Fulham stun Liverpool with sensational 97th minute Reed equaliser

It appeared Liverpool had done enough to claim a vital win when Cody Gakpo put them ahead in injury time

Fulham's Harrison Reed celebrates scoring a late equaliser against Liverpool. Pic:Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Premier League: Fulham 2 Liverpool 2

Harrison Reed’s stunning 97th minute equaliser in a remarkable 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage has left Liverpool on their knees just when they thought Cody Gakpo had revitalised their season.

Gakpo, standing in for the injured Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, seemed to have clinched a comeback victory for Arne Slot’s under-fire side with a goal deep into injury time.

It would have been three desperately needed points at a time when Liverpool are frantically trying to rediscover their form in what has been a traumatic season so far.

But, somehow, they managed to throw it away as they left Fulham substitute Reed in acres of space to smash home a remarkable long-distance shot that fizzed past goalkeeper Alisson.

What is it about this Liverpool side that simply cannot get a grip on their title defence?

They remain fourth in the table after this result, but 14 points behind leaders Arsenal and only three above Manchester United, who have hardly been in great form themselves.

This result came despite big-money transfer flop Florian Wirtz scoring only his second goal of the season and despite needing only to see out the final minutes after Gakpo found a second.

There are positives to be taken from Wirtz’s goal (only his second of the season) and from Gakpo’s performance; but there must also be growing concern for Slot that this side is still struggling to deliver.

Having been held to a goalless draw by Leeds at Anfield on New Year’s Day, this was another two points dropped and another step backwards.

Fulham, of course, deserve huge credit for that. They were positive and lively all afternoon and thoroughly deserved their point, which leaves them 11th in the table.

Liverpool’s afternoon began with a pre-match blow for Slot with news that top scorer Ekitike had been ruled out with a minor hamstring injury, leaving him short of attacking options up front.

Cody Gakpo, Wirtz, Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai made up the front four without an obvious focal point; an issue which played out in a first half in which the champions dominated but still found themselves 1-0 down and struggling to create meaningful chances.

Gakpo did burst free after 11 minutes, breaking Fulham’s offside trap, but he shot tamely wide of the far post, adding to the sense of frustration.

He was made to pay when Fulham struck with their first counter-attack of the afternoon, Jiménez’s clever flick finding Harry Wilson who finished superbly with a crisp left-foot shot past Alisson after 17 minutes.

There was an anxious wait for the home team as VAR checked for offside, but Virgil van Dijk’s arm was enough to keep the in-form Fulham midfielder onside.

Liverpool were better in the second half, starting it strongly and they had already seen one goal ruled out for offside when Wirtz struck on the break, calmly steering Conor Bradley’s pass into the net with Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno helpless.

Again, there was a long wait for VAR to decide if the attacking midfielder, who cost almost €137m from Bayer Leverkusen, but this time it went in Liverpool’s favour.

Most Liverpool fans must have expected their team to run away with it from there, but Fulham proved dangerous opponents.

They calmed the storm and almost went ahead when Allison spilled a long ball and Wilson’s chip, which looked destined for the net, instead came back off the crossbar.

It was a major let off but when Liverpool scored through Gakpo four minutes into injury time from a Jeremie Frimpong cross, it looked like a huge win for the champions.

Only, in the end, it wasn’t – and that is going to hurt.

FULHAM: Leno; Diop, Anderse, Cuenca; Castagne, Lukic (Reed 92), Cairney (Berge 73), Robinson; Wilson (Traore 85) Smith-Rowe (Kevin 74); Jiminez (Kusi-Asari 85) Unused subs: Lecomte, McNally, Ridgeon, Amissah, Traore.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones (Chiesa 85); Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz Unused subs: Gomez, Mamardashvili, Nguomoha, Nyoni, Ramsay, Robertson, Woodman.

Referee: Craig Pawson 

Attendance: 27,547