Aleksandar Mitrovic skins Virgil van Dijk to win crucial penalty as Fulham frustrate Liverpool

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a brilliant brace as Fulham held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in their first match back in the Premier League.

Last season's Championship winners produced a magnificent performance to frustrate Jurgen Klopp's side in Saturday's early kick-off.

Mitrovic put Fulham ahead with a powerful header in the first half before second-half substitute Darwin Nunez levelled the match for Liverpool on his competitive debut for the club.

Aleksandar Mitrović is loving it out there! ⚽️⚽️

He tucks home the penalty he won to restore Fulham's advantage 👌

What a day for the newly promoted side so far! pic.twitter.com/4gZPTQu9B7

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 6, 2022

The Reds looked like they might go on to take control of the match but were dealt a hammer blow with 20 minutes to go when Mitrovic was awarded a penalty after being brought down in the area by Virgil van Dijk.

It was the first time Van Dijk had been dribbled past by an opponent and conceded a penalty in a single Premier League game since joining Liverpool.

Mitrovic stepped up to calmly slot his penalty past Alisson, putting the home side on course for an unlikely win.

For the first time since joining Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk has been dribbled past by an opponent AND conceded a penalty in a single Premier League game.

Aleksandar Mitrović is responsible for both. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HGt6pOy56f

— Squawka (@Squawka) August 6, 2022

But Liverpool fought back to equalise late on, Nunez setting up Mohamed Salah to score on the opening day for the sixth season in a row.

The Reds came close to a dramatic winner in the fourth minute of injury time but Jordan Henderson's superb strike struck the bar as Fulham claimed a deserved point.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp showed his appreciation for Mitrovic's performance at full-time, playfully slapping the Serbian on the cheek while shaking hands on the pitch.

Mitrovic’s hold up play has been superb 👏🏾.. incoming double figures for goals this season I’m almost certain

— abdul aziz🌴 (@shileabdul) August 6, 2022

Mitrovic has been superb today

— - (@G4BBYJESUS) August 6, 2022

Fulham were excellent. Well worth the draw there. Liverpool didn't seem to have an answer for their intensity and organisation. Mitrovic was brilliant up top! 👏 #FULLIV

— Fantasy5 (@Fantasy5Jackpot) August 6, 2022

Fulham fans were also impressed with Mitrovic, who has carried over his excellent form from last season when he scored an incredible 43 goals in the Championship.

"Mitrovic such a good player. Excellent holding the ball and will score plenty of goals this season," wrote one fan on Twitter.

Another added: "Mitrovic's hold up play has been superb.. incoming double figures for goals this season I'm almost certain."