Liverpool rescue a point at Fulham, but could be left playing catch-up

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..

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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.

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Liverpool had to rely on the old and the new, as Darwin Nunez scored their first equaliser and Mohamed Salah netted the second -- and they assisted each other's goals.

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It feels almost absurd to suggest this on the opening day of the season, but such are the standards Liverpool and Manchester City have set in recent times that dropping two points at Fulham represents an early blow in the title race.

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Jurgen Klopp's side lost only two games in the league last season and were twice behind at Craven Cottage, showing admirable tenacity to fight back.

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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.

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Liverpool spent so much of last season chasing City -- the last thing they want is that same feeling early in the new campaign.

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Nunez marked his Premier League debut with a goal and an assist to salvage a point and lift a Liverpool display that was badly lacking inspiration prior to his 59th-minute introduction.

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