Liverpool had to overcome an early deficit to secure a narrow aggregate lead against Fulham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
A surprise but deserved advantage came for Fulham in the 19th minute when Willian capitalized on a weak header from Virgil van Dijk, eluded two challenges, and calmly slotted in low. Despite dominating possession, Liverpool struggled to break down Fulham’s resilient defense in the first half, with only Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota testing Bernd Leno.
Substitutions played a pivotal role for Liverpool, with Darwin Nunez making a significant impact off the bench. Curtis Jones, followed by Cody Gakpo, turned the scoreline around in the second half. Despite missing Mohamed Salah due to international duty and Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury, Liverpool pressed for more goals, and late saves from Bernd Leno prevented them from extending their lead further.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Liverpool’s determination intensified in the second half, creating gaps in their defense as they sought an equalizer. Fulham had their chances on the counter, with Bobby Decordova-Reid missing a key opportunity, and penalty appeals were waved away when Antonee Robinson’s arm handled a free-kick.
Liverpool finally equalized through Jones, whose deflected effort found the net. Jota played a crucial role again as Gakpo put Liverpool ahead with a clinical finish from Nunez’s cutback.
Bernd Leno’s excellent saves denied Nunez a third goal for Liverpool, showcasing his skills with a looping header and a powerful attempt. Fulham’s goalkeeper made a hat-trick of saves against Nunez, including a crucial block with his legs after a whipped-in cross from Conor Bradley. Despite Fulham’s late defensive efforts, Liverpool secured a crucial advantage heading into the second leg.