Liverpool vs Fulham LIVE: Carabao Cup result and final score as Cody Gakpo completes dramatic turnaround
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham: Two goals from Gakpo and Curtis Jones in three second-half minutes turned the tie around as the hosts came from behind at Anfield
Substitutes Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez came off the bench to help turn around Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Fulham and ensured they will take a 2-1 lead to Craven Cottage.
The pair were introduced early in the second half with the hosts trailing to Willian’s 19th-minute goal after a Virgil van Dijk error. Liverpool were struggling for creativity without the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold - who helped turn a 3-2 Fulham lead into a 4-3 Reds win in last month’s Premier League meeting - but as at Arsenal in the FA Cup at the weekend Jurgen Klopp’s changes altered the game.
Nunez added a directness which had been lacking while Gakpo brought the composure and control to midfield Ryan Gravenberch had not before he was replaced by his Netherlands team-mate. And the pair combined for Gakpo to score in the 71st minute, just three minutes after Curtis Jones’ deflected equaliser.
Liverpool will travel to Craven Cottage for the second leg on January 24. Chelsea suffered a surprise 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough in the first leg of the other semi-final on Tuesday.
Follow live updates from Liverpool vs Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, below.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
90 mins: FOUR minutes to be added on - this has been a breathless second half at Anfield.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
88 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Or a classic Nunez miss?! Either way, not sure how this stayed out. Bradley digs out a lovely cross into Nunez’s path. Nunez does all he thinks he needs to do, opening his foot and guiding a finish towards goal, but Leno sticks out a big leg to deny him.
Could be huge in this semi-final.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
83 mins: Almost sensational again from Gakpo and Nunez - this Dutchman skips clear and then feeds Nunez with an angled pass. The angle is tight, but Nunez unleashes a fierce shot and Leno has to produce a smart reaction stop to claw it away.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
79 mins: SAVE! Gakpo and Nunez are at it again! This time the Dutchman swings in a wonderful ball to Nunez, who sends a towering header towards goal. It takes an incredible clawing hand from Leno, underneath his own bar, to keep it out. What a difference those two have made.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
77 mins: Just after the Gakpo goal, Fulham took off Willian and Pereira and replaced them with Harry Wilson and Tom Cairney.
But just how crucial were those Bobby DeCordova Reid chances? One was just a bad touch, but on the other he had Pereira free in the middle.
Fulham could have quite easily have found themselves 2-0 up.
Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
75 mins: Just three minutes between those Jones and Gakpo goals, and this match has completely turned on its head. Jota unleashes a rasping drive just over the bar and Fulham are suddenly hanging on.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Fulham (GAKPO 71’)
AN INCREDIBLE TURNAROUND AT ANFIELD!
That’s just remarkable! Fulham should have been two up, but are now behind! Liverpool’s attack comes to life brilliantly as Nunez gets to the byline, cuts the ball back, and Gakpo turns a smart finish past Leno from the front post!
Klopp’s substitutes change the game and now Liverpool are in charge of the semi-final!
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Fulham (JONES 68’)
Liverpool are level! And it’s so, so cruel on Fulham. Jones drives on from midfield and tries his luck from 25 yards on his left foot - and the midfielder gets a huge break. His shot deflects off the back of Tosin Adarabioyo and deflects over Leno, who was stranded! Jones doesn’t care and immediately turns back to the half-way line!
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
66 mins: HANDBALL?! That’s the cry from the Kop as Robinson misses his header and Mac Allister’s free-kick hits his hand in the box. It was accidental, clumsy and Fulham get away with it, but it’s probably the right decision. VAR may have had other ideas if it was here.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
63 mins: AND ANOTHER! Huge chance for Fulham, again for De Cordova-Reid! After a ball over the Liverpool defence, he takes on the shot from the tight angle when Pereira was waiting for the tap-in in the middle!
What a waste from De Cordova-Reid and Fulham can’t put Liverpool away! Klopp’s team are so open at the back.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies