A late Cody Gakpo strike wasn’t enough to secure the win as Harrison Reed’s stoppage-time “worldie” forced Liverpool to settle for a disappointing 2-2 draw at Fulham.
Pressure continues to mount on Arne Slot as Liverpool followed up a New Year’s Day stalemate with another frustrating 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Despite maintaining an unbeaten streak, the performance lacked the clinical edge required of title contenders.
A chaotic finish saw two goals in the final minutes, but the Reds ultimately failed to secure maximum points against a resilient Fulham side.
Alisson Becker (6/10): The Brazilian goalkeeper had a relatively quiet afternoon, as Fulham focused on structured defending for much of the game. He was left completely exposed for both goals and could do little to prevent Harry Wilson’s opener or Harrison Reed’s late wonder-strike.
Conor Bradley (6/10): Bradley’s performance was a mixed bag; while his defensive positioning was caught out during the build-up to Wilson’s goal, he provided a vital spark in the final third. He showed great determination to drive forward and provide the assist for Liverpool’s equalizing goal.
Ibrahima Konaté (6/10): The Frenchman looked physically dominant in the air and comfortable when in possession of the ball. However, he shared the blame for the first goal, appearing somewhat “lazy” in his recovery run and failing to track the movement that led to Fulham taking the lead.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10): It was a standard, albeit slightly unlucky, performance from the captain. He made several key interceptions to protect the goal, though he was the one who inadvertently played Wilson onside for the opener by the narrowest of margins.
Milos Kerkez (5/10): Kerkez had a subdued game on the left, failing to make a significant impact on either end of the pitch. His defensive work was passable given Fulham’s lack of constant pressure, but his delivery from wide areas was consistently disappointing.
Ryan Gravenberch (5/10): Usually a reliable presence, Gravenberch struggled to find his rhythm and lacked his typical composure on the ball. He was the third player at fault for the opening goal after failing to track a crucial run, marking this as one of his least effective outings in recent memory.
Curtis Jones (6/10): Jones was the most proactive member of the midfield diamond, consistently looking for progressive passes to break the lines. He nearly secured an assist for Gakpo in the first half and remained a busy presence until the game began to stretch late in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister (5/10): While he maintained possession well and kept the game moving, Mac Allister often opted for the safe pass rather than looking to unlock the defense. His lack of natural pace was evident at times, making it difficult for him to impose himself on a physical Fulham midfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai (5/10): This was a rare “off-day” for the Hungarian international, who usually dictates the tempo of the attack. He struggled to exert his usual influence and was caught out of position defensively on several occasions, leading to a frustrating afternoon.
Cody Gakpo (6/10): Gakpo’s performance was defined by missed opportunities until he finally found the net in the 94th minute. After scuffing an earlier one-on-one chance, he looked to have snatched the winner, only for the points to be shared moments later following Reed’s equalizer.
Florian Wirtz (6/10): Playing through what appeared to be a lack of full match fitness, Wirtz nonetheless showed his class by clinically finishing his goal. Aside from the strike, his play was somewhat conservative, as he prioritized keeping the ball over risky creative maneuvers.
Notable Substitute
Jeremie Frimpong (6/10): Introduced to inject much-needed pace and energy into the side, Frimpong made an immediate impact. He used his speed to stretch the defense and provided a perfectly weighted assist for Gakpo’s late goal.