Fulham hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage

Mohammed Salah scoring the leveler in Fulham's 2-2 shock draw against Liverpool on Saturday. (Photo credit: ESPN)

The premier league is known for surprises and little respect for status quo and Liverpool certainly knows a thing or two about that after dropping points on matchday one for the first time in a long while.

Liverpool traveled to Craven Cottage to negotiate new comers Fulham and with the way they ended last season, many expected the quick-fire start but it was the hosts that showed their new season ambitions by settling in real quick without committing errors at the back.

Coach Marco Silva has been here before, he was at Watford and then at Everton and all that showed in the way he set up his team against the title contenders. Liverpool handed Firminho the starting shirt with new signing Darwin Nunez on the bench.

Fulham drew the first blood with Alexander Mitrovic bullying Trent Alexander Arnold to a near post header that beat Allison cleanly as the two sides went into the break with the hosts having an unlikely lead, setting up a frenetic second half.

Liverpool came out firing in the second half but again, it was the hosts that nearly scored with Bobby Reid hitting the woodwork from inside the Liverpool area. Jurgen Klopp rang changes, brought on Nunez for his league debut and former Fulham player Harvey Elliot.

The move paid off as the South American benefitted from a simple Mohammed Salah pass to hand Liverpool the leveler. Fulham struck again from the spot after Virgil Van Dijk was adjudged to have brought down Mitrovic in the Liverpool area, the Serbian striker made no mistake from the six yards out.

Liverpool found the equalizer late on with Salah tucking one home for his sixth straight opening day strike, a new record that could take centuries to break. Fabio Carvalho was introduced, himself another Fulham product but it was Jordan Henderson that nearly grabbed the winner but his effort cannoned off the crossbar.

The game ended 2-2 and it means Liverpool would have to play catch up after Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham picked maximum points in their respective games.