A Tactical Chess Match
The afternoon began as a cagey, tactical battle. Fulham drew first blood in the 19th minute when Harry Wilson haunted his former club, slotting home a clinical finish. After a tense VAR review, the goal stood, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Liverpool, ever the heavyweights, responded by dominating possession and racking up eight corners to Fulham’s three. However, the Cottagers' defense remained a fortress for much of the first half. It wasn't until the hour mark that the pressure finally told; Florian Wirtz leveled the scoring, turning the game into a high-stakes sprint for the finish line.
The Substitutes Change the Script
As the clock ticked toward ninety minutes, both managers turned to their benches. These tactical rolls of the dice would ultimately set the stage for one of the wildest injury-time sequences in recent memory.
• 95th Minute: Liverpool fans thought the comeback was complete. Substitute Jeremie Frimpong burst down the flank to find Cody Gakpo, who silenced the home crowd with what looked like a last-gasp winner.
• 97th Minute: With the seconds evaporating, Fulham launched one final assault. In a moment of pure magic, Kevin teed up Harrison Reed outside the box. Reed unleashed a thunderous strike that flew into the back of the net, sending Craven Cottage into absolute delirium.
The Aftermath
For Fulham, this result is a testament to their "never say die" attitude. Earning a point against a giant like Liverpool in such a fashion provides a massive boost to their morale and league standing.
For Liverpool, it feels like two points dropped. Despite their dominance on the stat sheet, failing to see out the game in the final 120 seconds is a stinging blow to their Top 4 ambitions.
The takeaway? Never leave a Premier League game early.