The Tanner Report: Fulham 1 Liverpool 1

In all the years of my support of Fulham this performance – especially the first 30 minutes of it – was as fine as I have ever seen.

Fulham took the game to Liverpool from the start and the League and Champions League winners were on their heels. Two scoreable chances fell to Ivan Cavaleiro before Bobby DeCordova Reid struck the ball sweetly to give Fulham the lead.

Liverpool dominated possession and I always thought they might equalise and then go onto win.

In fact Fulham held out doughtily with a well-marshalled defence and the equaliser came as a result of  2 forwards’ poor defending.

First Ivan Cavaleiro gave away a silly free kick on the edge of the penalty area then from that free kick Kamara turned his back and the ball struck his outstretched elbow.

It’s a harsh rule as it was not a particularly well-struck free kick but the infringement in the box was confirmed by VAR.  Salah converted the penalty which keeper Areola came close to saving.

Certainly the presence of 2000 fans made a difference.

Home advantage meant something and stiffened the Fulham resistance and resolve.

I watched on SKY where ex-legends Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness could barely disguise where their loyalties lie.

There are plenty of neutral analysts – or Ray Houghton played for both teams – so why these two? Call me biased but this is poor coverage.

By the second half I could take no more and put on the Fulham website commentary of Jim McGullion and Jamie Reid.

Still we got 4 points out of a cycle of Leicester City and Manchester City away and Liverpool away when I would have been satisfied with one and expected none.

The team especially the defence is settled and our football crisp and flowing round

Liverpool fans and Jurgen  Klopp might complain of their long injury list but they had 7 regulars starting including their famous three up front (Mane, Salah and Firmino) who were tethered.

We too had a key injury with Mitrovic not even on the bench. I thought a draw reflected the play and was very proud that this was achieved.