The morning has arrived and it would be natural to reflect on yesterday’s astonishing afternoon at Anfield with disappointment – if not regret. Fulham were close to pulling off a magnificent victory, but not close enough. We will simply have to make do with playing our part in one of the great Premier League encounters after being beaten by those two heart-breaking late Liverpool strikes. As Marco Silva said after the final whistle, there was plenty to proud of.
One of the reasons Fulham had such a successful afternoon – no visitors to Anfield had scored more than a single goal this season before yesterday – was because of a man who spent his formative footballing years across Stanley Park. Antonee Robinson has had his detractors amongst the Fulham fanbase, seemingly initially because his crossing wasn’t in the Joe Bryan mould, but his display against a modern great like Mo Salah was one of best I’ve ever seen from a Fulham full-back.
The American might be in a rich vein of form but his understanding with Alex Iwobi has already added an extra dimension to our attack. The duo dovetailed deliciously to ruthlessly exploit the latitude Jurgen Klopp affords Trent Alexander-Arnold to attack – mostly notably with a well-crafted equaliser for Harry Wilson that was so psychologically important after the Liverpool full back’s free-kick. The way Robinson surged into the final third wasn’t new but he produced his third league assist in succession with a ball of the highest quality.
Robinson’s pace and athleticism make him an ideal left-back for Silva’s style of play. He now leads the top flight in number of progressive carries by a defender, with forty to his name. That run of assists, began by a determined run and cross for Raul Jimenez’s first Fulham goal at Villa Park before the international break, might make people sit up and take notice but his all-round game was outstanding yesterday afternoon. Salah, chasing his 200th Liverpool goal, hardly had a kick until he spooned a rebound over from close range after Bernd Leno had made a miraculous save from Luis Diaz. Robinson’s shackling of high-quality wingers has been commonplace this campaign, which is no mean feat, considering how much is asked of him to contribute in an attacking sense.
Raw pace might help both get him out of trouble and saw him accelerate away from opponents down the flank, but Robinson’s reading of the game was remarkable yesterday. He made a total of thirteen interceptions, sweeping up balls intended for Liverpool’s Egyptian forward to feast upon, and won five of his eight one-to-one contests with Salah, who was subdued for much of an enthralling contest. His own distribution was largely accurate as well, which was vital in helping the Whites keep possession when they were on the ball.
Robinson’s full throttle displays are all the more remarkable because it is only a few weeks since he was left out of a United States squad because of fitness concerns following two years of non-stop football. Robinson made a mockery of those worries with his dominant displays in the CONCACAF Nations League to steer the States into the semi-finals, scoring home and away against Trinidad and Tobago, and – as we’ve seen – there has been no let off in his club commitments either. Long may it continue.
Agreed defensively he was excellent and his pace will always be an asset, but don’t get too excited about his crosses. They are random. Watch him closely and you’ll see that he never looks where he’s playing it. Every cross is more likely to fall into empty space or too am opponent than to a white shirt because he looks down at the ball and just swings. Every time. If his crosses create a chance, it’s simple luck.
Responding to AL on Robinson’s crosses, I agree he hasn’t got the best end product but I’d contest the chance-creating crosses are luck. If a LB is running full throttle the best you can hope for is a good, fizzed ball into a dangerous area and it’s up to other offensive players (as Wilson did yesterday) to gamble and get on the end of one. That’s not always the case, and other times you’ll need to look up, scan and pick a player out – agree that’s not Robinson’s strength.
Raul had a decent game, but Bobby showing again why he should be given a chance up top. He’s our best finisher, and although he’s not the biggest we hardly play that many crosses… noting the irony here given his goal yesterday!
Drop Jiminez and play Bobby it’s a nobrainer, and we have to get another left side central defender to replace Ream . I thought that was Robinsons best game yet, I don’t know why Silva doesn’t start with Cairney what more does he have to do.