Michael
Liverpool started their title challenge with a 2-2 draw at newly promoted Fulham on Saturday.
The Red’s were far from their best and Fulham made them pay for that on the opening day, eventually sharing the spoils.
There was just one change to the team that started the Community Shield a week ago, with Alisson returning from injury. Roberto Firmino remained up front ahead of Darwin Nunez.
For the fourth consecutive season, the opening game saw Liverpool up against the champions of the Championship. Liverpool had won all the previous three, scoring at least three goals in each.
However, Fulham proved a far more difficult opponent than you may have expected, and Liverpool were far from at the races in the first half.
The home side created chances and eventually they got a deserved lead when Aleksandar Mitrovic headed in at the far post just after the half-hour.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah managed to pull goals back for Liverpool and ensure a vital point.
Fulham grabbed their first goal on 32 minutes when they broke down the right hand side through Neeskens Kebano.
Kebano laid the ball off to Kenny Tete who planted a cross into the box, which Mitrovic headed past Alisson.
Nunez then scored to save Liverpool’s blushes on his Premier League debut. He replaced Roberto Firmino on 51 minutes and scored just after the hour mark.
Salah slid a low ball into the box which the Uruguay international guided past Marek Rodak from close range.
Fulham were then awarded a penalty after Mitrovic went down under a challenge from Virgil van Dijk on 72 minutes. The Serbia international cooly converted the spot kick.
Salah leveled for Liverpool on 80 minutes after Nunez set him up.
Jordan Henderson was close to completing Liverpool’s comeback when he hit the crossbar from outside the box five minutes into injury time.
Mo Salah has equaled the record for goals on the first day of Premier League season by scoring his eighth against Fulham.
He is now tied with Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, all of whom played more Premier League seasons than Salah.
The Liverpool winger already held the record for the most consecutive opening days scored on, but he has now upped his record to six.
“The best thing about the game was the result,” Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said. “We got a point from a really bad game. 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.”
It was certainly not the start we wanted, it’s a point a least. Massive wake up call for the lad’s. Kloop possibly need’s to sign another midfielder before the transfer window closes. We go again. Crystal Palace (H) next.
