LIVERPOOL have set up a mouthwatering Carabao Cup final with Chelsea after beating Fulham over two legs.
Luis Diaz’s early first-half strike turned out to be enough for the Reds despite a late scare from Issa Diop.
And it means that football fans will be treated to a rematch of the 2022 final.
- RESULT: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (2-3 AGG)
- Live stream: NOW TV
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
- Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De-Cordova Reid, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez.
- Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Elliott, Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo.
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A step too far for brave Fulham
Having got to their first domestic cup semi-final, the fans dreamed of making that trip to Wembley in the Carabao Cup.
When they were one-nil up at Anfield, it seemed like that dream may become a reality.
However, you can never bet against Liverpool turning things around and it was Jurgen Klopp’s side who got the result to book themselves a Wembley place.
Credit: Reuters Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Ex-Cottager comes back to haunt Fulham
Harvey Elliott may forever live in the history of Fulham as their youngest-ever player to debut in the Premier League.
Tonight, he proved to be a thorn in the side of his old employers.
He tried his hardest to get on the scoresheet but it was not to be, much to the relief of the home fans.
As the final whistle blew, Elliott went over to celebrate with the away fans, himself a Liverpool fan since he was a young boy.
Credit: Alamy Credit: AP Winger gets goal to progress to final
Luis Diaz was awarded the man of the match award after scoring the goal that mattered for the visitors.
Despite this, he was a constant problem for Fulham for the duration of the game.
The Columbian winger looked in the groove this evening and will be disappointed that he did not score more.
Klopp’s young guns get job done
You could see the delight on the manager’s face as his side, full of youngsters, got them over the line at Craven Cottage.
Many expected him to get the big-hitters in for tonight’s game but he showed faith in the players who got them this far.
Despite Fulham’s goal putting the cat amongst the pigeons, The Reds managed to book their place at Wembley.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty FT: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (agg 2-3)
It finishes all square at Craven Cottage but Liverpool progress thanks to their one-goal lead from the first leg.
Jurgen Klopp will feel they should have put the game to bed before Fulham even got their goal but that will not matter now.
The travelling fans will have some celebrating to do as they head back up north tonight.
FT: Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (agg 2-3)
Simon Hooper brings the game to a close.
Liverpool will be the ones heading to Wembley to face Chelsea.
It was a little bit nervy towards the end but Jurgen Klopp’s side have got the result they needed.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
90+4. Kelleher is booked for taking too long with a goal kick.
Fulham have a throw in, deep in Liverpool territory.
Wilson is causing his old side problems out on the flank but on this occasion he came from an offside position.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
90+2. Liverpool get the ball into the corner of the Fulham half and look to run the clock down.
The Cottagers are trying to desperately to get the ball up the other end of the pitch.
Marco Silva’s side come forward, still believing they can find another goal.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
90. We are into the closing stages of the game now.
Jota is looking dangerous when the visitors get the ball forward but Leno is looking living and manages to smother his shot.
Wilson does well as Fulham counter, finding Palhinha, but his shot is wild and goes out for a throw in.
There will four minutes added at Craven Cottage.
Credit: Reuters
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
88. Jota wins the ball off the foot of Tosin and almost breaks clear.
Leno is quick off his line to win the ball before the Liverpool attacker.
The referee blows up, thinking Tosin is injured and awards a drop ball to Fulham.
Simon Hooper at his finest, shocking referee.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
86. The tackles are flying in from both sets of players.
It is anyone’s game now as Fulham need another goal to take this game to extra time.
Liverpool are seemingly defending for their lives at times now.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
84. Pereira gets the ball out on the right flank.
He drills a ball across the six yard box but there is no Fulham player to get on the end of it.
Reed, Tete and Muniz come on for Castagne, Cairney and Palhinha.
Gakpo and Gravenberch come off for Clark and Konate.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
82. Diop’s goal has turned this game on its head.
Liverpool are starting to look very nervous at the back.
Wilson has a shot from distance but Kelleher gets down well to save.
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
80. Liverpool are awarded a free kick as Jota is fouled by Diop.
Elliott drinks a ball into the box but it is half cleared.
The ball comes back out and is laid off to the former Fulham player who has a strike at goal but drags it wide.
Credit: AP Fulham 1-1 Liverpool
78. We have a game on our hands now.
Harry Wilson does well down the left and plays a dangerous ball across the six yard box.
Diop is there to turn it past Kelleher with his thigh and Craven Cottage erupts.
Goal – Issa Diop (Fulham)
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
76. Fulham have a free kick which is whipped in by Cairney.
Liverpool head clear but the ball drops to Willian.
Diop goes to ground, looking for a penalty, but the referee is not interested.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
74. Marco Silva is looking to his bench once again.
They do not have a lot of attacking options available.
We are getting into the stage of the game now where a goal for Jurgen Klopp’s side will seal their Wembley place.
SunSport’s Jordan Davies at Craven Cottage
Liverpool have gone up a gear since the break and should have sealed their Wembley date already, but once more their clinical edge, their killer instinct, is nowhere to be seen.
Darwin Nunez had a curling effort denied by Bernd Leno while Harvey Elliott – against his old club – had all the time in the world to pick a spot one on one down the right but fired straight at Fulham’s German international.
It may not come back to bite them however, with Fulham running out of steam, and ideas.Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
72. Jota and Diop are having their own personal battle.
The Liverpool attacker needs to be careful not to get drawn into anything that may see him booked or worse.
Fulham are trying to up the ante now, desperate for a goal.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
70. Bradley plays the ball to Gravenberch, just outside the box.
He gets a shot away, with Leno at full stretch, but it goes inches wide.
So close for the visitors.
Credit: AP
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
68. Liverpool come forward, struggling to still find that final pass.
They get to the edge of the box but pass the ball around until the moment has gone.
They need to be more clinical in the final third.
Palhinha plays a long ball over the top which Wilson gets a toe to but it goes harmlessly wide.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
66. Both sides seem to getting some changes ready.
Fulham have a rare break into the Liverpool half but Pereira’s pass is loose and gifts the ball back to the visitors.
Wilson comes on for De Cordova-Reid for the hosts.
Mac Allister and Nunez are replaced by Jones and Jota.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
64. So close to a second goal for The Reds.
As they come forward in numbers, the ball breaks to Nunez.
He looks to bend one in the top corner, with Leno beaten, but it just curls away from the far post.
Fulham 0-1 Liverpool
62. It has all got a little scrappy in the middle of the park.
As Liverpool drive into the box, the referee awards a free kick for a foul on Palhinha.
Chance for The Cottagers to get further up the field and give their defenders a breather.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
