Marco Silva felt his Fulham side would have been good value for a famous win at Anfield – but believes the Whites ‘were too open’ after Andy Robertson’s red card reduced Liverpool to ten men.
The Londoners led twice through goals from Andreas Pereira and substitute Rodrigo Muniz but were pegged back by a late leveller from the returning Diogo Jota. Silva admitted to mixed emotions during his post-match press conference after the dramatic draw:
“We are leaving here with a mix of feelings, I have to say, when you are leading the score twice, and of course, Liverpool after 20 minutes playing with ten men. Of course, we got the feeling that we should have won the game. I think the first 20 minutes from ourselves and the way we started the game showed the trust on ourselves, as well, massive respect with Liverpool, of course, the quality they have.
But you know, when you come here, we know that it is going to be always a little bit electric game, if I can say this way, because if you are open with the quality they have, and with the crowd behind them in some moments, they can be unstoppable. But we took that risk and we show from the first minute that we are here to try to win the game, and because of that, we started so well and leading the score, our dynamic attack created a lot of problems for them.
I felt that we should have kept more of the ball bit better to try to make them to run more. That was something that I felt that we have, a lack of possession of the ball, to make Liverpool run a little bit more. We tried to adjust at half-time that situation, to go in a direction that we can keep the ball more ourselves. Of course, the early second half goal from Liverpool made a massive impact, but even so, I think we reacted well.
This afternoon Alex, a little bit more inside, create a lot of problems for Liverpool. We knew that with the position of Salah a little bit more inside we should create more problems for them (on the left) and we did, I think, all the game. Even in the first minutes of the game we scored the first goal, and the second goal is more or less in the same in the same way. But, arriving in so many moments four against three, three against two, three against three, we should have taken better decisions to create more clear chances.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Match of the Day, Silva added:
The game is emotional here. The crowd plays a big part and with the quality of Liverpool, they can almost be unstoppable. it’s the risk you have to take because we believe in ourselves. Liverpool are so good and they are winning so good, they are an aggressive team. Everything went to plan for us on the left-hand side.
“I think the red card created more emotion in the game, the crowd played their part. We had to keep more of the ball and make them run more. We reacted well and had so many times three against four, the decision-making has to be better. We conceded a late goal in a moment we were too open and the quality of Jota made an impact. We should have taken three.
“With one player more and leading the score, we should have been more narrow. We were too open and their composure was decisive. The momentum is here and in our group. I have to give credit to our players for their attitude and commitment. We have to go the same way against Southampton next week”.
You can feel Silva’s disappointment in his comments after a game that we could, and should, have won.
Before the game, I would have happily settled for a point but, after a terrific performance from our team, when we took the game to the league leaders, time and time again, with some brilliant counter attacking, to come away with just one point, yet again, seems a poor return.
Just like at Spurs, we created so many great chances to put the game beyond Liverpool but poor decision making and errant final balls cost us. Great performances are all well and good but draws only yield a single point and we need to convert more in the final third in order to climb the table.
Jedi was magnificent in his overall display; his cardio is phenomenal. Cuenca, in what was, undoubtedly, a baptism of fire, apart from Jota’s goal, performed admirably alongside Diop.
Lukic and Berge did not hit their usual heights but, nevertheless, provided stout opposition and I feel for them having to constantly carry a third, either Pereira or Smith Rowe.
Muniz got a goal, which can only boost his confidence.
Yes, Pereira scored an acrobatic volley but, overall, he was anonymous, yet again. Praise to Marco Silva for dropping Smith Rowe but, if his appearance off the bench is anything to go by, being benched did not do anything to galvanise him; he was atrociously casual and negligent and I almost wished Pereira had stayed on the field!
He is a conundrum for sure and, if he doesn’t get his act together, is on his way to joining Steve Marlet and Kostas Mitroglou on the list of worst ever Fulham transfers.
Yet, let’s forget all that. We have frightened the lives out of Spurs and Liverpool, held our own against Arsenal and smashed Brighton; all teams that figured to be in the top six before the season started. We just need a couple of astute, quality additions to help us progress.
Echo Charles’ comments it’s great to see us take on the big boys and match them ball for ball we did the same against Man City Away it’s good to see that the Wolves defeat was quickly forgotten and hopefully the catalyst for our last four games all perhaps we should have won we are creating so many chances but a recognised Striker is needed desperately who and when that would be Marco the only one who knows,the ESR Conundrum is more concerning If he showed half of Iwobis attitude and commitment then what a player that would be,is his head not right or being played in the wrong position he has undoubtedly the skill but when we will we see that Marco has a major problem on his hands but hopefully on he and the player can sort it out before it’s to late he came off the bench yesterday we hoped he would make and impact but he didn’t watch this space COYW