Liverpool 1-0 Fulham
This season may well mark a turning point in Fulham's history.
Whatever Marco Silva has said in public the club's ambitions have gone beyond achieving and retaining Premier League status. So, there is no point in moaning that an earlier postponement has resulted in having to face Manchester City and Liverpool in a four-day period when the squad is depleted through injuries and the players are patently weary.
As the number of obscenely rich clubs grows, the fixture list will be ever more daunting and may involve extra matches against foreign opposition. This will not stop me or other supporters from shouting 'Unfair' on occasion. As I make clear later on, I have long believed that celebrated stars (David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Harry Kane and the like) not infrequently get special consideration from officials. I do not think this is deliberate, but it happens.
Away to Liverpool
At Liverpool, Fulham manifested no sign of inferiority. On the contrary Harry Wilson threatened an early breakthrough and a relaxed passing movement ended in Carlos Vinicius's right foot testing Alisson Becker.
However, the match was decided by a decision that Silva rightly termed embarrassing. Shortly before half-time, Issa Diop's air kick caused a draught which made Darwin Nunez lose his balance and Stuart Attwell unhesitatingly pointed to the spot.
Jurgen Klopp's reaction was telling: "The penalty I like because it was a counter-pressing situation, Darwin is fully in the situation, and he gets the pen for that." No one touched him of course.
More acceptably Klopp praised Alisson for withstanding Fulham's commendable efforts to save a point. Willian and Vinicius kept the keeper occupied and substitute Bobby DeCordova-Reid could have scored in the closing seconds.
Late to the party
I have occasionally expressed my mystification at the number of spectators arriving late for a match.
Last Sunday, I almost envied them. Could there have been a worse start than conceding a penalty to Manchester City in the first two minutes? Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez combined to release Julian Alvarez, who ran across Tim Ream and launched himself onto the turf. The referee Simon Hooper immediately awarded a penalty, which Erling Haarland converted despite Bernd Leno's superlative anticipation. There was more contact than in the Liverpool 'situation' – but it was still soft.
City inevitably conducted further raids on the Fulham goal – and further appeals to the officials when a Whites defender legitimately won the ball. Yet 12 minutes later the score was level. Antonee Robinson passed to Andreas Pereira, whose lob to Wilson was nodded back to Carlos Vicinius.
The striker, previously seen as skilled but ineffective, showed his Brazilian magic by controlling the ball and firing it past Ederson. It looked like a well-rehearsed routine, yet it involved two players on the periphery of the squad. How wonderful to hear 'Oh Carlos Vinicius' echo round the ground.
Fortune had by no means turned Fulham's way. The team lost the captain when a broken arm forced Tim Ream to retire and in the 36th minute Harry Wilson, facing his own goal, was shoved off the ball allowing City to launch a fresh attack.
Then, Alvarez outfoxed Joao Palhinha to score from outside the area. Any glee at the absence of Kevin De Bruyne from the starting lineup was stifled by the display of his replacement Alvarez. Leno ensured that City did not increase their lead.
The Fulham keeper was in action again straight after the interval, saving from Haarland and from Alvarez as the fans paid their respects to a fellow supporter, the late Lisa Hughes.
The home side grew in confidence and caused City some anxiety. Attempting to recover the ball, Ederson sent Vinicius flying and appeared to handle outside the area. Slow motion showed him innocent on the second count and possibly the first though by that stage the fans had little trust in Mr Hooper.
Anger in the stands increased when Bobby DeCordova-Reid fell under a challenge from Kyle Walker. The media generally saw it as 'minimal contact' – but I wonder what would have happened if Tosin had performed a similar tackle on Grealish in the penalty area.
As Marco Silva remarked: "We felt all the 50/50 decisions went against us." Undoubtedly, the referee was far too lenient towards City's time wasting. He even waited patiently while they conducted a pitchside conference. Overall, he enacted a quarter of an hour's added time but that punished both teams.
Though Fulham might have put more pressure on the visitors the players could scarcely have worked harder. Bernd Leno was unquestionably our Man of the Match – but every player did the supporters proud.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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