Fulham 2-2 Liverpool:
After the summer break the friendlies were over and the first game was upon us.. The predictions were 3.. 4.. 5 - 0 (Guilty..).. But in reality first games are notoriously tricky just ask United.. Plus Fulham away has always been a tough one.. I've never seen us win there..
Fulham were on a high understandably and were going to be well up for it at home.. Full of beans.. Which they were.. and we had to match that.. Which we didn't.. At least until later on.. So lets get into it..
The Game:
The game started quick for the hosts and they were snapping in to tackles and attacking well, with little threat.. You felt the old sit in for 20 cliche.. Regain possession and hit them hard would be the case..
Yet in practice we never got going.. After Diaz was wiped out by Tete who was duly booked you felt he would get after his man for the rest of the game.. Which he did on a couple of occasions.. Having a goal scratched off for an offside in the build up and smashing a shot against the crossbar/post..
Yet other than that the whole team were flat and fell behind to a Mitrovic header which Trent should have defended much better at the back post.. All he had to do was jump and be aware of the strikers presence. It was bread and butter for him.. 1 nil down at the break..
The Turning Point:
About 5 minutes in to the second half Thiago pulled up with a hamstring injury in what proved to be a turning point in the match. On came young Harvey Elliott and the outstanding Darwin Nunez.. Plus a few minutes later James Milner.. and our first goal duly arrived..
Harvey sat in that right side of midfield where he looked great last season before his injury at Leeds.. He seems to be the glue and that missing piece between Mo & Trent and the right hand side of the pitch came to life..
Just before his first Premier League goal Nunez had an exact same chance that he flicked expertly towards goal that the keeper saved well. Not that he knew a lot about it..
This time though Matip walked out of defence. Played a pass into Milner.. He passed it to Elliott who chipped a ball down the wing to Mo who squared the ball to Nunez to flick the ball high into the net.. Simple and pure class..
The Penalty:
Now here is the flip side of the Premier League and a reality that referees will never get a handle on.. For all Fulham's great play and desire the dives started to creep in.. Mitrovic threw himself to the floor back in his own half with no touch whatsoever and when he ran into the box unopposed you feared the same outcome..
Sure Virg should have known better but when you go down from minimal contact to your knee.. Why do you hold your shin..? As well as the dive and leave your leg hanging out technique.. Can you see how these are given.. Possibly.. But they shouldn't..
Again this week its us.. It will be someone else next time.. And as divisive as football is the fans and clubs won't come together to fix it so we are stuck..
Nunez & Mo:
Again we touched on this with the Star Player post.. You have to look to positives in everything.. And the link up between Nunez & Salah looked impressive and looks very bright for us moving forwards.. Get Diaz going again and we are gold..
The ease of the first goal proved that and the Uruguayan soon repaid the favour.. Trent played a long ball which caused the Fulham defence problems.. Nunez headed down and Mo had a simple tap in to get us a point..
It could have been more too.. Nunez having one cleared off the line and Hendo smashing a curler against the crossbar..
Summary:
In a word or two.. Could do better.. Klopp apparently gave the team a right telling off after the game and rightly so.. For 60 minutes it was slow.. So a better tempo, more intensity and fight.. Stop the sloppy passes and defend better.. All things we do regularly anyway so no need to panic..
The starting line up was strong but Milner has to play in these games for me. These are his forté.. Your proper English premier League away games.. He changed the game big style.. As did Nunez.. You pay big bucks for a striker we've needed like forever.. and he starts on the bench.. You'd rather take him off at 60 with 3 goals and 3 points in the bag..
The Draw:
Its crazy how this feels like a defeat and Fulham did play well and deserved something but in terms of chances we were far superior over the 90.
Lots of fans have gone in to meltdown.. Others think its a good point but here's where we are at and have been for the past 4 years or so.. A point has cost us the title twice.. This could be the one that wins us it.. Maybe.. Or loses us it.. Possibly..
The stakes are so high that you can not afford to slip up. Whether that's through City's dominance or bad refereeing decisions against us like today.
We have to be perfect. The pressure is immense.. We will as ever have to win nearly every game so you can see where people despair and totally get it..
But we have to try and remain composed and supportive (which we will).. Klopp speaks our language and feels like we do.. The players will be hungry to get the season started properly next time out.. So lets hope we look back at this being the point we saved to win the title..
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