A Hugo Ekitike-less Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to nine games across all competitions but were left frustrated by Harrison Reed's exquisite stoppage-time equaliser away at Fulham. Cody Gakpo thought he'd earned the Reds the full three points at Craven Cottage with a 94th-minute finish at the back post before Reed's screamer in the 97th minute sealed a draw for the home team. Liverpool had to come from behind before Gakpo's goal with their former player Harry Wilson's first-half opener cancelled out by Florian Wirtz after the break.
A second successive draw is far from ideal for Liverpool's Champions League aspirations. Victory would have closed the gap to second-placed Aston Villa to six points but the Villans now remain eight clear with the top three starting to cut adrift above them. Arne Slot's side paid the price for a ponderous first-half performance and more lapses in defending. Express Sport rates and slates the Reds...
Liverpool player ratings vs Fulham
Alisson - 6
Only faced two shots on target all game and they both went in. Did well to rush off his line to thwart Jimenez before Wilson hit the crossbar but powerless to stop Reed's late scorcher. Ultimately, though, it's another game without a clean sheet.
Conor Bradley - 7
Struggled to offer much attacking threat against Antonee Robinson first half but was much improved after the break. Great burst forward and lay-off for Wirtz's equaliser. Produced some crucial defensive headers and clearances too.
Ibrahima Konate - 5
Dragged out of position for the Wilson goal by Raul Jimenez. After that blip looked fairly solid until he played Jimenez onside for a chance that led to Fulham hitting the crossbar.
Virgil van Dijk - 6
Played Wilson onside for the Fulham opener but marshalled the box pretty well after that. On hand to clear after Wilson's shot bounced back off the bar into a menacing area of the box. Should he have rushed out to close down Reed before the equaliser? That might be being too harsh.
Milos Kerkez - 6
His end product wasn't good enough but he at least put a real shift in to try and offer width down the left-hand side.
Ryan Gravenberch - 5
Unable to offer this Liverpool side the defensive protection it needs, failing to track the run of Wilson for the goal, and didn't do much to open up Fulham's mid-block on the ball.
Alexis Mac Allister - 5
Not brave enough on the ball which contributed to Liverpool being too languid in attack. Headed against the crossbar from a corner after being afforded space.
Curtis Jones - 6
Great through ball set up a Gakpo chance in the first half and was denied an equaliser soon after by a great block. He looked threatening but his influence faded as the game wore on.
Dominik Szoboszlai - 5
Right wing clearly isn't his position and he wasn't particularly effective on the ball or off it while playing there. A second-half free-kick he put way past the post summed up his afternoon.
Florian Wirtz - 7
Playing with a hamstring injury but one of very few who looked capable of making something happen out of nowhere for Liverpool, fashioning a good first-half chance for Jones. A good finish to make it 1-1 after staying onside by millimetres. Came off early for rest.
Cody Gakpo - 7
Wasteful with a few chances before great positioning to pop up with a stoppage-time finish at the far post that should have been the winning goal. Was lively throughout, even in a dour first half. Booked for taking his shirt off.
Substitutes
Jeremie Frimpong (Wirtz 76) - 7
Tasked with offering extra width on the right wing and delivered the cross that Gakpo scored from.
Federico Chiesa (Jones 85) - N/A
A late introduction but hardly got a touch of the ball. Not close enough to Reed for the late equaliser.
Joe Gomez (Gakpo 90+5) - N/A
Only contribution was to slide a late pass to Gravenberch that went out of play.