Fulham have already prompted many of the doom-mongers among us to revisit our predictions. But Liverpool looked worryingly undercooked in a sloppy start to an unforgiving season…
Fulham’s hugely-creditable performance on their latest return to the Premier League will prompt more jerking of knees – especially here – than any other aspect of the Cottagers 2-2 draw with Liverpool. But for all the calm Jurgen Klopp will attempt to convey, the Reds boss would be right to wonder why his side seemed so ill-equipped to cope with their hosts’ endeavour by the Thames.
Especially for the first hour, Liverpool appeared woefully undercooked and they really ought not to be. Last weekend in the Community Shield they faced a Manchester City side who have taken a calculated risk in using the opening weeks of the Premier League season to ease into their stride and Pep Guardiola’s champions were brushed aside by Klopp’s men, who were stronger and sharper at the King Power.
At Fulham, it was Liverpool who were too often out-fought and, uncharacteristically, out-thought. Klopp can’t dispute that, and his demeanour on the touchline suggests he knows how far off the pace his side were. He can’t possibly have missed it.
The Reds have little excuse for being so stagnant. Their build-up to the opening day took in six matches and for many of their players, almost five weeks of preparation. Fitness won’t be a concern and sharpness shouldn’t be either. Klopp will likely deny it, but the most feasible explanation for their opening-day sloppiness against a side widely tipped to struggle was a mentality somewhat less than monstrous.
Liverpool have won these games before while playing a few notches playing full-pelt and they nearly got away with it today. But just as nearly they could have returned to Merseyside with nothing rather than just a point when the margins over the season are likely to be as tight as the last.
In fairness to the Reds, few outside the Fulham dressing room expected what the Cottagers produced today. In contrast to Liverpool, it has been a somewhat fraught pre-season for last term’s Championship winners, with Marco Silva frustrated at the progress of his squad strengthening. Based on this evidence, he need not be.
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For an hour, Fulham were the better team. Yes they were ahead on the intensity stakes, which is worry enough for Klopp. But Silva’s shape…
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