Liverpool almost suffered defeat when they visited Fulham headquarters in Week 12 of the Premier League, Monday (14/12). Mohamed Salah’s penalty saved Liverpool face and forced the match to end 1-1.
Playing at Craven Cottage Stadium, the hosts immediately spread threats. Only four minutes into the game, goalkeeper Alisson Brecker had to work hard to save his goal from a shot from Fulham player Mario Lemina.
Two minutes later, it was Roberto Firmino’s turn to threaten the Fulham goal. The shot can still be saved by the Fulham goalkeeper.
On the 16th minute, the referee checks VAR to see Fabinho’s violation that dropped Ivan Cavaleiro in the penalty box. However, the referee said there was no violation.
Fulham opened the scoring 1-0 in the 24th minute through Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Starting from the chaos of a corner kick, a wild ball thrown by a Liverpool player was successfully captured by a Fulham player.
Cordova-Reid, who got a breakthrough bait on the left side of the Liverpool defense, escaped the offside trap. His hard kick hit the right corner of Alisson’s goal.
Liverpool are still in control and trying to catch up until the middle of the first half.
But they were like ‘dying of the wind’. The passes to the front lines were raw several times by Fulham’s back line who played more waiting.
Liverpool had a chance to equalize the score two minutes before the break. Mohamed Salah who received a pull bait from the right failed to convert.
Salah’s kick from inside the penalty box is still off the left side of the Fulham goal. Fulham’s advantage lasted until halftime.
At the start of the second half, Fulham and Liverpool had immediately bought and sold attacks. Alisson’s kick was able to block Lemia. While Salah’s long-range shot was also pushed over by Alphonse Areola
Liverpool began to increase the tempo of the match by continuing to press the host. But several times they often had difficulty penetrating the Fulham defense.
The Reds also occasionally take long-distance kicks to score goals. But failed.
A good chance occurred on 61 minutes when Jordan Henderson got a pass in the penalty box. Unfortunately, his left foot shot was blocked by Areola.
Liverpool finally equalized through Salah’s penalty in the 79th minute. Salah calmly converted penalty into goals.
Penalty was awarded after Gini Wijnaldum’s free kick hit Aboubakar Kamara’s hand which became a posse in the penalty box.
After that goal, Liverpool were increasingly looking for the second goal. One good chance from Curtis Jones who dribbled from the middle of the field which ended with a flat shot near the penalty box. His kick was too weak and Areola caught it.
In the remaining time of the match Liverpool continued to lock up the Fulham defense. The meeting of the Fulham rearguard made it difficult for Salah cs to create opportunities.
Until the end of the match the score 1-1 remained.
