seal the victory.

Kevin Schade scored twice to earn Brentford a point at Bournemouth.