Liverpool 1, Fulham 1 – Match Recap: A Game To Forget

An unexpectedly poor performance from Liverpool, despite
fielding a strong starting lineup.

FULHAM 1 – LIVERPOOL

Liverpool: Salah 79’ (pen)Fulham: Reid 25’

Pre-Match

Today’s away game at Craven Cottage should ideally be an easy
one for the Reds to bag. Great to see Alisson back as the #1
keeper, and Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench. One hopes
that Ox can get some minutes in, preferably to offer workhorse Gini
Wijnaldum some rest after the shifts he’s put in recently. Our
favourite back-up Irish keeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who deputized
wonderfully in Alisson’s absence, is on the bench as #2 today – so
things aren’t looking great for Adrian I guess? Curtis Jones starts
in midfield today with more points scored for Liverpool’s Academy.
Let’s focus on that and try not to think about Diogo Jota who’s out
for up to two months with a knock to his knee (sob). Up
the Reds!

First Half

Fulham starts the game full of energy, throwing bodies forward.
They have 2,000 fans in the stadium and seem determined to put up a
fight. Alisson is forced to make a save as early as 3:46 from Ivan
Cavaleiro, who follows that up with another chance at 13:42, which
Alisson saves once again. Liverpool have registered barely a shot,
let alone on target, and look sloppy, indecisive, and low on
energy. Fabinho narrowly avoids a bizarre penalty call following
VAR review for a sideways tackle, which wasn’t a clear and obvious
error for sure. Even Possession God Gini seems unable to retain the
ball. At 25:00 a corner kick to Fulham is mishandled by Liverpool’s
defense, and Bobby Reid capitalizes with a powerful shot straight
in to the corner of Alisson’s net – GOAL! Liverpool’s midfield and
backline haven’t looked capable of absorbing Fulham’s pace and
pressure. Salah has a chance at 43:00 but shoots it wide, while
Robertson’s free-kick at 48:00 causes Firmino and Mane to tumble
into each other, but no goal. On the whole, the home side have
looked hungrier, and Jurgen Klopp looks angry as hell. The
half-time talk is not going to be fun, lads.

Second Half

After a fairly awful first half, the second hasn’t amounted to
much. Liverpool are still struggling to find their edge, and our
only fit center-back Joel Matip is subbed off with a back issue,
with Takumi Minamino coming on. Henderson slots in to partner with
Fabinho in the backline – apparently that’s where we’re at now.
Trent is replaced by Neco Williams at 68:00 – he’s had a poor game.
Fulham have more or less taken their 1-0 lead and decide to sit
back and run the clock down. A free-kick by Wijnaldum ricochets off
Adarabioyo’s arm, and a penalty is given somewhat harshly to
Liverpool – GOAL! at 79:00 as Mohamed Salah converts.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Liverpool have seemed genuinely taken by surprise by
Fulham’s intensity and drive from early on in this game, and have
struggled to find their rhythm. Matip’s substitution could mean
that we have zero fit center-backs at the moment – a major cause
for concern, if his injury is significant. We leave Craven Cottage
with a point, and are second in the table on goal difference – a
situation that could change next game.