In a thrilling League Cup semifinal clash at Anfield on Wednesday, Liverpool overcame an early setback to secure a 2-1 victory against Fulham. Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, scoring within three minutes of each other to put Liverpool in control ahead of the second leg.
Fulham seized the lead in the first half with a goal from Willian, capitalizing on Virgil van Dijk’s poor clearance. The Brazilian slotted the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box, beating goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher between the legs. Fulham then adopted a defensive strategy, looking to hit Liverpool on the break.
Despite dominating possession, Liverpool struggled to break through Fulham’s organized defense until the 68th minute when Jones and Gakpo unleashed a rapid-fire response. Jones, with a shot from 25 meters out, found the net after a deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo. Subsequent substitute Gakpo, who has consistently delivered in League Cup games, tapped in Darwin Nunez’s cross at the near post in the 71st minute.
Reflecting on the match, Gakpo emphasized the team’s mentality, stating, “It’s the mentality in the group, in the club, in the city, just keep going and it doesn’t matter what happens, and we showed that again today.” He highlighted the importance of such a mindset in achieving success.
Liverpool’s manager, Juergen Klopp, acknowledged that it wasn’t their best performance but praised the resilience of his team, noting, “I told the boys we are human beings.” Klopp’s side, missing key players like Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, managed to extend their impressive home record to 14 victories and two draws this season.
Jones, expressing his satisfaction, remarked, “The fans are leaving with smiles on their faces, so I’m happy.” The young midfielder emphasized the team’s turnaround in the second half, crediting the fans for their support.
Liverpool’s victory marked the seventh instance this season in which they secured a win after conceding the first goal, showcasing their resilience. Klopp singled out 20-year-old Conor Bradley for praise, highlighting the youngster’s exceptional performance in defense.
Looking ahead, Liverpool will travel to Craven Cottage for the second leg on January 24. Fulham manager Marco Silva, anticipating a tough encounter, stated, “You can’t play for a final thinking it’s not going to be really hard.”
In the other League Cup semifinal, Chelsea suffered a surprising 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough in the first leg on Tuesday, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the competition.
