MULLOCK And it’s hi, ho Silva lining... as Mitrovic rocks Kop’s rusty Reds
VERDICT FROM CRAVEN COTTAGE
MARCO SILVA’S biggest challenge is to make sure Craven Cottage does not once again become everybody’s favourite away day.
The sight of Aleksandar Mitrovic bullying Trent Alexander-Arnold like a schoolboy bruiser demanding lunch money suggests the Fulham manager has put a bit of devil into his team.
Mitrovic’s meaty header secured a first-half lead the Londoners’ in-your-face approach deserved.
And the Serbian gave his team an advantage for a second time from the penalty spot 18 minutes from time when he took a tumble after mugging Virgil van Dijk.
In the end, Silva’s team had to settle for a point after Darwin Nunez came off the bench to conjure up an £85million finish before setting up Mo Salah for his annual opening-day goal.
But you can be sure that the Fulham manager was a great deal happier than Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool took their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 20 matches – and almost won it when Jordan Henderson hit the bar late on.
Klopp spent most of the game simmering – and referee Andy Madley will definitely not be getting a Christmas card.
But most of Klopp’s fury will have been generated by his team’s failure to meet Fulham on the front foot until they were behind.
The Liverpool boss made three substitutions before the hour – one forced by
Thiago’s hamstring strain.
Luis Diaz hit the post in the first half and when Nunez brilliantly backheeled Salah’s cross into the top corner, it was the Merseysiders’ first effort on target.
Fulham have been in and out of the top flight like the tide.
Two years ago, they managed to win just two games in front of their own fans. Two seasons earlier, it was a paltry six.
But it appears that this time Fulham will not be going down, if they do, without a fight.
Harrison Reed and skipper Tim Ream tackled anything in red. Kenny Tete was booked for cartwheeling Diaz.
The tempo was set.
Liverpool were rattled – and when Neeskens Kebano dug out a wicked cross from wide on the right, they were behind.
Mitrovic scored 43 times when
Fulham topped the Championship,
but he only found the back of the net on three occasions the last time Fulham were in the Premier League.
He treated Alexander-Arnold like a rag doll before sending a fierce header past the flapping Alisson into the top corner.
Klopp complained on the touchline, though whether his issue was with a tackle on Henderson that went unpunished or Mitrovic’s treatment of his right-back was unclear.
Kebano thought he had given Klopp something else to moan about early in the second half, but his 20-yard shot hit the inside of the post and bounced to safety.
But Liverpool broke the bank to sign Nunez and the Uruguayan’s leveller was sheer class.
He almost scored again soon afterwards before Mitrovic made
a fool out of Van Dijk and then scored from the spot, despite TV replays suggesting the Dutchman had made no contact.
But Salah always scores on these occasions.
And when AlexanderArnold’s cross flicked off Ream’s head and rolled off the shins of Nunez, the Egyptian stroked home the equaliser.
Salah has scored on the opening day for the last six seasons –
equalling a record shared by Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and
Frank Lampard.