LIVERPOOL have pipped Fulham to a marginal victory in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final – but it is far from a foregone conclusion.
Willian’s low-driven strike had initially put the visitors in front.
But Curtis Jones’ deflected strike followed by Cody Gakpo’s effort has made it an interesting spectacle in the return leg
- RESULT: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
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- Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Gravenberch, Bradley.
- Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid, Andreas, Willian, Jimenez.
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Klopp’s Reds with some breathing space
Liverpool do not play again for 11 days, giving the German manager chance to let his players rest.
They will be working hard to get some of their injured players back to full fitness also.
The Reds’ next league game is on January 21 away to Bournemouth.
Klopp’s side will play the second leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final on January 24 at Craven Cottage.
Ally Mac making sweet music
Alexis Mac Allister came back into the team today and was integral with Liverpool’s win.
With Dominik Szoboszlai missing, the Argentinian tried to link the defence and attack.
Mac Allister has shown the Anfield faithful just how much he has to offer to this midfield today.
Young gun proves his worth
Conor Bradley probably did not expect to get many chances at right back this season, given that Trent Alexander Arnold is his competition.
When called upon today, the young full back put in a brilliant performance, getting forward as often as possible.
In addition to this, he had to deal with the experienced Willian down the left also.
The boss seemed pleased at full time with Bradley.
View from SunSport’s Ken Lawrence
You can see why Jurgen Klopp likes Darwen Nunez – for starters the Uruguyan also has that slightly demonic glint in his eye.
Nunez may not exactly be an Erling Halland when it comes to finishing but he has a certain energy that his team mates feed off.
Just like here in what could have been a bad night for his manager.
He didn’t score (again) but once he arrived on the scene the big striker lit a fire that burned through Fulham’s resistance.
The Cottagers head home still with hope for a second leg fightback, but by the end they were intent only on damage limitation after Nunez stole centre stage.
FT: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
It was a much-improved performance from Liverpool in the second half after a drab start to the game.
Having only registered a single shot on target, they added another six after the interval.
More importantly, the broke down the stubborn resistance from The Cottagers.
FT: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
The referee brings the game to a close.
Liverpool take a slender lead to Craven Cottage.
Having been a goal down for so long, the fans will take this.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
90+4. Robinson checks inside Bradley and is brought to ground.
Chance for Fulham to look for a late equaliser.
Wilson looks to whip it in but it is easily cleared.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
90+2. Liverpool are patiently building play.
Trying to find a way to breakdown this Fulham defence one more time.
The visitors have everyone bar Jimenez behind the ball now.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
90. Bradley puts a brilliant cross into the box.
Nunez meets it and half the ground thinks he has scored but Leno makes a fantastic save with his feet.
That could prove to be an important stop in the context of this tie from the Fulham keeper.
We are going to have an additional four minutes.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
88. Fulham are not offering anything in terms of an attacking threat currently.
They have everyone behind the ball when Liverpool are in possession.
Lukic is shown a yellow card for a challenge on Darwin Nunez.
Credit: Getty Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
86. Jones seems to be struggling for Liverpool, having picked up a knock.
Nunez is stretching the Fulham defensive line constantly.
The visitors will be focussed on not conceding another goal before the full times whistle now.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
84. Gakpo comes forward and feigns a shot, to see the defender go sliding past him.
He feeds it into the path of Nunez, who fires a shot off at goal.
Albeit from a tight angle, he forces another instinctive save from Leno.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
82. Fulham would have probably taken this scoreline before the game.
Silva will not be happy given the position they got themselves into but rarely is the manager in a positive mood.
Lukic comes on for Reed for the visitors.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
80. A cross is whipped in and Nunez heads it towards goal.
Leno is forced to tip it over the bar with an elaborate save.
The corner is not dealt with and Diaz picks it up but his attempted cross is blocked and Fulham bring it clear.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
78. Nunez does well to hold the ball up.
Bradley comes steaming forward once again.
Gakpo plays it back to the Uruguayan and he looks to drill it across goal from the byline.
Fulham manage to hack the ball clear.
Credit: Reuters
View from SunSport’s Ken Lawrence
Jurgen Klopp’s No 2 Pep Lijnders always seems like he is trying to give an extra dimension to the meaning of positivity when his master is not using his voice.
He declared that while magic Mo is away with Egypt and Alexander-Arnold is recovering from a knee injury “no one is irreplaceable”.
Yet the Kop were wishing the duo were very much in their places for Salah was not around to frighten the Fulham defence, while frantic Liverpool were so badly missing the passing, prompting and presence of TAA.
Nunez, as expected, appears, along with Cody Gakpo in exchange for Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch.
The dynamic, slowly but surely, starts to change and Curtis Jones produces the one example of pure quality so far with a brilliant strike from distance.
Suddenly Kop gears are clicking, Gakpo coming up with the sweetest of finishes as sweet music now cascades around the ground – well most of it, anyway.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
76. Liverpool look hungry for more goals here.
Fulham looked in control until Jones’ deflected effort.
Now they look capable of scoring every time they come forward.
Say what you like about Nunez’s finishing but he makes things happen when he is on the pitch for The Reds.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
74. Wilson and Cairney come on for the visitors.
They replace Willian and Pereira.
Bradley plays a neat one-two and wins a free kick on the edge of the box as De Cordova-Reid brings him down.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
72. Jota holds the ball up before slotting it to Nunez.
He spots Gakpo and cuts it back from the byline to him.
The Dutch youngster sweeps the ball home to turn this game on its head.
Goal – Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
Liverpool 1-1 Fulham
70. The ball breaks to Jones outside the box who tries his luck.
Tosin turns his back on the shot and it deflects off his back and loops up over Leno and into the goal.
Anfield erupts as they finally get the goal they have been craving.
Credit: AFP
Goal – Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
68. As the free kick comes in Robinson tries to head clear.
He misses the ball with head completely and it strikes his arm.
The Liverpool players and fans call for a penalty but the referee is not interested at all.
Had VAR been in play, I think they would have been asking the referee to go to the monitor there.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
66. Bradley is scythed down by Palhinha on the edge of the box.
The Liverpool youngster is having a good game today.
Big chance for The Reds to make the visitors pay now.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
64. Jones runs towards the penalty area but Palhinha puts in a perfectly-timed challenge.
Diaz picks up the loose ball but is hacked down by De Cordova-Reid.
The Fulham player is shown a yellow card for the challenge.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
