Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

A returning Diogo Jota earned Liverpool a point despite Andy Robertson’s sending off.

Liverpool 2 - 2 Fulham

Liverpool: Gakpo 47’, Jota 86’
Fulham: Pereira 10’, Muniz 76’

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Pre-Match

Luis Diaz leads the front line with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah flanking him. Liverpool return to Premier League action after the Merseryside derby was postponed last weekend due to bad weather. It’s also good to see Alisson Becker in goal, though Kelleher has proved himself a worthy deputy between the sticks. That is one mighty bench, with Darwin Núñez joining both Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa, who have returned from injury.

First Half

This didn’t feel like a game at Anfield in the opening few minutes. Liverpool were poor, almost lethargic in their play. Andy Robertson went down for treatment after a poor challenge from Diop, but he got up and kept going.

Diaz attempted an ambitious bicycle kick right in front of the goal, but didn’t pull it off and ended up with a yellow card for his efforts. That was great build up play from Trent Alexander-Arnold to create the chance, but it wasn’t meant to be, and Liverpool’s opening opportunity went begging.

Fulham made them pay for that moments later when they got first blood, by way of Andreas Pereira, only 10 minutes into the match.

Things certainly didn’t turn around following the Reds going behind. In fact, they got much worse when Robertson was sent off after 17 minutes for a last-man foul on former teammate Harry Wilson.

Gravenberch moved to center-half to account for the reshuffle, but no other personnel changes were made by Arne Slot as the team made due with 10 men for the next 70 minutes.

At 32 minutes, Joe Gomez made a nice, last ditch defense, throwing his body in the way of Wilson’s effort to deny him.

Gotta say, not loving this game.

Finally, though, Liverpool began to threaten as the first half ticked down. Gomez had a header at goal that was unfortunately right at the goalkeeper. Then moments later, Díaz had an even better chance. Dominik Szoboszlai crossed it into the box, but the Colombian couldn’t keep the header down. Felt like that might have been the equalizer, but hopefully the Reds could conjure some magic to put together another opportunity.

Second Half

Liverpool, playing towards the Kop, remember who they are at the start of the second half. Our goal creating magician, Mohamed Salah, sliced the ball into box, and Gakpo flew across the grass and headed it into the near corner. A sensational goal, and after the check, it stood, giving Liverpool their equalizer.

Gakpo nearly grabbed the lead for the Reds just a moment later. He cut inside and sent another shot in, on target but unfortunately straight at Leno.

Still no changes made by Slot to accommodate Robertson’s sending off. He’s shown a lot of trust in the players on the pitch to compensate, and they’ve done well so far. Considering how early in the match Robertson went off, the fact that they are level and look the more energized team in the second half says a lot.

Gomez really wanted a goal in this game. There was that chance in the first half, and then he unleashed a long range effort straight towards the keeper.

Curtis Jones picked up a yellow card, followed closely by Slot. Liverpool really said, “We’re willing to give up our position on one table, and it’s the Fair Play table.”

The play became end-to-end, with both teams breaking but failing to score. Salah came close, but his shot went wide of Leno’s goal.

69 minutes through, Slot made his first substitutions, finally calling on that stacked bench. Out went Jones and Gakpo, and in went Núñez and Jarell Quansah. The switch reverted Gravenberch back to the midfield as Quansah took his place. Having him higher up the pitch should help Liverpool. They are clearly pressing for the winner instead of settling for the one point, despite being a man down.

The decision may have bit them when they allowed Fulham another goal through Muniz. In response, Slot made two more changes. It was Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold off and Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott on. Right away, Elliott tries a curling effort that unfortunately doesn’t hit the target.

Welcome back, Diogo Jota! He wasted no time jumping back into the conversation by converting on Núñez’s pass less than five minutes before the end of normal time. Could Liverpool somehow grab a victory here from the jaws of defeat?

There’s nine minutes of added time, but it’s hard to tell who that benefitted the most.

How, oh how, did Liverpool not score there? A scramble in front of the goal ended with Jota getting the shot off, high and over the bar. Liverpool have had all the possession in the final minutes of this game, but some desperate defending have kept Fulham level. Still, watching the Reds fight back with only 10 men was really something.

Alisson made a huge save to deny Traore, only a rare Fulham attack since added time began.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool and Fulham settle for sharing the points after a tense and eventful game at Anfield.