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 0-1 Fulham
45+3 mins: CLOSE! Joe Gomez is getting closer and closer to that first Liverpool goal! The full-back tries his luck with a dipping volley from about 25 yards that had Leno scrambling, but it drops just wide of the post.
And that’s it.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
45 mins: Van Dijk has committed a couple of fouls on Jiminez since picking up his booking earlier in the half and the Liverpool captain has to be careful. There will be three minutes added on at the end of this half but Liverpool do not look like threatening.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
43 mins: Fulham are outworking Liverpool in midfield here, with Reed and Palhinha winning their battles in the middle of the pitch. Pereira tests Kelleher with a long-range shot after a good Fulham spell and on this evidence, Marco Silva’s side want this more than the hosts.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
40 mins: There are whistles around Anfield every time Leno stands over the ball at goal kicks. A few in the Liverpool stands suggesting the goalkeeper is wasting time with his team a goal ahead. Fulham, though, have been well worth their lead so far as we approach half time. That Liverpool response hasn’t really arrived yet.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
38 mins: CHANCE! Or it would have been for Fulham, had it not been for Luis Diaz! Great work, again, by the impressive Robinson to get to the byline and bend a good cross into the box. DeCordova Reid was free in the middle but Diaz got back brilliantly and took the ball from his feet as he was lining up the shot on goal.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
36 mins: Leno has to clay away a tricky inswinging corner from under his crossbar before Jota picks up a free kick on the edge of the box, which is around about the same area where Alexander-Arnold scored from against Fulham in the Premier League this season...
No Alexander-Arnold this time, of course, and Mac Allister hits the wall.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
32 mins: Great play from Bradley to keep the ball alive on the right - it’s worked through to Gravenberch but he can’t find Jones, who was free in the box and would have had a clear sight of goal.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
29 mins: The game is starting to open up nicely as Fulham counter well following good hold-up play from Jiminez and a smart advantage from the referee. Robinson gets past Bradley to speed to the byline but Liverpool manage to clear his cross.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
27 mins: Liverpool have rather lost their way after a decent start and still seem stunned by that Willian goal - Diaz almost finds space to chase onto a through ball, but Tosin gets across well.
Liverpool 0-1 Fulham
22 mins: Liverpool almost hit back immediately but Elliott slices over the bar from Jota’s cross to the back post - the flag went up anyway. Van Dijk is then booked after catching Pereira’s face with a stray hand - that’s harsh on the Liverpool captain as there was not a lot of contact there.
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