In a dramatic encounter at Anfield, Liverpool demonstrated their resilience as they fought back twice with 10 men to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Fulham. The Premier League leaders were reduced to 10 players in the first half after Andy Robertson was sent off, but a late equalizer from Diogo Jota, making his long-awaited return from injury, salvaged a point for the Reds.
The match was a spectacle of high drama, filled with goals, controversy, and intense moments. Liverpool’s task became even more challenging after Robertson’s red card, but their fighting spirit shone through, as they managed to recover from being a man down and twice clawed back into the game.
The game got off to an electric start, with both teams creating early opportunities. The first major incident occurred within the first minute, when Fulham center-back Issa Diop was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a high challenge on Robertson inside the penalty area. A few moments later, Liverpool’s left-back was involved in the game’s first goal—though not in the way he would have hoped.
In the 11th minute, Fulham’s Andreas Pereira gave the visitors the lead with a well-placed volley. The Brazilian’s shot evaded Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, with a slight deflection off Robertson’s thigh taking the ball beyond the Brazilian shot-stopper. The goal stunned the Anfield crowd, and things were about to get even more intense.
Seventeen minutes later, Liverpool’s hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a blow when Robertson was shown a straight red card for denying Fulham’s Harry Wilson a clear goalscoring opportunity. A lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) review confirmed that Wilson was onside before Robertson fouled him, leaving Liverpool to face the remainder of the match with 10 men.
The red card was controversial, with some arguing that Robertson’s tackle was a genuine attempt to play the ball. However, VAR upheld the decision, and Liverpool were forced to regroup with Ryan Gravenberch deployed as an emergency center-back.
Despite being down to 10 men, Liverpool continued to push forward. Fulham failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage, and the first half ended with the hosts maintaining 61% possession. However, Fulham’s counter-attacks remained dangerous, and Liverpool were lucky not to concede further goals in the opening 45 minutes.
Liverpool came out with renewed energy in the second half, and the breakthrough came just after the restart. Mohamed Salah delivered a perfect cross to the back post, where Cody Gakpo was on hand to head the ball past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and level the score. The Anfield crowd erupted as Gakpo’s header restored parity for the Reds.
However, the match remained far from straightforward for the home side. Just when it looked like Liverpool might turn the tide in their favor, Fulham quickly responded. In the 61st minute, Rodrigo Muniz scored a well-taken goal from a cut-back by the lively Antonee Robinson, putting the visitors ahead again.
Despite being a man down, Liverpool continued to press forward in search of another equalizer. They created several chances, with Salah coming close to scoring on two occasions, but the Egyptian winger was unable to find the target.
As the match neared its conclusion, Liverpool’s persistence paid off. In the 86th minute, Diogo Jota, making his first appearance for Liverpool since October due to injury, marked his return with a dramatic equalizer. The Portuguese forward finished clinically after a scramble in the box, sending the Anfield crowd into a frenzy and earning a crucial point for his team.
Jota’s late strike capped off an enthralling contest that saw both teams trade blows for nearly 100 minutes. The match ended in dramatic fashion, with Fulham having to settle for a share of the spoils despite their strong performance, while Liverpool’s top-of-the-table lead remained intact.
