4 months ago
Perhaps they underestimated Harrison Reed. Certainly location was small guidance erstwhile nan shot came backmost to nan Fulham substitute pinch 96 minutes gone astatine Craven Cottage. Liverpool simply stood disconnected Reed, almost daring nan midfielder to shoot, and were made to regret their deficiency of urgency erstwhile 1 of Fulham’s much unfashionable players rescued a constituent for Marco Silva’s stubborn broadside by ripping a stunning changeable into Alisson Becker’s apical corner.
It was only nan celebrated 30-year-old’s 4th extremity successful six years successful westbound London, and it said a batch astir nan authorities of Liverpool this season. The champions, aft all, had conscionable gone 2-1 up done Cody Gakpo and should person defended their lead pinch much determination. Instead their complacency gave Fulham dream and near Arne Slot’s broadside ruing a missed opportunity to tighten their grip connected 4th place.
Not that Liverpool had played good capable to merit a win. They lacked attacking inspiration pinch Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké missing and needed good margins to thief them reconstruct parity aft a mediocre first half. There was astonishment erstwhile Florian Wirtz, who has 2 goals and an assistance successful his past 4 games, was deemed a shadiness onside erstwhile he cancelled retired Harry Wilson’s early goal.
Ekitiké’s unexpected absence pinch a insignificant wounded forced Liverpool to contend without £194m of guardant talent. They were already without Isak, sidelined pinch a surgery leg, and nan interest for Slot was surely that his squad had only 12 convention goals betwixt them astatine nan commencement of play.
The Dutchman had adjusted by utilizing Gakpo arsenic nan cardinal striker, pinch Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wirtz offering support from attacking midfield, but nan ploy proved ineffective for overmuch of a tepid first half. Shorn of earthy width pinch Salah distant astatine nan Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool were excessively slow successful possession. They fell into nan trap of playing successful beforehand of Fulham, who were happy to beryllium backmost and sorb agelong spells of aimless pressure, and grounded to trial Bernd Leno earlier half-time.
It was a reminder that having nan lion’s stock of possession is not ever nan answer. Fulham lined up successful a backmost 5 and made nan astir of very small by pouncing successful nan 17th minute. There was a beautiful flick information nan area from Raúl Jiménez to befuddle Liverpool’s backmost 4 and, pinch Ibrahima Konaté and Conor Bradley not live to nan threat connected nan right, Wilson ran done to ram a lethal changeable beyond Alisson.
Liverpool thought they had a reprieve erstwhile nan emblem went up for offside. Replays, though, suggested that Wilson had timed his tally perfectly. A video adjunct referee cheque commenced and confirmed that nan Fulham winger, who came done Liverpool’s academy earlier leaving 4 years ago, had been played onside by Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez.
Fulham’s scheme was proving effective. Yet it was easier to clasp their style erstwhile Liverpool were failing to make capable runs disconnected nan ball. Only Gakpo threatened. The guardant looped 1 header against nan station – it was difficult to show if he was onside – and was little than objective erstwhile he scuffed a clear chance wide astatine 0-0.
More urgency was required – and Liverpool responded. They pushed astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half and flung much crosses into Fulham’s area. Alexis Mac Allister, unmarked astatine nan adjacent post, was unlucky erstwhile his header smacked nan barroom from a corner.
Liverpool’s mentality had transformed. There was much urgency to nan press. Bradley stepped successful to triumph possession precocious earlier charging into vulnerable territory. Fulham backtracked and allowed nan right-back to decorativeness his tally by poking nan shot done to Wirtz, who guided a beautiful changeable past Leno.
Yet contention followed. The emblem went up for offside and astatine first glimpse it seemed that Wirtz was conscionable beyond Issa Diop. The check, though, was longer than anticipated and location was astonishment erstwhile nan extremity was given. The charismatic explanation? Thicker lines are being utilized to measure successful nan Premier League this play and much use of nan uncertainty is being fixed to attackers.
Liverpool were grateful for nan help. They almost led erstwhile Gakpo fired conscionable wide from 20 yards but they could person gone down again erstwhile Jiménez forced an correction from Alisson and Wilson lobbed against nan barroom erstwhile nan shot ran loose.
It seemed Fulham’s hearts were surgery erstwhile a fizzing transverse from nan Liverpool substitute Jeremie Frimpong hit Joachim Andersen and reached Gakpo, who scored from adjacent range.
But Fulham came back. Two substitutes combined. Kevin rolled a walk backmost to Reed, who took a touch earlier sending a changeable into nan apical area from 25 yards.
