Liverpool produced a good fight to come back strong from a goal down and went on to beat Fulham 2-1 in the first leg of their English Carabao Cup semifinal at a cold Anfield on Wednesday. Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo turned the match on Liverpool’s way by scoring a goal each in three minutes of duration. Fulham started positively and played well to take a lead in the first half thanks to a goal from Willian, then sat back and attempted to hit Liverpool on the break, frustrating Juergen Klopp’s men until the 68th minute, when Jones and Gakpo scored in short succession.
Fulham poised to inflict the record nine-time League Cup winners their first home defeat in all competitions this season when attacking midfielder Willian struck early in the 19th minute of the game. The 35-year-old Brazilian took advantage of Virgil van Dijk’s poor clearing and scored from the edge of the six-yard box between goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s knees.
Premier League table-toppers Liverpool dominated possession and eventually overcame Fulham’s well-organized backline when Jones scored, his effort from 25 meters away took a massive deflection off the back of Tosin Adarabioyo. Gakpo, who has scored in all four League Cup games for Liverpool, fired the home club to take a lead in the 71st minute, tapping in Darwin Nunez’s cross at the near post to send fans home pleased after they improved their incredible home record this season to 14 triumphs and two draws.
Klopp’s men attempted 21 shots to Fulham’s six, and however, the addition of Gakpo and Nunez in the second half made all the difference for Liverpool. Liverpool missed the service of their star striker Mohamed Salah, the Premier League’s joint top scorer this season, who is on national duty for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who injured his knee in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round victory over Arsenal.
Jones got a very important goal to get us back in the game and after that, I felt we dominated, not only with possession but creating chances and then the second so I was happy, Gakpo said. After securing a crucial victory, Liverpool Manager Klopp praised the exceptional performance of 20-year-old Conor Bradley, who started in defense in place of Alexander-Arnold. He will probably fall asleep in the dressing room. Wonderful, what a boy, and what a character. Everyone loves him, Klopp added. Liverpool will travel to Craven Cottage on January 24, Wednesday to face Fulham in the semifinal second leg.
