Fulham's Antonee Robinson conceded that the Anfield atmosphere played a part in his side being unable to beat 10-man Liverpool this weekend. He also admitted he had his hands full with Mohamed Salah during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Anfield, despite the Reds being a man down for a significant portion of the match.
Liverpool showed resilience to come back twice and secure a point in a game where they were reduced to 10 men early on. Robinson, who captained Fulham on the day, found himself in a pivotal duel with Salah. The American defender initially struggled but grew into the game, especially after Liverpool's red card allowed him more space to contribute offensively.
Reflecting on the encounter on Match of the Day, Robinson said: "We were on even footing and then we scored and they got a red card. They took a lot of risks pushing men high and they were rewarded for it, there was space for us on the break but we didn't capitalize.
"They piled the pressure on and were really positive. They brought Diogo Jota on. I felt like Salah was getting the better of me in the first half, I was on a booking but I felt more myself in the second half."
The defender also touched on Fulham's improved performances this season: "We've been managing to pick up results against top teams, that's the difference from last year. We've got injuries. It's all about getting everyone back and staying consistent."
The match saw Fulham take the lead through Andreas Pereira, only for Cody Gakpo to level after half-time. Rodrigo Muniz then put Fulham ahead again, but Jota's goal ensured the points were shared.
Antonee Robinson impressed with his performance for Fulham against Liverpool
Antonee Robinson impressed with his performance for Fulham against Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
Speaking after the intense clash, Robinson praised his team's resilience under pressure and admitted to the wild tempo of the game: "It was a crazy game to play in as well," he acknowledged. "We're no stranger to the atmosphere here.
"They really push them on and credit to them, it didn't really feel like they had 10 men. At times we won the ball back and we were blowing from defending. Before the game if we could have got a draw away at the top of the league, we would've taken it."
Liverpool.com says: For those who say the Anfield factor is a myth, this is just the latest player suggest otherwise. Liverpool needed a boost in the second half and the crowd responded. It's not a constant noise at the same level but when it gets up, it really makes an impact.