Liverpool They had a hard-fought win against a Fulham team who were also leading on the scoreboard. In the end, it was a 2–1 victory for the Reds in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals, and with Colombia in attendance Luis Diaz.
Liverpool dreamed of playing in the final of this tournament and took a very important step with this victory in the first leg and the presence of Lucho who started 90 minutes.
Diaz didn’t have a chance to score, but was very alert in attack and contributed to Liverpool’s collective plays.
It was also with a comeback, as Brazilian Willian put the Londoners ahead in the 19th minute, before the home side turned the game around with goals from Curtis Jones (68) and Dutchman Cody Gakpo (71), assisted by Uruguayan Darwin Nunez in both cases. , who started as a substitute.
The return match will be played at Fulham’s Craven Cottage Stadium on Wednesday 24th of this month.
The prize is to play in the final at Wembley on Sunday, February 25 against Middlesbrough (Second Division) or Chelsea, whose semi-final first leg ended with a 1-0 victory for the former on Tuesday.
Liverpool are still alive in four competitions. In addition to the League Cup, in the Premier League they are the leaders after twenty rounds, in the Europa League they have qualified for the round of 16 and in the English Cup for the round of 32.
In this Wednesday’s game, without the Egyptian Mohammed Salah For meeting his team for the African Cup and in which Jurgen Klopp rotates
Liverpool found it difficult to get comfortable.
That early goal from Fulham in the 20th didn’t help matters, with Virgil van Dijk losing the ball in favor of Brazil’s Andres Pereira, who sent a pass into the area for his compatriot Willian, who escaped his harassment. Two rivals to contain themselves. Great shooting position and beat Irish goalkeeper Caomin Kelleher.
This was Fulham’s only dangerous move before the break
Liverpool are the best in the game but without firepower in attack. The script changed in the second half and, after several warnings, the tie ended in the 68th minute, with a shot from outside the area by Curtis Jones, who received a pass from Darwin Nunez and whose shot touched the back of Tosin Adarabio before going in. Purpose of visit.
Another blow to Liverpool came just two minutes later, when Uruguayan Darwin Nunez sent a killer pass into the area that his teammate Cody Gakpo sent into the Fulham net first (2-1, 71).
In the 86th minute, German goalkeeper Bernd Leno limited the damage with a great save on Darwin Nunez’s close-range shot, which could not add to the score.
Liverpool led the second leg but revolutionized the duel by entering the game in the 56th minute.
After a slow run of matches, Liverpool will now have a ten-day break, until they visit Bournemouth on Sunday 21st for the 21st matchday of the Premier League. Fulham visit three days later, with the mission to finish the job that started this Wednesday.
AFP