Arne Slot question grows as Cody Gakpo gets Liverpool reward - 5 talking points vs Fulham

Liverpool came from behind against Fulham with Florian Wirtz canceling out Harry Wilson's opener. This is what we spotted at Craven Cottage as Arne Slot was left frustrated.

Florian Wirtz was a bright spark for Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

CRAVEN COTTAGE, WEST LONDON // Liverpool struggled to create much again, this time against Fulham, but Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo earned Arne Slot's men a second point at the start of 2026.

Scoring against his former club, the in-form Harry Wilson put Fulham in front in the first quarter of the game, beating Alisson Becker with the host's first real chance. Florian Wirtz, after a second lengthy VAR check, pulled the Reds level after the break.

With limited options in attack thanks to injuries, Arne Slot's side was unable to move further in front, and Wilson could have scored a second when he hit the bar with a chip. Both Gakpo and Harrison Reed then scored in stoppage time. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

Liverpool attack missing key men

Liverpool never really looked like scoring last time out against Leeds United, so heading into this game with Hugo Ekitike injured (only a minor issue but enough for him to miss out) was hardly ideal. Florian Wirtz has been carrying a hamstring issue too.

Arne Slot said before the game that Fulham is a side that likes to play. There would be no repeat of the low block that Liverpool struggled to break down earlier in the week, he thought.

While the Cottagers did have a lot more to offer on the counter, that wasn't quite how it played out. Marco Silva deployed a back five and that was enough to nullify the Liverpool threat in the main.

Wirtz, with his sparkling footwork, was the exception, and the German finished well to level things up. From there, however, Liverpool didn't do enough to force the three points over the line, even though it looked to have done so through Gakpo.

Cody Gakpo rewarded for plugging away

Cody Gakpo was not in the best of form before he picked up an injury and he looked very limited when he came on against Leeds a few days ago. With few other alternatives here, though, he was in the starting XI.

With Curtis Jones on the left, Dominik Szoboszlai on the right and Wirtz behind him, Gakpo was the focal point in the Liverpool attack, but he struggled to make much of an impact for much of the contest.

Gakpo missed a pretty decent chance at 0-0, and while he was making some good-looking runs in behind, he wasn't often found. When Liverpool did give him the ball, he couldn't make much happen until he found the net with what looked to be the winner. For that, he deserves credit — and for keeping going.

Liverpool was, in general, more defensively secure, but at the cost of not having enough in attack, Wirtz aside. Even with the absences, that is a major tactical question for Slot to find the answer to. After the Leeds stalemate, it has only grown.

Harry Wilson lively

Harry Wilson had scored or assisted seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances heading into this game against his former club. The narrative wrote itself.

Popping up on the left, where he had somehow found himself, Wilson was just about onside as he finished past Alisson. Liverpool has not kept a clean sheet at Craven Cottage since 2009, and the wait goes on.

Liverpool had started on top, with Gakpo messing up a big chance, and that this was Fulham's first proper attack summed up a season of setbacks. Arne Slot spoke recently about needing to recover from those better, though, and his side did come back.

Wilson hit the woodwork on around 76 minutes and was lively throughout. He offered the pace and unpredictability that Liverpool's attackers lacked.

Florian Wirtz takes initiative

"What a waste of money," was the chant from the home supporters at one stage, when Wirtz put the ball out of play with a looping cross that didn't go anywhere near any of his teammates.

With so many key men missing in attack, including Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah as well as Hugo Ekitike, there was a big burden placed on the $157 million (£116 million) man. Even he, though, has been carrying a hamstring issue of late.

Wirtz tried to create but had limited movement, width and pace around him. In the end, it was an emphatic finish from him that finally beat Bernd Leno. He took the responsibility and made a real difference.

Premier League standings

The extent of Liverpool's ambitions this season, as Alexis Mac Allister admitted ahead of the game, is the Champions League places. The title has long gone, even if the Reds can put a run together.

With chaos at Chelsea and Manchester United looking unconvincing — the two closest chasers to Liverpool in the standings — there should be no issues for Liverpool in making the top four.

There is still work to do, though, as we saw here. A Fulham win would have moved Marco Silva's side from 12th spot to within three points of Liverpool, showing how congested the table is. With the points shared, Liverpool is three points clear in fourth.