Liverpool began their Premier League campaign with a hard earned 2-2 draw away at Fulham earlier today.
After Liverpool’s impressive win over Man City in the Community Shield last weekend most observers expected the Reds to brush aside their newly-promoted hosts. However, the opening period could not have turned out much different with Fulham much the better of the sides as they pressed hard all over the pitch and looked composed in possession.
Just after the half-hour mark Fulham’s excellent showing would get the reward it deserved when the Cottagers’ main man Aleksandar Mitrovic put his side ahead. Dutch right-back Kenny Tete broke down the right, whipped in an inviting cross to the back stick and Mitrovic rose higher then Trent Alexander-Arnold and headed home.
Whatever Klopp said to his side at half-time didn’t seem to have much effect, with Fulham once again the superior side and they nearly went two ahead in the 55th minute when Neeskens Kebano cracked a powerful effort off the inside of Alisson’s post.
Just after the hour mark Liverpool finally started to click into gear and they would equalise through substitute Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan striker scuffing home an effort from close range from Mo Salah’s low cross from the right.
Summer signing Nunez’s introduction was causing chaos in the Fulham backline and the 23-year-old almost put his side ahead a couple of minutes after levelling the scores.
Fulham looked like they may just buckle under the increased pressure but they would take the lead again in the 72nd minute when Mitrovic was taken down in the area by the usually unflappable Virgil van Dijk before the Serbian striker hammered home a low spot kick into the bottom corner.
There was only ever going to be one MOTM… 🥇
Aleksandar Mitrović starting this season how he finished his last! 💥 pic.twitter.com/SSwOSSoD8I
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 6, 2022
Liverpool would strike back with ten minutes left to play and it would come from a familiar source, with Mo Salah stroking home from 10 yards out for his record-breaking sixth successive opening day goal.
Ultimately this entertaining encounter finished all square, with Liverpool disappointed to drop points in a game they were expected to win and Fulham having shown they have a much better chance of staying up this season then most have given them credit for.
Speaking afterward Reds boss Klopp pulled no punches, freely admitting his sides performance had been well below par.
“The best thing about the game was the result. We got a point from a really bad game,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“The result was fine, I don’t think we deserved more than that. The performance can be massively improved.
“We could have won the game because we had good chances but it was probably a bit too much today.”
