Image Credits: Imago Images
There was something oddly familiar about Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham, even by early January. Injuries had already thinned the squad, and Hugo Ekitike’s absence left Arne Slot short of a focal point. The first half reflected that. Liverpool saw plenty of the ball but rarely threatened, while Fulham looked sharper and more settled. Harry Wilson, once of Anfield, punished a loose spell with a calm finish. Bernd Leno spent most of the opening period watching from a distance. By half-time, Liverpool were behind and looked short of ideas rather than unlucky.
The second half brought a lift, if not full control. Liverpool moved the ball more quickly and committed bodies forward. Florian Wirtz arrived to finish an equaliser that immediately felt awkward, greeted more by hesitation than celebration. When Cody Gakpo scored deep into stoppage time, the reaction was instant and emotional. Players ran to the corner. The away end erupted. Yet the moment did not last. Harrison Reed, on as a substitute, scored from distance in the 97th minute. The ball flew in. Silence followed. Liverpool had dropped points again in the final moments.
Despite missing players, Liverpool arrived as favourites. That sense was reflected across match previews, predictions, and the betting odds, which leaned towards an away win. In the days before kick off, Liverpool were priced at 20/21, with Fulham offered at 31/10 and the draw at 14/5. Much of the build-up focused on how Fulham might contain them rather than whether they could. Discussions around the betting options available on platforms that offer competitive EPL odds, live betting options, and generous bonuses often pointed to Liverpool edging a tight game. That context mattered once the match began to turn. Fulham were not chasing. Liverpool were not pulling away. By the time Reed scored, the gap between expectation and reality felt wider than the scoreline suggested.
Wirtz’s equaliser was the moment everything slowed down. The assistant referee raised the flag, and play stopped. Florian Wirtz himself seemed resigned, later admitting he assumed the move was dead. Inside the stadium, few argued. On the replay, his shoulder appeared ahead of the defender at the point of the pass. As VAR took over, the delay stretched on. Groans grew louder. When the referee pointed to the centre circle, the reaction was mixed. Some booed. Others looked puzzled. It was not outrage so much as disbelief that such a tight call had gone Liverpool’s way.
Why the Decision Stood
The answer lies in how offside is currently judged in the Premier League. After years of criticism over marginal calls, a tolerance margin was introduced to account for technical limits. Factors like the exact moment a ball is played are not always precise. If an attacker falls within that margin, the decision favours the forward. Semi-automated offside technology measures positions more accurately than before, but the league has chosen to keep that buffer. In this case, Florian Wirtz was judged close enough to be level, even if the images suggested otherwise.
That choice continues to divide opinion. Some leagues apply semi-automated offside with no leeway at all, ruling strictly on position. The Premier League has taken a softer line, arguing that technology still carries limitations. The problem is trust. Supporters see one thing on the screen and hear another explained later. Decisions arrive without much context in the moment. Over time, that gap breeds doubt. The system works quickly and consistently, but clarity remains an issue. Calls like this do little to settle the debate, especially when they affect key moments.
Arne Slot was more concerned with what happened after the equaliser. He felt Liverpool controlled most of the second half and limited Fulham’s chances. Conor Bradley’s runs added urgency and helped stretch the home side. Slot rejected the idea that his approach has changed, pointing instead to the players available. He spoke about balance, about defending properly while trying to create. Still, the pattern is hard to ignore. Liverpool applied pressure, scored late, and then failed to shut the game down. Reed’s goal came from distance, but space had been left.
For Fulham, the result felt fair, especially given their recent injury problems. Marco Silva praised his side’s organisation and work rate, particularly before the break. They defended deep, stayed patient, and waited for moments rather than forcing them. Silva admitted the Wirtz goal looked offside at first glance, but accepted the explanation given. What mattered more was the response. Fulham did not drop their heads after conceding twice late on. They pushed forward when the chance appeared. Reed’s strike was spectacular, but it came from belief as much as technique.
Pressure Building Ahead of Another Test
Liverpool will return to London to face Arsenal with familiar questions hanging over them. Injuries continue to shape selection, and results remain uneven, forcing Slot to juggle short-term fixes with longer-term planning. The offside call will be discussed again, but it is only part of the story. Liverpool is not being overrun. They are being punished for moments they fail to control. That reality is starting to influence thinking beyond the pitch, with the club monitoring Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, and weighing short-term attacking cover such as Memphis Depay amid fitness concerns elsewhere. Matches remain open when they should be settled. Until that changes, fine margins will keep deciding outcomes. This draw was dramatic and controversial, but it also followed a pattern that has defined their season so far.
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