Fulham vs Liverpool LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction as Reds punch ticket to Wembley
Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (agg 2-3): Jurgen Klopp’s side were made to sweat but will advance to next month’s final against Chelsea
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool did just enough to advance to the Carabao Cup final as they won 3-2 on aggregate against Fulham despite a 1-1 draw in the second leg.
Jurgen Klopp’s side flew out of the traps and increased their first-leg advantage when Luis Diaz’s low shot squirmed under Bernd Leno.
Fulham had never made it to this stage in the competition before but battled away and grew into the contest as the second half progressed.
Andreas Pereira struck the post before Issa Diop’s goal made for a nervy final period for the travelling Liverpool fans.
The visitors, though, hung on and will advance to next’s month final against Chelsea at Wembley.
Relive all the action and post-match reaction below.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool (agg 1-2)
7 mins: Nunez cuts inside from the left but his low effort is saved easily by Leno. Up the the other end, Fulham go and a low cross from Castagne has to be tipped around the near post for a corner by Kelleher.
Fulham 0-0 Liverpool (agg 1-2)
4 mins: It’s fair to say it’s been a sluggish start from the hosts who have been sloppy with the scraps of possession they have enjoyed so far. They certainly won’t want to concede first, let alone this early.
KICK-OFF! Fulham 0-0 Liverpool (agg 1-2)
1 min: We are underway at Craven Cottage and straight away there is defensive work to do for the home side as Palhinha gives away a free-kick. Diaz rises highest from Elliot’s cross but his effort goes well wide of the far post.
Kick-off fast approaching
Despite the cold temperature, the atmosphere is hotting up nicely inside Craven Cottage as we close in on kick-off here in London.
A big 90 minutes awaits both teams and their respective fans.
Fulham hoping for a fast start
Fulham will hope to use their home-crowd advantage tonight as they plot a historic comeback in this tie. A fast start would be ideal and, in that respect, Marco Silva’s side certainly have precedent.
His side have opened the scoring in all five of their EFL Cup games this season, including the semi-final first leg in which Willian put them 1-0 ahead.
First leg momentum
Liverpool have the one-goal advantage from the first leg and historically that’s something that has been a benefit for the Reds.
In fact, they have progressed to the final on eight of the nine previous occasions they’ve won the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final tie. The exception was in 1997-98, being eliminated by Middlesbrough after winning the first leg at Anfield 2-1.
Can Fulham upset the record books tonight?
Liverpool’s route to this point
In contrast, it’s been relatively plain sailing for Liverpool in this competition who arrived at this stage after a big win against West Ham. They have the one-goal lead after the first leg - can they make it count?
Third round: Liverpool 3-1 Leicester City
Fourth round: Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool
Quarter-finals: Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
Semi-finals (first leg): Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
Fulham’s route to this point
There have been a couple of nervy penalty shootouts for Marco Silva’s side so far in the competition but they now stand 90 minutes away from their first League Cup final. Here’s how they made it this far:
Second round: Fulham 1-1 Tottenham (Fulham win on penalties)
Third round: Fulham 2-1 Norwich City
Fourth round: Ipswich Town 1-3 Fulham
Quarter-finals: Everton 1-1 Fulham (Fulham win on penalties)
Semi-finals (first leg): Liverpool 2-1 Fulham
The stage is set
Just over half an hour to go until kick-off here in South West London and the stage is set...
Mohamed Salah injury ‘more serious than first thought’
Aside from this game, Liverpool have been dealing with the fallout from Mohamed Salah’s injury while on international duty.
And now his agent has confirmed that the hamstring injury is worse than was initially thought and could keep him out for four weeks.
It means Liverpool’s hopes of getting their top scorer back for their double header against Chelsea and Arsenal next week are over and could result in him missing their next six games.
Read more below:
Mohamed Salah injury ‘more serious than first thought’
Liverpool’s talisman is set to be out for up to four weeks and should miss Premier League clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal
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