Recent history repeated itself in the form of another Liverpool comeback against Fulham and more late pain for Marco Silva’s gallant team at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp’s side established a slender advantage in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final but both the victor and the vanquished know the tie is far from over.
Willian struck the first blow for Fulham but, as in the Premier League meeting here, the visitors were unable to hold the lead in the face of a Liverpool barrage. Klopp’s team came from 3-2 down in the 87th minute to lead 4-3 in the 88th last time out. The comeback was not as late or dramatic here, but two goals in three minutes from Curtis Jones and the substitute Cody Gakpo once again transformed the complexion in Liverpool’s favour.
Fulham had lost all five previous League Cup meetings with Liverpool but entered their first appearance in the semi-finals in confident form. And with a strong, settled lineup. Their ability to hurt Klopp’s team had been evident in the 4-3 defeat here last month and was demonstrated again when Silva’s side took the lead from their first meaningful attack. It came from a rare error by Virgil van Dijk, who missed the FA Cup third-round win at Arsenal on Sunday through illness and was left feeling pig-sick on his return to the team.
The visitors were under constant pressure from the start as Liverpool dominated possession and switched play with ease. Jones forced the first save from Bernd Leno with a low drive from distance and Diogo Jota dragged a shot just across the Fulham goal following good work by Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. With Conor Bradley settling in comfortably at right-back in place of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, and even roaming freely in his hybrid midfield role at times, Fulham appeared in for a long and testing night. So much for appearances.
Liverpool’s control, and composure, evaporated when Fulham edged in front. The breakthrough started with a Joe Gomez throw-in that was headed back towards the Liverpool penalty area. Van Dijk, attempting to clear under pressure from Raúl Jiménez, miscued a weak header into the path of Andreas Pereira who advanced into the box and pulled an inviting pass back to Willian. The 35-year-old Brazilian stumbled over a prostrate Bradley but was able to keep his balance long enough to drill a precise, powerful shot inside Caoimhín Kelleher’s near post. The Liverpool goalkeeper was perhaps unsighted by Van Dijk when Willian took the shot.
The Liverpool captain was booked moments later for catching Pereira in the face with an elbow as the pair contested a loose ball. There was no VAR in operation to slow down the incident and make it look far worse. The technology has been removed from the semi-finals because of the involvement of the Championship club Middlesbrough. A small mercy.
Fulham threatened again when Antonee Robinson’s deep cross dropped to the unmarked Bobby De Cordova-Reid inside the Liverpool area. The covering Luis Díaz saved his team with a vital interception. Pereira also tested Kelleher from 22 yards following a patient Fulham attack.
The home side’s performance deteriorated from the moment Willian scored. Unforced errors began to litter Liverpool’s display and possession was lost cheaply. Gravenberch epitomised the lack of focus by catching a ball that was heading out for a throw-in while it was still in play. Gomez did come close to his first Liverpool goal on the stroke of half-time, however, volleying inches wide after a counterattack that continued while Harrison Reed lay injured in the home penalty area following a collision with Kelleher.
Not for the first time, Klopp’s half-time team talk instigated a vast improvement in the Liverpool performance. The hosts attacked with far greater intensity and purpose in the second half. Fulham, having been increasingly comfortable as the first half wore on, found themselves besieged, albeit with several opportunities to hurt Liverpool on the break.
after newsletter promotion
Gravenberch went close from the edge of the area after being released into space by Mac Allister and checking inside João Palhinha. Jota looked certain to score when a Harvey Elliott shot deflected into his path in front of Leno’s goal. Issa Diop managed to get the slightest touch as the Portugal international shaped to shoot, and Tosin Adarabioyo mopped up the danger. The threat to Fulham intensified when Klopp introduced Darwin Núñez and Gakpo from the bench moments later.
De Cordova-Reid was unable to capitalise on three chances that fell his way on the counterattack, being denied by a fine Gomez tackle, just failing to connect with a Willian through ball, and shooting at Kelleher when Pereira was better placed inside. Fulham were punished twice in quick succession.
Liverpool equalised with a slice of good fortune when Jota won two strong challenges before finding Núñez. The striker teed up Jones for a 20-yard effort that struck Adarabioyo on the back and looped over the stranded Leno.
Jota and Núñez were heavily involved in Liverpool’s second, too. The former sent the latter racing away down the left and, from Núñez’s low cross, Gakpo swept home a superb finish at the near post. It could have been worse for Fulham but Leno produced three fine saves to deny Núñez in the closing stages.
