Liverpool took the lead in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Fulham, securing a 2-1 comeback victory at Anfield and extending their unbeaten home streak to 24 matches in all competitions.
Early on, the hosts tested the waters with a Curtis Jones shot saved by Bernd Leno. However, it was Fulham who broke the deadlock, as Willian skillfully navigated through the box and scored a clinical goal after a misjudgment by Virgil van Dijk allowed Andreas Pereira to set him up.
Jürgen Klopp displayed increasing frustration, especially when Van Dijk received a harsh yellow card for colliding with Pereira. The referee’s decision not to play advantage after a foul on Alexis Mac Allister further angered Klopp. Joe Gomez attempted to equalize with a long-range shot just before halftime, but it went wide.
The second half saw dominant play from Liverpool, with Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota both coming close to scoring. Klopp made attacking substitutions, bringing in Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez. Liverpool equalized in unfortunate circumstances for Fulham, with Jones’ shot deflecting off Tosin Adarabioyo and beating Leno. Moments later, Liverpool’s attacking prowess shone through as Jota and Núñez set up Gakpo for a clinical finish at the near post, erasing Fulham’s lead in just four minutes.
This comeback victory, despite not being at their best, sends a strong message to Liverpool’s rivals. The Reds are now undefeated in their last seven games across all competitions. For Fulham, it’s another close call on Merseyside, reminiscent of their 4-3 loss in the Premier League fixture on December 3rd. However, they remain firmly in contention as they head into the second leg at Craven Cottage on January 24th.