The Portugal star returned from injury to deliver the vital goal amid some smart changes from Arne Slot
Diogo Jota announced his return from injury with a vital goal as 10-man Liverpool twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Fulham in a hectic Premier League clash at Anfield on Saturday. Within 17 minutes, the home side were a man and a goal down against the Cottagers, but Arne Slot's men showed impressive resolve as they fought back to stretch their uneaten run to 19 matches.
Liverpool had a promising start with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz causing trouble, but it was Fulham who struck first as Antonee Robinson's great cross was met by Andreas Pereira at the back post and he diverted it in off of Andy Robertson. The Scotland international and Liverpool's afternoon got even worse just six minutes later when he was sent off. The full-back failed to control the ball as he cut out a long pass towards Harry Wilson and then wiped the winger out in a desperate attempt to recover.
Slot made tactical tweaks after the red card, moving Ryan Gravenberch into the defence and Joe Gomez to the left and his team were able to settle the game down, but breaking through Fulham's defence was almost impossible while the visitors continued to threaten with quick attacks.
They needed a perfect start to the second half and they got it as Mohamed Salah's diagonal cross was headed in by Gakpo in the 47th minute, providing a significant lift for the hosts. Fulham always had the promise of restoring their lead, however, and they delivered on it when Robinson, having just left Trent Alexander-Arnold in his dust, slipped in behind substitute Jarell Quansah and worked it to Rodrigo Muniz in the centre to divert it in.
Again, Slot rang the changes and allowed Jota to make his first appearance since sustaining an injury on October 20, and less than 10 minutes later the Portugal star took on a pass from fellow substitute Darwin Nunez and buried it.
GOAL rates Arne Slot's players from Anfield…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Alisson (5/10):
Both goals were tricky to deal with but the Braziliian hardly covered himself in glory.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (3/10):
No match for Robinson's run for the first goal and was far too easy to exploit down the wing throughout, culminating in the USMNT star blasting through him for the second.
Joe Gomez (7/10):
Moved to the left after the red card and battled for every ball while pushing up field as an attacking option.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10):
Stayed calm and kept it simple despite the pressure the defence faced.
Andy Robertson (1/10):
Survived an early injury scare, couldn't block Pereira's opener and then got sent off – a tremendous 16 minutes.
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Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):
Put in a great shift to match the intensity of the game, creating chances and sliding in to stop them at the other end.
Ryan Gravenberch (7/10):
Switched to centre-back and looked good beside Van Dijk, sweeping up well and building from the back.
Curtis Jones (5/10):
Fine on the ball but just didn't offer enough and was booked for a senseless challenge.
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Mohamed Salah (7/10):
Fulham did a great job of cutting him out in the first half but couldn't stop him setting up the equaliser.
Luis Diaz (6/10):
Good runs off the ball and got back to fight for it as he tried to spark Liverpool into life.
Cody Gakpo (8/10):
Provided service to Diaz from the left wing with his smart passes and dangerous diagonal balls in but became a more direct threat, getting low to head in from close range.
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Darwin Nunez (6/10):
Came on to add firepower and worked the ball to Jota for the equaliser
Jarell Quansah (4/10):
Sloppy for Fulham's second goal as Robinson got in behind him.
Harvey Elliott (6/10):
Came close with a dangerous shot.
Diogo Jota (8/10):
Did a fantastic job wrecking the defender and blasting in to make it 2-2. Came close to getting the winner but sent it over the bar.
Arne Slot (8/10):
Made interesting changes after it all went wrong for Liverpool and it helped stabilise his team. Then, it was his substitutes who provided the vital equaliser.