Fulham pay penalty as Salah salvages a point for Liverpool
WATCHED by a couple of thousand returning Fulham f ans, this was a thumping game of football that at times felt pleasingly old fashioned. Even if there was something rather modern and even predictable about Liverpool’s equaliser.
Yes, Jurgen Klopp’s team deserved it as they were much improved in the second half. However, it was from another of those handballs that have caused so much debate this season.
In the 78th minute, a free-kick from Gini Wijnaldum struck Aboubakar Kamara on the arm as he jumped in the defensive wall. With his arm slightly raised and away from his body, it was always likely to be given under the current laws of the game — and he didn’t help himself by turning his back.
Mo Salah drove the spot-kick low to Alphonse Areloa’s right and Liverpool had their point.
Fulham will be happy enough. It’s been a tough slog in the top flight so far and the way they played in the first half certainly won’t harm their belief. They were committed, energetic and showed quality.
Liverpool won’t be disappointed either. This was another day of distressing injury news for the champions. Before kick- off it was revealed Diogo Jota is to miss eight weeks with an injury sustained in Europe. Then, at half-time, central defender Joel Matip was unfit to continue with a back spasm.
That left captain Jordan Henderson stationed in the back four during the second half. Jurgen Kopp has bemoaned his team’ s heavy schedule this season amid so many injuries, but Henderson said later: ‘I don’t want to stand here and make excuses, we just have to prepare and play when we’re told.
‘We flew back from Denmark, prepared well but, for whatever reason, we didn’t start this game well. The good thing is that we reacted well.’
Given the way Fulham played for the first 40 minutes, they could have been two or three goals up.
Scott Parker’s side sent quick balls over the top and twice Liverpool needed keeper Alisson to save them in the first 15 minutes. Both times Ivan Cavaleiro sped away, once down the right and then the left. He shot early both times from angles and Alisson parried high and then low. With Ademola Lookman also dangerous, Liverpool were up against it.
Andre Marriner went to his monitor to l ook at a Fabinho penalty-box challenge on Cavaleiro that could have gone either way in the 19th minute. Liverpool survived but not for much longer.
Lookman got a sight of goal in the 25th minute but Alisson touched away his low shot. Then, from a corner, Liverpool twice failed to clear and when the ball dropped to Bobby Decordova-Reid he smashed it across the Reds’ No 1 into the far corner. Klopp pointed to a possible foul on Salah in the build-up but it was a super strike.
It took Liverpool until the last five minutes of the first half to rouse themselves, Sadio Mane heading over when unmarked and Salah shooting wide.
In the second half, as Fulham’s energy levels dropped, Liverpool sensed opportunity and dominated.
Areola saved from Salah, Curtis Jones and then Henderson from point-blank range. That looked as though it may have won his team the game but it was not to be.
Klopp, who hopes Matip is fit for Wednesday’s visit of Tottenham, said: ‘We are not struggling, it’s just that the replacements are getting younger and younger. We hope Joel is okay. If not, we have to find a solution.’