Darwin Núñez’s impact was almost immediate. Until his arrival six minutes into the second half Liverpool had been listless, frequently beaten to the punch by Fulham. The Uruguayan, direct, speedy and hungry, soon had the promoted team on the back foot. The £85m man’s first Premier League goal, a smart backheel, came within 15 minutes of his introduction and he also played his part in Mohamed Salah’s goal to rescue a draw.
The day belonged to another striker, too. Aleksandar Mitrovic, coming off 43 Championship goals last season and attempting to buck the reputation of being short of Premier League class, scored twice. The first was a trademark header, the second a penalty converted after a foul by a foxed, lunging Virgil van Dijk, to suggest that the Serbian – and Fulham – may belong in the top division.
