Liverpool hooked from the start by promoted Fulham (2-2) despite Darwin Nunez scoring and assisting

The Reds can say a big thank you to Darwin Nunez. Seriously abused by a very good Fulham team, Liverpool conceded a 2-2 draw this Saturday afternoon on the lawn of Craven Cottage during the first day of the Premier League. Trailing twice on a double from Aleksandar Mitrovic (32nd, 71st), Jurgen Klopp’s men managed to snatch a small point thanks to a Darwin Nunez scorer (63rd), then passer for Mohamed Salah (80th).

Entering this meeting too softly, Virgil van Dijk’s teammates were surprised from the half hour mark by the intensity and all-terrain pressing of Marco Silva’s men, the untenable Aleksandar Mitrovic taking advantage of Trent’s passivity Alexander-Arnold on a long cross at the far post from Kenny Tete to deceive Alisson with a winning header under the crossbar (32nd, 1-0). Logically led to the mark, the Reds then tried in vain to respond before the break, Luis Diaz seeing his very pretty cross shot from the left die on the post of Marek Rodák (38th).

And in addition, the Reds lost Thiago Alcantara

Deprived of their master to play Thiago Alcantara just minutes after returning from the locker room due to a left thigh injury (48th), Liverpool have however completely changed their face under the leadership of their star rookie Darwin Nunez. Already close to equalizing on the hour mark following a perfect cross from Mohamed Salah, the Uruguayan striker replaced his team in the direction of travel just three minutes later, his second attempt to Madjer on a center line from the Egyptian ending this time with a goal (63rd, 1-1).

Returning to the height of this very tough promoted, Liverpool then thought they could easily take the advantage over a team unaccustomed to the very demanding games of the Premier League. But the Reds have once again tripped over the carpet at Craven Cottage. Trapped by the subtle and mischievous dribbling of the indefatigable Mitrovic, van Dijk conceded an avoidable penalty that the Serbian striker calmly converted (71st, 2-1).

With their backs to the wall twenty minutes from time, Jürgen Klopp’s men then relied on their formidable attacking tandem, Darwin Nunez deflecting the ball in the run of his partner Mohamed Salah a very nice opening from Trent Alexander-Arnold (80th, 2-2). Abused throughout the Fulham team game without complex, Liverpool opens its 2022/2023 season with a hitch. Without an omnipresent and still decisive Darwin Nunez as soon as he entered, the Reds would undoubtedly have left empty-handed from their trip to South West London.