Liverpool Rescue Late Draw As Jota Returns To Deny Fulham In Thrilling Clash.
Diogo Jota marked his return with a dramatic late equaliser as 10-man Liverpool twice fought back to secure a 2-2 draw against Fulham at Anfield. The result extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table, despite their rivals gaining ground.
Jota, sidelined with injury since October, slotted home in the 86th minute to salvage a point for the Reds after Rodrigo Muniz’s strike appeared to have handed Fulham a late victory. The game had earlier turned against Liverpool when Andy Robertson was shown a red card in the first half.
Andreas Pereira opened the scoring for Fulham in the 11th minute, capitalising on an early opportunity with a well-taken volley. Liverpool responded swiftly after the break, with Cody Gakpo heading in Mohamed Salah’s sublime cross to level the match.
The turning point came when Robertson was dismissed for a foul on Harry Wilson, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity. A lengthy VAR review confirmed Wilson was onside after seizing on Robertson’s mistake, leaving Liverpool to play with 10 men for over an hour.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Liverpool pressed on. Luis Díaz missed a gilt-edged chance before half-time, while Salah came close twice in a dominant spell for the hosts early in the second half.
Fulham, however, punished Liverpool’s profligacy when Muniz fired in what looked like the winner late on. Yet the Reds’ resilience shone through as Jota, introduced late on, made his mark with a composed finish to cap a chaotic encounter.
The draw follows another thriller for Liverpool, who played out a 3-3 draw with Newcastle 10 days ago. With last weekend’s Merseyside derby postponed due to severe weather, Liverpool’s title rivals had edged closer, but this point sees Jurgen Klopp’s side move five points clear of Chelsea, who face Brentford on Sunday.
Arsenal’s failure to beat Everton earlier in the day means Liverpool maintain control at the top, though they will view this as an opportunity missed. Nevertheless, Jota’s return and the team’s tenacity will provide encouragement as they continue their quest for the Premier League title.
