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Jurgen Klopp 'frustrated' after a 2-2 draw with Fulham in the first game of the new season

The performance was a defeat" said Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool had to twice come from behind to draw 2-2 at Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Mohamed Salah scored a late equaliser after Fulham twice lead from two goals by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbia striker scored in the 32nd minute only for Darwin Nunez to cancel Fulham's lead, before a Mitrovic penalty restored the home side's advantage.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, however, Nunez then set up Salah, who calmly slotted home Liverpool's crucial equaliser.

Fulham coach Marco Silva had warned that his side weren't ready for the Premier League ahead of the season getting underway this weekend, but they showed themselves to be up for the fight as they held Liverpool 2-2 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The Cottagers were impressive from the off in Saturday's early game, and led the title challengers twice on the day, only to be pegged back on both occasions.

From the off, Fulham were in their visitors' faces and never gave them time to settle on the ball, putting in a performance that will have their fans hopeful of finally being able to secure survival this season instead of bouncing between the Premier League and Championship as they have done so often of late.

They were led from the front by a tireless Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scored twice to get his season up and running as he would have wanted to.

His first came as he climbed above Trent Alexander-Arnold to head home, and his second was a penalty that he converted after being fouled by Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool only had flashes

Liverpool were a long way from their best on Saturday, though there were signs of encouragement from new signing Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as well.

The Uruguayan scored just 13 minutes after coming off the bench in the second half, then levelling things up at 1-1, much to Jugen Klopp's delight on the sidelines.

Diaz rattled the woodwork in the first half with a fine effort after working space inside the box, and Jordan Henderson crashed a shot off the crossbar in stoppage time, being denied what would have been a dramatic winner.

Fulham will take a lot of encouragement from the draw, but Liverpool will be left frustrated by two dropped points.

Mohamed Salah scored a late equaliser after Fulham twice lead from two goals by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Klopp 'frustrated' after 2-2 draw with Fulham on opening day of new seasonAP

The Serbia striker scored in the 32nd minute only for Darwin Nunez to cancel Fulham's lead, before a Mitrovic penalty restored the home side's advantage.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, however, Nunez then set up Salah, who calmly slotted home Liverpool's crucial equaliser.

After Liverpool’s impressive win over Man City in the Community Shield last weekend most observers expected the Reds to brush aside their newly-promoted hosts. However, the opening period could not have turned out much different with Fulham much the better of the sides as they pressed hard all over the pitch and looked composed in possession.

Just after the half-hour mark Fulham’s excellent showing would get the reward it deserved when the Cottagers’ main man Aleksandar Mitrovic put his side ahead. Dutch right-back Kenny Tete broke down the right, whipped in an inviting cross to the back stick and Mitrovic rose higher then Trent Alexander-Arnold and headed home.

Whatever Klopp said to his side at half-time didn’t seem to have much effect, with Fulham once again the superior side and they nearly went two ahead in the 55th minute when Neeskens Kebano cracked a powerful effort off the inside of Alisson’s post.

Just after the hour mark Liverpool finally started to click into gear and they would equalise through substitute Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan striker scuffing home an effort from close range from Mo Salah’s low cross from the right.

Summer signing Nunez’s introduction was causing chaos in the Fulham backline and the 23-year-old almost put his side ahead a couple of minutes after levelling the scores.

Fulham looked like they may just buckle under the increased pressure but they would take the lead again in the 72nd minute when Mitrovic was taken down in the area by the usually unflappable Virgil van Dijk before the Serbian striker hammered home a low spot kick into the bottom corner.

Liverpool would strike back with ten minutes left to play and it would come from a familiar source, with Mo Salah stroking home from 10 yards out for his record-breaking sixth successive opening day goal.

Ultimately this entertaining encounter finished all square, with Liverpool disappointed to drop points in a game they were expected to win and Fulham having shown they have a much better chance of staying up this season then most have given them credit for.

Speaking afterward Reds boss Klopp pulled no punches, freely admitting his sides performance had been well below par.

“The best thing about the game was the result. We got a point from a really bad game,” Klopp told BT Sport.

“The result was fine, I don’t think we deserved more than that. The performance can be massively improved.

“We could have won the game because we had good chances but it was probably a bit too much today.”

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Jurgen Klopp 'frustrated' after a 2-2 draw with Fulham in the first game of the new season

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