LIVERPOOL overcame Fulham in a marginal victory in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, but it is far from a foregone conclusion.
A low shot from Willian gave the visitors the lead.
But Curtis Jones’ deflected strike followed by Cody Gakpo’s effort has made it an interesting spectacle in the return leg
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62. The Liverpool striker’s right move.
When a player has possession of the ball, there is no option, the team is statically waiting for the ball.
Willian sends the ball in the path of De Cordova-Reid, but he can’t catch it and luck runs out.
60. Fulham now look dangerous at half-time.
With Liverpool having such an attacking formation, there will be opportunities for Marco Silva to take the hit.
Pereira is backed into a corner, but Konate is obviously on his way.
58. They are now very offensive at Liverpool.
Fulham counter-attack with Jimenez, his shot is deflected and almost falls on a player in white before Gomez clears.
Home enthusiasts must revive their team.
56. Nunez and Gakpo Liverpool.
They replace Elliott and Gravenberch.
Just before the break, Jota had a great effort to get Leno into the play, but he took an extra touch, allowing Robinson to block.
54. Marco Silva unleashes.
Gomez does well to block the ball but Fulham have the throw in.
It looks like Jurgen Klopp is about to make some changes.
52. Liverpool is knocking on the door again.
Play is held up as Leonardo Di Caprio, I mean Andreas Pereira, requires some treatment.
Local enthusiasts express their displeasure with the actor.
50. Huge for Liverpool.
When the ball enters the box, it falls to Jota and the goal is inevitable.
The Portuguese striker took too many touches and let Castagne clear.
48. Liverpool were once at the forefront.
They need to lend a hand in the final third.
Gravenberch advances, turns to his right and shoots, dragging his shot wide of the post.
46. It will be interesting to see how Klopp reshuffles his pack tonight.
If Núñez is signed, he will tend to play more on the left.
In this case, leaving Elliott in midfield and Diaz on the right makes sense, so he can attack with his left foot in much the same way as Salah does.
We are back underway at Anfield.
No changes from either side at the break.
Liverpool get the second half started.
Liverpool want to be more lively in the final third if they are to win this game by the scruff of the neck.
It was all too immodest on Jurgen Klopp’s part, allowing Fulham to keep them at bay too easily.
Unless the Reds coach notices a replacement in the second half, it may not be long before we see Darwin Nunez come into the picture.
Half-time: Liverpool 0 Fulham 1.
The small and feisty Marco Silva saw his player hit more than punch above his weight, like a few weeks ago.
They have become much more comfortable once van Dijk made a blunder by allowing Willian to take over the first game and left-back Antonee Robinson to become a constant threat.
Klopp may not be panicking just yet, as his players have proven time and time again that they are the rebounding stars of the season.
However, after leaving Darwin Nunez on the bench, the German will surely turn to it, if only to put a devilish spin on an attack that benefited from Liverpool’s impressive ownership but didn’t bother goalkeeper Bernd Leno much.
Although they have the lion’s share, Jurgen Klopp’s team has done nothing about it.
The statistics tell the real story and the shots on target from the home side are a comeback.
Unless they can put more pressure on the Fulham goalkeeper, it is not clear how they are going to find a way to get back into this game.
The referee closes the first half.
If it’s a school report card, for Liverpool I’d say more effort is needed.
As for Fulham, everything is going according to plan.
45 2. Gómez receives a foul in a lateral position through De Cordova-Reid.
Liverpool controlled to get the ball into Bradley’s box.
It is headed away all too easily by the visitors.
45. Fulham go deep every time Liverpool have the ball.
They invite visitors to take a look to break them down.
Jimenez goes down in dramatic style and wins the visitors a free kick.
It has to be done if the Cottagers spent any time at the London Academy of Music.
We’re going to go up 3 more minutes.
43. Jurgen Klopp looks agitated on the touchline.
He knows what it means for his team to get a solid result in this first leg before heading west London.
Konate wrestles Pereira on the edge of the box and uses his strength to win the ball back.
41. So far, this has come in the form of a Europa League draw for the hosts.
It all seems a little drab, their play is like they feel if they continue to do the basics well a goal will come.
Fulham are better than that and Klopp’s side want to be a little more creative in the final third.
39. Liverpool will have to work hard and find a goal before the break.
This would ease the wind for visitors.
If Silva goes into the break with the advantage of the draw, they will go into the second half with renewed confidence.
37. Bradley has an opposite side to Willian.
On this occasion, the Brazilian beat the youngster and discovered De Cordova-Reid at the post.
He dwells on the ball and Curtis Jones is able to get back and clear at the expense of a corner.
Muted atmosphere within Anfield at the start but by the 19th minute the home support suddenly find themselves on the edge of their seats suffering from a sudden surge of anxiety.
Because Willian celebrates his 50th game or Fulham with a surprising first game, and the most surprised of all is Virgil van Dijk after suffering a real surprise.
The Reds captain himself was one of the many minds on the left of his team’s box and Andreas Pereira ambushed him.
He does well and passes internally to Willian, who helps him keep his feelings quiet, as does the crowd, before charging towards the net.
Up until that point, Liverpool were almost in total control, but the night temporarily worsened for van Dijk.
He cautioned Pereira for a shove who fell as if he had just been shot through the Liverpool captain.
In fact, this is a handbag challenge and Klopp had every right to suggest, not so discreetly, to the fourth official that Pereira had shown some serious artistic license in his dying swan act.
35. The Reds want to check it out and start running more with Leno.
Trying to play their way through the Fulham defence is not working for them at the moment.
Jones wins a corner from Palhinha.
33. It’s a bit quiet at Anfield now.
Willian proves that he is only a very clever double from Tracy Chapman in the visitors’ goal.
Liverpool couldn’t deal with him once he was delivered in that Fast Car in the box.
31. Just as a reminder, there is no VAR in play tonight.
Jimenez goes to ground under the challenge of Van Dijk but the referee plays advantage.
The Liverpool captain has to be, as he had previously received a yellow card for the decapitation of Periera.
At least that’s what the Fulham player would have you believe.
29. So far, everything is going according to plan for Marco Silva.
I would have expected Liverpool to dominate possession, but after almost half an hour, his side were leading and still kept a clean sheet.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are yet to unblock this Fulham defence.
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