Match Report
Fulham (1) 1-1 (0) Liverpool
Premier League Match Day 12 at Craven Cottage
Sunday 13th December 2020 KO: 16:30
Referee:
Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Live on SkySports
|
Over in the corner where they are constructing a big new stand by the Thames, a workman in an orange jacket spent much of this game waving a huge black and white chequered flag. Sadly for him, his team fell short of this particular finishing line by just over ten minutes.
This was some effort from Scott Parker's side, though. This was an afternoon when they made Liverpool look rather ordinary at times. They fully deserved the point they got and maybe even a little more.
It was a wonderful, thumping game of football watched by a couple of thousand returning Fulham supporters who made enough noise for three times that amount.
At times, it all felt pleasingly old fashioned. But in terms of Liverpool's equaliser, there was something rather modern and even rather predictable about it.
Jurgen Klopp's team deserved their goal on the balance of play as they had been much improved in the second half and had been pushing hard in a way that seemed strangely alien to them in the first period.
Still, it was another one of those handballs that have caused so much debate this season.
In the 78th minute – with Fulham doubtless wondering if they were about to weather the storm - a free-kick from Georginio Wijnaldum struck substitute Aboubakar Kamara on the arm as he jumped in the defensive wall.
With Kamara's arm slightly raised and away from his body, it was always likely to be given. That is the way it is under the current laws of the game and the Fulham player perhaps didn't help himself by turning his back.
Certainly Liverpool were grateful for the opportunity. Mohamed Salah took the kick, drove it low to goalkeeper Alphonse Areloa's right and with that Liverpool had their point.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Liverpool |
| Goals |
(1) 1 |
1 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
De Cordova-Reid 25 |
Salah pen 79 |
| Goal attempts |
10 |
12 |
| On target |
5 |
6 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
50% |
50% |
| Possession |
25% |
75% |
| Passes Success |
67% |
87% |
| Corners |
6 |
8 |
| Tackles Success
| 47% |
57% |
| Saves |
5 |
4 |
| Fouls |
9 |
5 |
| Offsides |
2 |
2 |
| Yellows |
3 |
1 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Fulham will be happy enough. It has been a tough slog for them in the Premier League so far and the way they played in the first half here will help them in many ways. It certainly will not harm their belief. They were committed, energetic and showed quality too.
Liverpool, too, will not be overly disappointed. This was another day of distressing injury news for the champions. Before kick-off it was revealed that attacking midfielder Diogo Jota is to miss eight weeks with an injury sustained in Europe.
Then, at half-time, central defender Joel Matip declared himself unfit to continue with a back spasm and that left Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson stationed in the back four during the second half.
Keeping all that in mind, Liverpool may have been happy to get back home undefeated on the day. Given the way Fulham played for the first 40 minutes, the home team could have been two or three goals up.
Early on Fulham, no doubt helped by the reappearance of supporters behind both goals, looked eager for work. Liverpool looked like they needed a lie down. It made for a surprisingly one-sided contest for most of the first period.
Fulham seemed to sense opportunity with quick balls over the top and twice Liverpool needed fit-again goalkeeper Alisson to save them in the first 15 minutes. Both times it was the Portuguese Ivan Cavaleiro who sped way, once down the right and then down the left.
He shot early both times from angles and Alisson parried high and then low.
With the former Everton forward Ademola Lookman also dangerous, Liverpool were up against it. Their retention of the ball was poor and that only encouraged Fulham further.
Referee Andre Marriner went to his monitor to look at a Fabinho penalty box challenge on Cavaleiro that could have gone either way in the 19th minute. Liverpool survived that one but did not manage to last much longer on terms.
Lookman cut inside from the right side to get a sight of goal in the 25th minute and Alisson dived to his left to touch away the low shot. Then, from a corner, Liverpool twice failed to clear and when the ball dropped to Decordova-Reid he smashed it across the Liverpool goalkeeper and in to the far corner.
Klopp pointed later to a possible foul on Mo Salah in the build-up and may have had a point. But it was a super strike and the Fulham supporters celebrated with the kind of joy you would expect after so long at home on their sofas.
The challenge now was for Liverpool to raise themselves and it took them until the last five minutes of the half to do it, Sadio Mane heading a Curtis Jones cross over when unmarked and then Salah spinning on to an Alexander-Arnold cross only to shoot wide of the near post when he may have scored.
This pretty much set the tone for the second half. As Fulham's energy levels dropped, Liverpool sensed opportunity and dominated the second period.
Areola saved from Salah and Jones rather routinely and then brilliantly from Henderson from point-blank range. That looked as though it may have won his team the game though it was not to be.
Fulham: Areola, De Cordova-Reid, Aina, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Robinson, Anguissa, Lemina (Reed 80), Loftus-Cheek (Kamara 74), Cavaleiro, Lookman (Bryan 88).
Unused substitutes: Rodak, Kebano, Cairney, Ream, Reed.
Goals:
De Cordova-Reid 25 (Fulham have deserved this, and it's a quite brilliant strike from Bobby Reid! They keep the ball alive from the cleared corner, Reid is found by Lookman in space on the right, and it's one touch and then BANG. He finds the far corner from 20 yards, Alisson no chance! What a noise inside Craven Cottage!)
Booked: Andersen (20,f), Lemina (46,f), Lookman (75,f)
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Williams 69), Matip (Minamino 46), Fabinho, Robertson, Jones, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah (Origi 82), Firmino, Mane.
Unused substitutes: Kelleher, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cain, Williams,
Goals:
Salah pen, 79
Replays show Kamara the sub was the guilty party... his elbow was out by the side of his head! Salah steps up, and it's actually a really poor penalty, down the middle, but Areola can't get enough behind it, and Liverpool have levelled!)
Booked: Jones (31,f),
Referee:
Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Attendance: 2000