Liverpool endured a rollercoaster of emotions during their 2-2 draw with Fulham at Anfield, coming from behind twice, despite being reduced to 10 men for a large part of the match. The early dismissal of Andy Robertson in the 17th minute put Liverpool in a difficult situation. However, second-half goals from Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota salvaged a valuable point for the Reds.
The draw allowed Liverpool to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points, although Chelsea could close the gap with a win against Brentford on Sunday. This match, held during the Premier League’s 3pm blackout, was full of drama, confusion, and contentious moments. Robertson’s red card sparked a debate in the press box, with former Liverpool player Jason McAteer initially believing that the decision would be overturned due to an offside. Liverpool’s defense was reshuffled following the red card, with Joe Gomez playing in various positions and Ryan Gravenberch filling in as a makeshift centre-back, a role that required direction from Virgil van Dijk.
Tensions were further heightened by confusion over the amount of stoppage time added at the end of the match, as Liverpool pressed for a potential winner but were unable to capitalize. There was also a comical moment in the second half when Fulham’s captain Antonee Robinson slipped on the turf during the warm-up, which prompted laughter from the Anfield crowd, especially from the Kop.
Darwin Núñez, who had been criticized for his recent performances, received strong backing from the fans. As he came off the bench, the crowd loudly chanted his name, showing their support. Núñez responded with an assist for Jota’s equalizer, earning praise from the supporters. Fulham manager Arne Slot also played a prominent role during the match, often protesting decisions from the officials. His frustrations boiled over, earning him a yellow card for dissent. Slot also expressed dissatisfaction with time-wasting by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and incidents like a collision between Kenny Tete and Joe Gomez.
Despite being sent off earlier, Andy Robertson remained engaged, watching the second half from behind the dugout and passionately supporting his team. He joined in the celebrations when Jota scored, as did players like Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah showed signs of frustration late in the match when he was not passed to in promising goal-scoring situations. His displeasure was clear as he gestured angrily and looked up to the sky after the missed chances.
The match also saw former Everton player Alex Iwobi endure a painful incident when he was struck by Salah’s powerful volley. Although Iwobi attempted to continue playing, he eventually collapsed in pain. This led to mocking chants from the Anfield crowd, and even though Iwobi tried to push through, he admitted to immense pain after the match, struggling to walk. Overall, the match was filled with high drama and reflected the intense nature of Liverpool’s season so far.
