Parker’s hooping mad after losing important Bett
SCOTT PARKER urged his Fulham side to be braver after throwing away two points against unbeaten West Brom.
The home side looked set for a first win in four games when Anthony Knockaert handed them a deserved 49th-minute lead with a cross which flew straight in.
But from that point the confident build-up from the back which had helped open up the Baggies was replaced by nervy long balls.
Fulham boss Parker reckoned that played into the visitors’ hands – and so it proved.
West Brom levelled in the 80th minute when Semi Ajayi headed in his first goal for the club after keeper Marcus Bettinelli dropped Matheus Pereira’s corner.
Parker said: “We came out and got the goal in the second half but after that we played into West Brom’s hands. We went away from what we’re about and how I want us to play.
“We turned the game into a bit of a basketball match.
“What we’re asking these players to do is the only way we’re going to win matches this season.
“If anything, I think this proves my point.
“I want the players to believe in what we’re doing and have courage and bravery.”
West Brom boss Slaven Bilic had warned his players before the game this would be their toughest test of the season so far – and so it proved.
They should have been behind in the 16th minute when Harrison Reed’s sublime pass carved the defence open to send midfielder Tom Cairney clear.
But his shot was superbly tipped on to the bar by keeper Sam Johnstone.
It was the first of a number of outstanding saves from the former Manchester United stopper.
He dived superbly to his right to keep out a Knockaert first-time strike then seconds later was on his feet to tip over Bobby Reid’s point-blank header.
But there was nothing he could do about Fulham’s opener.
Knockaert was clearly trying to whip in a first-time cross to the far post, but instead the ball looped straight over Johnstone and into the top right-hand corner.
Baggies fans thought they had snatched an unlikely equaliser when Darnell Furlong’s angled drive rippled the side-netting.
But they were soon celebrating when Bettinelli failed to hold Pereira’s corner and Ajayi headed in from two yards.
Bilic said: “I’d rather have scored earlier but there is never a bad time to score a goal.
“Johnstone is top quality with his feet and hands.
“He’s a big reason why we are unbeaten in seven games.
“It’s nice when you have an in-form keeper. It gives you that extra bit of confidence.” SADIO MANE and Mo Salah may have had their differences at Turf Moor two weeks ago.
But they buried them – and Steve Bruce’s Magpies – at Anfield yesterday.
The last time we saw Jurgen Klopp’s two goalscoring stars, one was bawling at the other for not passing to him.
The body language between the pair didn’t exactly scream bygones were bygones.
But the damage they inflicted upon Newcastle suggested that their differences had been put aside for the greater good.
And how good. Toss Roberto Firmino – on top form – into the mix and the cocktail was way too potent for the visitors.
With one eye on this week’s Champions League test against Napoli, Klopp omitted the Brazilian from the start, opting to use Divock Origi instead.
But after the Belgian turned his ankle, the gaffer was forced into a substitution.
Firmino’s introduction ensured there would be no further shocks after Jetro Willems had stunned Anfield with a right-foot rocket into the top corner after seven minutes.
Klopp said: “I started enjoying it at around 25 minutes when we arrived in the game. Newcastle do what they do really well, always difficult on counter-attacks. It’s difficult to press them.
“They are physically strong. That’s how they scored the goal.
“Then we needed another 15 minutes to set the rhythm. You have to play much quicker than we did.
“Divock had twisted his ankle so Bobby came on in his natural position. Sadio was flexible in the space and Mo was really good against physically strong players.
“When we did that, immediately we had our moments and scored two wonderful goals. In the second half we scored only one goal but we played really good football.”
The Magpies had stunned the home crowd when they took the lead.
A long ball was brought down by Christian Atsu who found Willems.
The Dutchman unleashed a right-foot shot of vicious quality. It was his first goal in eight seasons – and one he won’t forget.
With teams of Liverpool’s quality, the margin for error is wafer-thin but Newcastle made two wrong punished both times.
Virgil Van Dijk’s pass out wide to Andy Robertson gave Toon defender Emil Krafth the mistaken impression he could reach the ball after a slight miscontrol by the Scot.
He lost out. Robertson rounded him, fed Mane on his inside and the Senegalese ace curled a beauty beyond Martin Dubravka.
Ten minutes later, Newcastle attempted to break out. Atsu dithered in possession. Firmino picked up the ball and Mane darted behind Jamaal Lascelles.
Dubravka should have claimed it but the ball hit him and bounced up.
Mane’s momentum saw it loop over the Toon keeper and he slipped comfortably into an empty net.
Liverpool created chances effortlessly in the second half before Salah decided to make his point.
He collected the ball just outside the box, then a short pass to Firmino, a moment of Brazilian magic and the ball was back with the
Egyptian king who slipped the ball into the net for the
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