Fulham vs Liverpool

Welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of this Premier League match between Fulham and Liverpool. Newly-promoted Fulham face a tough test in their first ...

Meanwhile, Liverpool finished last season with an FA Cup and Carabao Cup double to their name, but it is still a case of what have been for Jurgen Klopp's side. Marco Silva's side will be keen to prove that they have shaken the tag of a yo-yo club as they look to make their latest Premier League stint last longer than 12 months. However Cottagers fans will take positive from the fact that their last Premier League victory came against today's opponents Liverpool. However, the Cottagers will be keen to forget the 5-1 defeat to Benfica in pre-season. The signing of Nunez has attracted widespread attention from Premier League fans. While the Cottagers may lack squad depth, the Portuguese manager has praised his players and emphasised that they are prepared for the fight after working hard in pre-season. And the winger enjoys playing against newly-promoted sides, scoring 60 points across his last six outings against Premier League newcomers. The Egyptian international has produced four double figure hauls in five Gameweek 1 appearances for the Reds. The midfielder made 27 Primeira Liga appearances for Sporting Lisbon last season and garnered interest from a number of top European clubs. The 19-year-old features on the bench for Jurgen Klopp's side this afternoon but has looked bright in pre-season. Kick-off at a sunny Craven Cottage! Both sets of players take the knee and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson gets the game rolling. The Serbian pokes the ball towards goal as he is surrounded by red shirts but his effort rolls wide of the post.

Fulham showed they don't want to be in the Premier League just to make up the numbers again as they drew 2-2 with Liverpool at Craven Cottage.

He is the first Liverpool player aged 23 years or younger to score in a Premier League season opener since Philippe Coutinho in 2015. The other was in 2006-07 when Liverpool drew 1-1 at Sheffield United and finished third. BEST: Aleksandar Mitrovic -- Can he finally do it in the Premier League? On this evidence, absolutely. "We got a point for a really bad game by my side, and now it's a question of how did it happen. Liverpool were much more threatening when he went off just before the hour mark. City have a tough-looking opener at West Ham United on Sunday, but they now have a chance to establish an early advantage over their closest rivals. Klopp was concerned about Liverpool's injury problems before kick-off -- Caoimhin Kelleher, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kostas Tsimikas and Curtis Jones are all unavailable -- and Thiago Alcantara may now be added to that list. It can only be a matter of time before he starts. But both moments were products of his movement and energy. This is the only the second time that Liverpool has started a Premier League season with a draw against a newly promoted side. LONDON -- Fulham showed they don't want to be in the Premier League just to make up the numbers again as they came close to beating Liverpool at Craven Cottage, with the game finishing as a 2-2 draw.. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored 43 goals in the Championship last season, showed that at the age of 27 he might finally be ready for the Premier League. After heading home the first goal, he then won and converted a penalty to make sure the home side collected a point.

Aleksandar Mitrovic twice gave Fulham the lead but Liverpool fought back as Darwin Nunez scored one and set up Mohamed Salah for another. This is not the start ...

However, if they keep playing with that kind of intensity in the first 45 minutes of games this season, few teams will be able to live with that. He scored one and set up another as his presence in the penalty box caused Fulham so many problems. Maybe Aleksandar Mitrovic can do it in the Premier League? He powered home a trademark header for his first and slotted home a penalty for his second (after his fancy footwork bamboozled Virgil van Dijk, of all people) and he has two goals in his first Premier League game this season. Nunez coming on sparked Liverpool into life in attack and rescued a point for them. Marco Silva has bemoaned Fulham’s lack of transfer activity so far this summer and mistakes from Tosin and Tim Ream proved his point about needing a few more center backs. Early in the second half Darwin Nunez jumped off the bench and Liverpool’s attack sparked into life.

There's no reason to panic for Liverpool, but after dropping points Jurgen Klopp may need to make adjustments.

Nunez in front of Firmino can help make up for the issues pressing while giving Diaz another focal point in attack as things are too predictable when Salah is the only target that teams need to worry about. They certainly didn't bank on this point being one of the 40 that they'd need to survive the season. Before the break it was Fulham that were close to scoring, as Neeskens Kebano struck the post, but the introduction of Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez changed how Liverpool approached things. Despite his issues on the defensive end of the pitch, where he's not nearly the pressing presence that Firmino can be at his best, his performance is why Klopp doesn't need to worry too much about this result. Luis Diaz and Jordan Henderson did hit the post so on another day, things could've gone differently but when Fulham are out pressing Liverpool, that's not a good look for the team expected to be in the thick of the title race. Right out of the gate, Andreas Pereira was pressing high up the pitch giving Liverpool fits when they looked to build from the back, while João Palhinha was stout at the base of midfield winning three tackles and notching an interception.

Fulham kick off their return to Premier League football with a major test as Liverpool head to Craven Cottage on August 6.

— — — — — — August 6 August 6 August 6 20 Mins to KO: The players are warming up! Here are a couple of shots Liverpool shared from the warm-ups a little earlier. Fulham win a corner on their left.