Fulham 2-2 Liverpool: Review

By Mohamed Zouak

A prominent Arab commentator known as Fares Awad famously said “Do not turn the next page until you read the last sentence” as Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca unforgettably came back against local rivals Wydad Casablanca from a three-goal deficit in the 71st minute to equalising in the 93rd minute of stoppage time. T

The equaliser became the deciding factor that enabled Raja to progress to the next stages of the Arab Champions Cup in 2019 and ultimately paved their path en route to their second title in their decorated club history. 

Why is this significant to a cold Sunday afternoon Premier League game at Craven Cottage for the Reds, because in the midst of digesting what it looked like Cody Gakpo’s winner after a brilliant delivery from his Dutch counterpart Jeremih Frimpong, (in all honesty I recall Cody Gakpo being applauded off for Joe Gomez) before Fulham’s Harisson Reed marked his first goal since April 2023 with a thunderbolt into the top right corner that shocked everyone from the players, fans to those like myself watching the game from home. 

It was a moment of individual brilliance so unbelievable in fact that whether you support the Reds or Fulham, it looked like Cody Gakpo and Liverpool snatched the three points after a fatalistic first half. 

Liverpool’s first half can be mirrored to the first-half performances in North London against Tottenham Hotspur back in December or Leeds United on New Years at Anfield, dominating possession but with no real penetration. 

Cody Gakpo’s wide effort after a clever pass by Curtis Jones that caught Fulham’s defensive line completely off-guard in the 11th minute was possibly the best chance for the Reds thus far. Liverpool’s nightmare began with a ghost from the past when Harry Wilson haunted his Kop shadow by slotting the ball past Alisson into the bottom corner, a goal which was overturned after it showed that Virgil Van Dijk was playing him onside. 

Wilson who signed for Liverpool from Cardiff City in 2017 scored his sixth goal of the campaign and this re-initiated Liverpool’s woes that has been visible to many of us during their title defence this campaign. 

Liverpool for the remainder of the first half were dreadful, dominating possession but lacked any real creativity in the final third compared to Fulham who showed grit, desire, work-rate to increase their lead. Fulham were very brave on the ball, attempting to play with flair but unfortunately for them not being able to execute any real chances into a goal to grab that second-goal cushion. 

Unsure on what Arne Slot said or did during the break, the Reds entered the second half energised and raring to grab the equaliser, Liverpool were seen more fluid with the ball, players started to bravely become more prepared to make overlapping runs to create goal-scoring opportunities and pressing effectively when out of possession. 

So effective in fact that Liverpool came close to scoring the leveller in the 53rd minute when Dominik Szoboslai’s corner delivery found Alexis Mac Allister who headed the ball off the crossbar. 

Despite this, Liverpool continued their high press in the Fulham box to great effect and Liverpool’s efforts were eventually rewarded with Florian Wirtz’s curled effort past Bernd Leno to grab a well-deserved equaliser. 

Liverpool continued with the same energy, mirroring their transformative start to the second half leading up to their equaliser until Wirtz was subbed off for Jeremih Frimpong. This substitution was pivotal in the context of the remainder of the game because Liverpool shockingly returned to their old habits of the first half, Fulham regained control of the game and nearly profited when Antonee Robinson delivered a beautiful long ball to Raul Jimenez, catching out Konate before Alisson’s spill of the ball nearly allowed Harry Wilson’s attempted lob to hit the net, only to be saved by the crossbar before Van Dijk cleared. 

Liverpool continued into stoppage time second to the ball compared to the hosts and lacking creativity in the final third to concern the Fulham’s defence until the 94th minute when Frimpong’s delivery allowed Gakpo to score Liverpool’s second in what was perceived to be the completion of a Reds comeback.

That was until Cody Gakpo went off for Joe Gomez in a tactical change for Liverpool to retain their lead for the remainder of the game which proved to be ineffective, when Liverpool’s perceived “parking the bus” tactic allowed Reed, who had only been on the pitch for approximately five minutes to crush Liverpool hearts in the concluding minute and denied the Reds the points needed to close the gap on third-place Aston Villa.

Thus far, Liverpool are yet to win in 2026 and it begs the question on recruitment ahead of the January transfer window. 

With Liverpool’s mounting injuries, very much a consistent issue that imperatively must be addressed and squad depth a matter of deep consideration to grind out wins and consistency; how will they turn their approximate £450 million summer spending spree into a strategy that returns their domination in England’s top flight by securing Champions League football next season. 

This month could be pivotal in rescuing their thus far disappointing season and reignite the challenge for silverware.