Our 3️⃣ points after impressive Fulham hold Liverpool | OneFootball

Fulham pulled off an opening day surprise after holding Liverpool to a draw, having led twice at Craven Cottage.

Here is what we made of it.

Hope for the Cottagers

Well, that wasn’t in the script.

Even the most diehard of Fulham supporters would’ve admitted they were going into today’s game hoping their side were going to keep the scoreline respectable against their superior opponents.

Instead, what they got was a performance full of determination, discipline and at times, pure quality from the newly-promoted side.

The Cottagers have developed a reputation as a ‘yo-yo club’ in recent times, where a successful promotion from the Championship was followed by an instant relegation back down from the Premier League.

Maybe, this year it will be different.

The hosts never let Liverpool settle in the first half, hustling and harrying them with Harrison Reed in particular a nuisance for his opponents.

João Palhinha looked every inch a Premier League player on his debut, dictating the tempo when his side was in possession and holding his own in the physical battle.

Marco Silva played a blinder. His team won’t stay up based on their results over the likes of Liverpool but this one will give the whole squad and fanbase the confidence that they’re going to.

Mitro’s on fire

There is a strange narrative around Aleksandar Mitrović’s ability to play in the Premier League.

The Serbian is in that strange purgatory of being too good for the Championship but not enough for the top-flight, proving that by breaking the most goals in the second tier record last season when he hit 43.

The jury will be out on the 27-year-old this season but if today is anything to go by then he might be about to silence some doubters.

Mitrović didn’t give Virgil van Dijk and Joël Matip a moment’s rest today, unsettling them with his pressing and constantly winning his physical battles.

He rose above Trent Alexander-Arnold to head home Fulham’s opener before his direct running at Van Dijk led to what proved to be a contentious penalty but gave the Cottagers the lead for a second time all the same.

This was more like the Championship Mitrović today.

The top flight better beware.

The evolution of Darwin

It was understandable why Jürgen Klopp didn’t start Dawin Nùñez today while he gets adapted and settled into Liverpool’s style of play but the German might be tempted to start him against Crystal Palace.

The Reds’ new summer buy came off the bench in the 50th minute and created chaos.

He came close to a back-heeled equaliser moments after coming on before trying the same thing again in the 64th minute, and this time proving successful to level proceedings.

The 21-year-old was a constant outlet for his team, then playing a part in the second equaliser – laying the ball off for Mohamed Salah to tap home.

Roberto Firmino proved to be invisible for the first 50 minutes but Núñez was everything more after his entrance.

Klopp must be considering it may be time to unleash the Uruguayan from the off.