The Tanner Report : Fulham 2 Liverpool 2
One vital question was resolved in this enthralling draw, namely that Alex Mitrovic can and will score in the Premier.
The doubters pointed to his poor scoring record at the top table with Newcastle and Fulham under Scott Parker. The contrary argument is that he is Serbia’s top scorer and was utilised ineffectively by the then Fulham Head Coach.
Yesterday Fulham had the best of the early exchanges and were clearly not going to show too much respect for one of the great club sides.
However it took a superb cross from right back Kenny Tete – my man of the match – to the far post for Mitrovic to head home, Liverpool’s Trent Arnold revealing his defensive frailties.
When Liverpool equalised through Darwin Nunez we thought they would go onto to win.
However Van Dijk brought down Mitrovic, who calmly put the penalty into the right hand corner.
Liverpool equalised again messily through Mo Salah and a draw was a fair reflection – though our hearts were in our mouth when in injury time Jordan Henderson clipped the bar.
Head Coach Marco Silva had set up Fulham astutely.
Liverpool’s full backs Andy Robertson and Trent Arnold were denied and never provided enough width going forward, whilst the hardworking midfield trio of Pereira, Palhinha and Reed proved an effective central block and screen.
No commentator, analyst or reporter commented on this.
It cannot be happenstance that many of Fulham’s best performances came from players who feared replacement.
Tim Ream played in every game last season and decisively in the first half of this but Fulham, despite acquiring Shane Duffy on loan, are still looking for a central defender; Marek Rodak kept capably in goal even though Arsenal’s Berne Leno has been bought; Neeskens Kebano clipped the post and did well with Manot Salomon from Dhaktar Donetsk on the bench; Kenny Tete was immense but Kevin Mbabu from Wolfsburg has been brought in as right back.
There is a long way to go but many doubters must be revising their Fulham relegation prediction.
