FULHAM 2-2 LIVERPOOL: Harrison Reed's late leveller denied Arne Slot's Liverpool at Craven Cottage after Cody Gakpo thought he had won it for the Reds
Arne Slot reacts with look of dejection
Arne Slot couldn't believe Liverpool threw away a late lead(Image: Dave Shopland/Shutterstock)
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Every time Liverpool think they have turned a corner, something blows them off course. This time it was a 97th minute Goal of the Season contender from Harrison Reed which took the roof off Craven Cottage.
It was so cruel on Liverpool who thought they had won it with Cody Gakpo ’s 95th minute strike which would have been a precious away win for Arne Slot ’s side. But the away end was still celebrating when supersub Reed - who has only scored four goals since joining the club six years ago - unleashed his 25 yard rocket into the top corner.
It was no more than Fulham deserved in reality but Liverpool just cannot catch a break in this bizarre rollercoaster season. Florian Wirtz had drawn them level after Harry Wilson’s opener which, up until the injury time drama, had been a game all about tight VAR margins.
Fulham forward Wilson was initially flagged offside before VAR showed he was played onside by Virgil van Dijk’s shoulder. Then Florian Wirtz’s leveller also stood thank to VAR and you might have thought the story was going to be about the £116m midfielder beginning to turn things around.
That was Wirtz’s second goal in four Premier League games in which he also supplied an assist and the way he dug in and fought echoed Liverpool’s resilience to turn this game around. The VAR check on Wirtz’s goal took forever.
The Premier League does use semi-automated technology and they also use slightly thicker lines to give the attacker the benefit of the doubt. It was definitely that close.
Fulham's Harrison Reed, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal
Harrison Reed's late stunner earned Fulham a point against Liverpool
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(Image: AP)
But we should not be talking about VAR. We should be talking about glory and wonderful moments. Reed’s stunner was just glorious and Craven Cottage has witnessed some magic this season already.
Fulham pushed Manchester City all the way in a nine goal thriller last month and this was another rollercoaster as Marco Silva’s men appear to have the measure of Liverpool. Last season, they drew at Anfield and beat Slot’s Liverpool during the title run-in. Their lucky charm struck again on what was another day of frustration for Liverpool.
This was an opportunity to pull clear in the battle for top four - but another chance wasted in a season which has been about inconsistency and sloppiness. This time they looked weak up front with Hugo Ekitike missing through a minor injury, Mo Salah away on AFCON duty, and Alexander Isak out injured.
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates after he scored
Cody Gakpo thought he had won it for Liverpool in stoppage time
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(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Gakpo played up front with Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai in the supporting roles while, again, Liverpool’s defence just looked vulnerable when under pressure.
Fulham took a first half lead when Raul Jimenez played in Wilson who raced through, smashed a low shot past Liverpool keeper Allison Becker and into the far corner. Ex-Liverpool starlet Wilson turned away with his hands on his head, thinking he was offside. Maybe that was why he relaxed and finished with so much style. But VAR showed Van Dijk’s shoulder played him onside.
Nothing was going Gakpo’s way as he headed against the post and had the ball in the net only to have drifted offside. Liverpool levelled after 57 minutes when Conor Bradley’s run set up Wirtz who finished in style. VAR came to his rescue after another offside flag.
It was wide open. Jimenez went through, Alisson raced out and Wilson chipped onto the crossbar before van Dijk’s last gasp clearance. Then Jeremie Frimpong’s brilliant low cross set up Gakpo who thought he had won it until Reed’s incredible late intervention. What a finish.
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