'I saw major reason for Liverpool to be positive but Arne Slot question just grew'

Liverpool almost got over the line against Fulham in the Premier League, only for Arne Slot to suffer another late setback — but there were positives for him to take

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is trying to get his team back to winning ways(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Just when it looked like Liverpool was going to force itself over the line and grab the three points at Fulham, Harrison Reed stepped up with a sensational strike that Alisson Becker could do absolutely nothing about.

Marco Silva's side felt that it deserved a share of the spoils, and there is certainly an argument that it did. But for Liverpool, there were positives to take alongside such a bitter pill.

Jeremie Frimpong looked lively off the bench, Cody Gakpo started slowly but grew into things, and Alexis Mac Allister was better here than he often has been this season. More than anything, though, this was a game where Florian Wirtz showed his growth.

Arne Slot was missing three key forwards — Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah — and it was therefore up to Wirtz to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Given he cost $157 million (£116 million) to snap up from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, the expectation should be that Wirtz does just that. It isn't always that simple, though he showed himself to be capable here.

The German was central to pretty much everything good that Liverpool did up until the point at which he was substituted — presumably a change with his fitness in mind, amid a hectic schedule.

Florian Wirtz scores Liverpool's equalizer against Fulham(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool was not exactly free-flowing in attack, and there were not loads of chances for its forwards, but it was Wirtz around whom most good things centered. With better quality around him, the result could have been wrapped up before Reed's late strike.

At the moment, having come out of the period in which Liverpool was losing heavily every week, Arne Slot is trying to get the balance right on the sliding scale between defense and attack.

At the same time, the number of attacking options that he has available to him is severely limited. Italian forward Federico Chiesa is best used as a late impact player, while Rio Ngumoha is only 17 and therefore simply can't be thrown into the spotlight every week.

As a result, Liverpool looks at least one wide player light — and did so even before Salah went to AFCON — which is no surprise given the players who exited in the summer, including Luis Diaz. It is simultaneously true that it was the right decision to sell him and that he is currently being missed and wasn't replaced.

Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai were tasked with providing the width here. Though both can do that job, neither has searing pace or the classic traits that Slot wants from his wingers.

Given that, it is fair that the Reds knew that Salah would miss a chunk of the campaign. At the same time, losing Isak and Ekitike to injuries — at any point, let alone while Salah is away — is clearly unfortunate.

While Wirtz showed his class again, even if he tired and his fitness needs managing, there is still a question mark growing over the overall depth and quality of the Liverpool attack.

The goalless draw with Leeds showed that clearly; the 2-2 tie with Fulham less obviously, at least in terms of the scoreline. Wirtz was a major positive, but he needs a bit more help.