Being a Liverpool fan is not for the faint of heart.
After the late surge of emotion sparked by Cody Gakpo’s 94th-minute go-ahead goal, one that looked destined to seal the win, Harrison Reed struck back with a stunning "goal-of-the-season" contender in the dying moments to snatch a point from the Reds.
As in the recent match against Leeds, despite the disappointment of dropped points, Liverpool may feel they didn’t fully merit all three, having been forced to raise the tempo after a very lethargic first half which saw them 1-0 down.
Still, for those inclined to take a glass-half-full view, the draw officially extends the Reds’ unbeaten run to eight matches—an objectively encouraging contrast to the grim run of defeats they endured just two months ago.
So, in a whirlwind contest, how did the Reds rate on an individual level?
Starting XI:
Alisson Becker: 6.5/10- His recent decision-making when coming off his line has been a cause for concern. He narrowly avoided a howler in the 76th minute, racing out aggressively and escaping punishment only as Harry Wilson’s attempted chip drifted just wide of completing a brace. He may also have been able to stretch a little further to keep out the opener, though there was nothing he could have done about Reed’s worldie.
Virgil Van Dijk: 6/10- He played Wilson onside for Fulham’s opener and nearly deflected a loose ball into Raúl Jiménez’s path in the 22nd minute, resulting in a subpar display from the captain. Despite Liverpool earning seven corners, he never asserted his usual aerial dominance, culminating in a disappointing performance.
Ibrahima Konaté: 5.5/10- A clear miscommunication with Virgil led to shared blame for the opener, and he was nearly caught badly out of position for what could have been Wilson’s second. The mistakes are becoming routine, and Liverpool may feel Giovanni Leoni cannot return soon enough, while Marc Guéhi’s potential arrival cannot come quickly enough.
Conor Bradley: 7.5/10- He looked assured in possession throughout, highlighted by a powerful drive into the box that set up Wirtz’s goal. While there was perhaps more to be desired defensively, particularly after making the match-defining tackle against Wolves, it was a rock-solid display from the Northern Irishman going forward on a night when attacking quality was once again at a premium.
Milos Kerkez: 7/10- A performance similar to Bradley’s after being preferred to Andrew Robertson: limited defensively, but increasingly confident when driving forward. He still needs to be more decisive in possession rather than whipping hopeful balls into the box, though overall he has looked far more assured in recent weeks than when he was first integrated into the side.
Alexis Mac Allister- 6.5/10: Came close to snatching a goal early in the second half, guiding a well-placed header onto the crossbar, but otherwise offered little in his minutes. Will say again that his physicality must improve; he often looks like Liverpool’s most likely player to end up on the turf after a challenge.
Curtis Jones: 6/10- It was a very quiet afternoon for the Scouser. He completed just 53 passes—well below his usual output—and the fact he led the team in dribbles with only one successful attempt was telling of the outing Liverpool’s attack endured.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6/10- Gravy barely made his presence felt. With Liverpool’s midfield registering no goal contributions against the Cottagers, the Dutchman and his positional partners were largely non-factors.
Cody Gakpo: 8/10- An extremely versatile performance from the injury-time goal scorer. He adapted well to the unfamiliar central forward role and was unlucky not to score in the first half, with a header striking the post in the 33rd minute. He eventually went on to find a touch of fortune with a tap-in finish from a brilliant Frimpong cross; the Dutchman might well have been the hero of the day, if not for Reed’s late intervention. Taken off right before full time.
Dominik Szoboslai: 6.5/10- After his huge penalty against Inter, Szoboszlai has cooled off a bit, failing to register a goal or assist in his last four matches. It’s important not to be too harsh on the Hungarian—his early-season contributions were vital, and his pressing remains sharp—but clutch players are expected to step up. Dom will need to rediscover that decisive edge in Thursday’s rematch with the Gunners.
Florian Wirtz: 7.5/10- Started the game slowly but did very well to score his second Liverpool goal in three matches, continuing to grow more decisive in the box. The team’s energy shifted after the strike, and Wirtz’s goal could have been seen as a clear turning point had they secured the win. A respectable bounce-back after a dud outing against Leeds. Subbed in the 76th minute.
Substitutes:
Jeremie Frimpong- 7.5/10: Delivered what should have been the pass of the match for Cody Gakpo’s winner after coming on for Wirtz. His roaming ball found his compatriot perfectly, showcasing just how sharp he is on the ball. Following highly productive cameos against Spurs and now Fulham, he’s proving to be an extremely efficient player.
Joe Gomez- N/A: Joe’s very late entry into the game was completely overshadowed by Fulham’s equalizer. There’s far too little to go on to assign him a rating.