Soccer

Klopp says Liverpool’s season-opening draw at Fulham felt like a defeat after Mitrovic double

Reds struggled to deal with Fulham’s physicality in Premier League opener at Craven Cottage

Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham scores their side's second goal from a penalty against Liverpool. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty
Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham scores their side's second goal from a penalty against Liverpool. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty
Sat Aug 06 2022 - 16:51

Fulham 2 Liverpool 2

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at newly promoted Fulham felt like a defeat for last season’s Premier League runners-up.

Mohamed Salah’s late equaliser helped cancel out two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Darwin Nunez having earlier levelled for the Reds after Fulham’s opener.

Serbia striker Mitrovic looked every part the player who smashed Championship records with 43 goals last season when he opened his account for the campaign in the 32nd minute, before following it up with a second-half penalty.

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Nunez had followed Mitrovic’s first with a clever improvised backheel goal, before turning provider on his league debut for Salah, who slotted home Liverpool’s crucial second 10 minutes from time.

Despite rescuing a point, Klopp believes his side were far from their best at Craven Cottage.

“We started exactly the opposite way than we wanted,” the Liverpool boss said.

“We are used to more dominance and we couldn’t get that because we played just not good enough, not quick enough, not precise enough, all these kind of things.

“I’m really fine with the point. I know we could have won the game – that wouldn’t have made our performance a little bit better, but we could have.

“I’m happy for the punishment we got with losing two points. I know we can see that differently – for them (Fulham) I’d say as well they lost two points.”