Liverpool draw in the Premier League against Fulham
Liverpool stumbled against hosts Fulham in a 2-2 draw on Thursday night, in the first round of the Premier League.
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored for Fulham (32 and 72 from the penalty spot), while Darwin Nunez scored Liverpool's first goal (64) and Mohamed Salah II (80).
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp relied on a full starting line-up, following the usual 4-3-3 playing style, with Joel Matip standing alongside Virgil van Dijk deep in the back line, back-rowers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, Fabinho playing the starting line-up, and Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara moving behind attacking trio Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino, while new striker Darwin Nunez remained on the bench.
Fulham coach Marco Silva, meanwhile, took a 4-2-3-1 play, with Kenny Titi, Tosin Adarabio, Tim Ryan and Anthony Robinson in the middle of the field, Harrison Reed, and Joao Paulinia, and trio Bobby de Cordova Reid, Andreas Pereira and Niskins Kepano, behind outspoken striker Mitrovitch.
Fulham almost surprised their hosts early in the first minute, when Mitrovic tried to take advantage of an error from Arnold, to break into the penalty area, before shooting past the right-hand post.
The referee canceled out a goal scored by Liverpool in the 14th minute through Diaz, as there was a clear infiltration before the goal was shot.
Liverpool found it very difficult to penetrate Fulham's defense and waited until the 23rd minute to form the danger when Salah followed Arnold's cross with his head away from goal. Liverpool draw in the Premier League against Fulham
Fulham responded a minute later when Pereira sent a cross that brought a cross into the box, reaching Paulinia, who shot to bounce back from Matip and go into a corner.
In the 31st minute, Robinson sent a cross from the left, bouncing back to reach midfielder Reed, who fired a shot that Robertson put his body in front of. Fulham opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when Titi lifted a cross towards the far post, which Mitrovitch rose over Arnold, putting it with his head in the net.
Klopp realized that there was a need for a change in his squad, and he joined Nunez and Harvey Elliott in place of Firmino and Tyago six minutes into the second half.
Fulham almost added a second goal in the 57th minute, when the ball reached Kibano on the right side, and the latter drew a low shot, bouncing off the far post of Liverpool's goal.
Nunez's entry had the effect of magic, as he came close to scoring in the 62nd minute when he met Salah's low cross with his heel, but goalkeeper Rodak countered the attempt.
But Nunez made up for the chance two minutes later, in the same way as the previous attack, when he met Salah's cross with his heel in the net.
In the 67th minute, Arnold lifted a long cross from the right, which Nunez received with his head and inhabited it before he shot it and Ream took it away before crossing the goal line.
Contrary to the action, the referee awarded a penalty to Fulham after Mitrovic was blocked by Van Dijk, and the Serbian striker successfully kicked the kick in the 71st minute.
The remaining minutes passed without serious chances, until the fourth minute of stoppage time, when Henderson hit a ball from the outside of the box, shaking the crossbar.