Liverpool needed to come from behind to open up a slim mixture lead over Fulham within the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night time.
Willian had given the Cottagers a shock however not undeserved benefit within the first quarter of the sport, however substitutions modified issues for a Liverpool facet lacking Mohamed Salah to worldwide obligation and Trent Alexander-Arnold via damage.
Darwin Nunez was closely concerned off the bench as Curtis Jones and later Cody Gakpo turned the score-line on its head. Fulham additionally had a flurry of late saves from Bernd Leno to thank for Liverpool not getting out of sight and placing the tie to mattress with the second leg nonetheless to come back.
How the sport unfolded
Liverpool started the sport in full management, probing for a gap purpose with out creating an excellent deal in the best way of probabilities. Curtis Jones pressured Bernd Leno into a cushty save from exterior of the penalty space, whereas Diogo Jota additionally flashed a low effort throughout the field.
Liverpool had had nothing to defend in opposition to by the point Willian fired Fulham right into a nineteenth minute lead. Virgil van Dijk was culpable for it, permitting Andreas Pereira to get into the field as a consequence of a weak header. From there, it broke to Willian and he saved his cool to skip previous two challenges and hearth in low.
With Liverpool unable to interrupt down a resilient visiting defence, Fulham started to develop in confidence and journey as the competition neared half-time. Antonee Robinson threatened to catch out Ibrahima Konate, whereas Caoimhin Kelleher wanted secure arms to carry onto a drive from Pereira.
Decided to get again into the sport, regardless of having the cushion of the second leg to come back, Liverpool actually pushed because the second half acquired underway. However there was potential for such a tactic to additionally go in opposition to them given the gaps that have been being left as gamers piled ahead.
Warning indicators got here and went as Bobby Decordova-Reid failed to collect in a go from Willian that will have seen him undergo on purpose. Moments later, the Fulham winger was steaming down the suitable and opted to shoot from a slim angle when squaring it to Pereira was the higher choice.
Liverpool had penalty appeals waved away when Robinson stooped to go away a free-kick, lacking the ball that struck his arm as an alternative. However they’d their equaliser in fortuitous circumstances after Jota’s persistence saved the ball alive and Jones’ effort from 25 yards took an enormous deflection.
Jota was once more concerned when Gakpo put the Reds forward with 20 minutes to go, discovering the run of Nunez down the left. The Uruguayan’s instinctive cutback was then completed clinically.
Solely a wonderful save from Leno denied Nunez a Liverpool third from a looping header. The identical participant quickly tried to energy previous Leno as an alternative, whose palms have been stung as he parried away. It was then a hat-trick of saves from the Fulham goalkeeper in opposition to Nunez, making himself as large as attainable because the ball was whipped in by Conor Bradley and simply getting his legs in the best way.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 6/10 – For all that Fulham have been the higher group for a piece of the sport, solely made a handful of pretty comfy saves.
RB: Conor Bradley – 7/10 – Thrust into the beginning XI in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence however appeared decided to take advantage of his alternative. Impressed general.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 6/10 – Not a particuarly commanding first half from a defensive perspective. Higher within the second half when Liverpool began to exert extra management.
CB: Virgil van Dijk (c) – 5/10 – Will not be happy along with his position in Fulham’s first half purpose. Maybe additionally fortunate to keep away from a second yellow card within the first half for a late problem underneath the referee’s nostril.
LB: Joe Gomez – 6/10 – Racked up his 2 hundredth Liverpool look. Did not supply a lot going ahead.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch – 5/10 – Regarded to progress the ball ahead in midfield transitions however typically discovered the door shut in his face in Fulham territory.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – 6/10 – Did not have that a lot affect on the sport.
CM: Curtis Jones – 8/10 – By no means fearful of capturing and acquired his reward via persistence.
RW: Harvey Elliott – 5/10 – Booed by the visiting followers as a former Fulham participant. Sacrificed early within the second half for extra attackers.
ST: Diogo Jota – 9/10 – A livewire from the early phases. Will not get a stats increase for it, however performed key roles in each the equaliser and the go-ahead purpose.
LW: Luis Diaz – 5/10 – Quiet and a bit too secure.
Substitutes
SUB: Cody Gakpo (56′ for Gravenberch) – 8/10 – Scientific within the field when it actually mattered.
SUB: Darwin Nunez (56′ for Elliott) – 8/10 – Two assists inside quarter-hour of approaching.
Subs not used: Alisson (GK), Quansah, Nyoni, Beck, Clark, Gordon, McConnell
Supervisor
Jurgen Klopp – 8/10 – Threw warning to the wind within the second half with the variety of attackers he had on the sector. However the plan labored because the substitutes made an enormous affect.
GK: Bernd Leno – 8/10 – Busier because the night time progressed and made seveal actually good saves which have saved Fulham within the tie for the second leg.
RB: Timothy Castagne – 7/10 – Dealt with Diaz on that facet of the pitch fairly effectively.
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – 5/10 – Too informal on the ball at occasions. Additionally turned his again on Jones’ shot that ended up deflecting into the web to equalise.
CB: Issa Diop – 7/10 – Robust in his tackles and aerial battles.
LB: Antonee Robinson – 7/10 – One other referee may need given a penalty for his inadvertent handball, however it would not detract from his energetic efficiency.
CM: Joao Palhinha – 7/10 – Repelled Liverpool repeatedly within the first half specifically.
CM: Harrison Reed (c) – 6/10 – Regarded on the stroke of half-time he may not be returning after the break however was capable of reappear. Began to get just a little overrun as Liverpool improved.
RM: Bobby Decordova-Reid – 7/10 – Confirmed loads of endeavour at each ends of the pitch. Higher decision-making might have resulted in Fulham going 2-0 up at one stage.
AM: Andreas Pereira – 7/10 – Put stress on Van Dijk to assist make the opening purpose. However his overreaction to a hand within the face from the identical participant a bit afterward was embarrassing.
LM: Willian – 7/10 – Confirmed all his expertise and composure to place Fulham forward. Put in a tough shift off the ball too.
ST: Raul Jimenez – 6/10 – Did not see an terrible lot of the ball in open play however tried to place Liverpool’s centre-backs underneath stress as greatest he might.
Substitutes
SUB: Harry Wilson (73′ for Willian) – 5/10
SUB: Tom Cairney (73′ for Pereira) – 5/10
SUB: Sasa Lukic (83′ for Reed) – N/A
Subs not used: Rodak (GK), Ream, Tete, Francois, Vinicius, Muniz
Supervisor
Marco Silva – 7/10 – Issues have been going completely for an hour, however he did not have a response to Liverpool overloading the pitch with forwards.
