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Mitrovic Gives Fulham Signs for Optimism

Mitrovic Gives Fulham Signs for Optimism

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s form in the Championship was the key cog behind Fulham’s promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt. The Serbia international was nothing short of sensational for the Cottagers, scoring an incredible 43 goals in 44 appearances, setting a new record in the Championship for most goals by one player.

However, there are concerns about whether he could replicate his form in the Premier League. In the past two campaigns in the top fight, Mitrovic could muster only 11 and three goals respectively, far and away from his prolific standard in the second tier.

Fall from Grace on the Cards Again?

His misfires contributed to Fulham’s immediate relegations in their previous two forays into the Premier League. Marco Silva’s men are once again one of the leading contenders for the drop according to the outright odds on Paddy Power football at 9/5, but the performance of Mitrovic in their opening match of the season against Liverpool will give the Cottagers hope of remaining in the top flight for more than just one term.

Mitrovic did not have to wait long to get off the mark in the 2022/23 campaign as he coasted in at the back post to plant a header into the back of the Liverpool net. It was a predatory goal that he scored many times in the Championship and perhaps proved that he is finally ready to bring that same level of intensity to the top flight.

Mitrovic was relentless throughout the match, tormenting the Liverpool defence with his physicality and movement. He was up against one of the best defenders in the world in the form of Virgil van Dijk, but even the Dutchman had no answer for the Fulham forward.

Mitrovic even drew a costly mistake from the Liverpool defender, which came at a crucial time in the match. The forward made a probing run and drew an outstretched leg from Van Dijk to win a penalty that he then converted with poise to restore Fulham’s advantage, which would earn a crucial point against the Reds.

Incredibly, Mitrovic’s tally of two goals is only one fewer than his haul from his last season in the Premier League, where he scored only three in 27 appearances. Silva plays a more attractive brand of football than his predecessor, Scott Parker, which should benefit Mitrovic in the final third. But, the pleasing aspect from Fulham’s point of view was that the Serbia international converted his openings. Out of three shots on goal, he converted two into goals. Mitrovic will not get as many openings as he did in the Championship due to the nature of the Premier League and Fulham’s position as a newly-promoted outfit.

However, if he can boast the same level of efficiency as he did against Liverpool in the rest of his side’s matches, then Fulham will carry a goal threat throughout the campaign. They were one of the lowest scorers in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season, which was the primary reason for their downfall. If Mitrovic can rise to the occasion and sustain his form, then he will find the net with regularity, and also open up space for his teammates to thrive. There was a lot of encouragement for Fulham and their supporters to take from his opening-day salvo.

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