PLAYER RATING: Fulham Vs Liverpool Clash - Mitrovic Scored 2 Goals Ahead of Salah

PLAYER RATING: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool | Mitrovic Outshines Salah in Dramatic Premier League Opener

The Premier League returned with a bang and a twist.

Liverpool, expected to brush aside newly promoted Fulham, were forced to claw back for a point thanks to a brace from Aleksandar Mitrovic, which left fans stunned and pundits rethinking their expectations.

In a pulsating 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage, it was the Serbian striker, not Mo Salah, who stole the spotlight on the opening weekend.

Match Summary | Fulham Lands the First Punch

Liverpool arrived as the heavyweights, but Fulham threw the early punches.

Mitrovic opened the scoring with a towering header, silencing Reds fans and shaking Jürgen Klopp’s dugout.

Even when Darwin Nunez came off the bench to equalize, Fulham responded.

Again, Mitrovic, like a man on a mission, won and converted a penalty to restore Fulham’s lead.

But as always, when Liverpool is in trouble, Salah appears.

The Egyptian slotted in the equalizer after a smart team move, salvaging a point for the Merseyside club. Still, the mood post-match? Frustrated.

Player Ratings & Reactions | Fullham Stand Tall

FULHAM (4-3-3)

Marek Rodak – 6
Rarely troubled but alert when needed. Couldn’t do much about Liverpool’s goals.
Kenny Tete – 6
A gritty defensive display and grabbed the assist for the opener.
Tim Ream – 5.5
Comfortable in the first half, but shaky for Liverpool’s second goal.
Tosin – 6
Kept Núñez and Firmino quiet for large spells—an underrated effort.
Antonee Robinson – 6.5
Shut down Salah early on and formed a solid left-side combo with Reid.
Harrison Reed – 7
A pest in midfield. Never allowed Liverpool to dictate tempo.
João Palhinha – 8
Made a Premier League debut to remember. Strong, calm, and disruptive.
Andreas Pereira – 7
Gave Alexander-Arnold a tough outing. His creativity sparked danger.
Neeskens Kebano – 6.5
A livewire, though his final ball often let him down.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 5
Invisible for long periods.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – 9
Man of the Match. Two goals, a constant threat, and a bullied Van Dijk.

Substitutes:

Manor Solomon – 6
Came on late but showed glimpses of top-tier quality.

Manager: Marco Silva – 8
Tactically bold and confident. This was Fulham’s best Premier League start in years.

Liverpool Ratings | Off Pace, but Not Out

LIVERPOOL

Alisson – 5.5
Poor distribution and could’ve done better for the first goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5.5
Struggled with positioning, particularly against Pereira.
Joel Matip – 6
Steady but unspectacular. Covered well when Van Dijk faltered.
Virgil van Dijk – 4
His worst day in a Liverpool shirt? Mitrovic had him in his pocket.
Andy Robertson – 5.5
Sharp early on but faded late. Decision-making lacked conviction.
Fabinho – 5.5
Looked overwhelmed in the middle, especially against Palhinha.
Thiago – 5
Barely involved before injury. A worrying sign for Klopp.
Jordan Henderson – 6
Denied a late winner by the crossbar. Tried to rally the midfield.
Mohamed Salah – 7.5
Invisible early, decisive late. A goal and an assist reminded everyone why he’s elite.
Roberto Firmino – 4.5
Lacked urgency, creativity, and edge. Poor outing.
Luis Diaz – 6.5
Liverpool’s only threat in the first half. Hit the bar, but influence dipped.

Substitutes:

Harvey Elliott – 7
Lifted Liverpool’s tempo. Sharp and proactive.
Darwin Nunez – 8
One goal, one assist—instant impact. Could start the next game.
James Milner – 6
Brought experience but not much else.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp – 6.5
His changes worked, but questions linger about the team’s sluggish start.

Tactical Takeaways

Fulham’s Midfield Press: The trio of Palhinha, Reed, and Pereira completely unsettled Liverpool’s rhythm. It was organised chaos, and it worked.
Van Dijk Exposed: For perhaps the first time since joining Liverpool, Van Dijk looked vulnerable—Mitrovic’s physicality exposed a surprising fragility.
Nunez the Game-Changer: The Uruguayan turned the tide. Klopp might consider starting him sooner rather than later.

What This Means Going Forward

For Fulham, this result is more than just a point; it’s a statement. They showed grit, quality, and above all, belief. With Silva at the helm and Mitrovic firing, survival looks realistic.

For Liverpool, it’s an early red flag. Injuries, disjointed play, and midfield frailty need urgent fixing before tougher fixtures arrive.