On a brisk Wednesday evening at Anfield, Liverpool staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 2-1 victory over Fulham in the initial encounter of their League Cup semi-final.
The match began with an unexpected twist as Fulham’s Willian seized upon a defensive lapse from Liverpool’s stalwart Virgil van Dijk. In the 19th minute, Willian found himself in the right place to capitalise on Van Dijk’s failed clearance, coolly slotting the ball past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to give the visitors a surprising lead.
Despite the absence of key players like Mohamed Salah, who is currently representing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations, and the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool maintained control of the game, persistently probing Fulham’s disciplined defence.
Jones, Gakpo setup comeback for Liverpool
Their efforts finally paid off in the 68th minute when Curtis Jones unleashed a long-range effort that fortuitously deflected off Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo and found its way into the net, bringing the score level.
The Reds’ resurgence continued unabated, and just three minutes later, they took the lead thanks to Cody Gakpo. The Dutch international was perfectly positioned to meet a precise cross from Darwin Nunez, and he made no mistake in converting from close range to put Liverpool ahead.
This thrilling turnaround left Fulham reeling, as Liverpool overturned the prospect of their first home defeat of the season across all competitions. Instead, they now carry a slender advantage into the second leg of the semi-final, which is set to take place at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on January 24th.
This result comes on the heels of another upset in the tournament, where Chelsea fell to a 1-0 defeat against Middlesbrough, leaving the competition wide open. Liverpool’s tenacity and depth were on full display, demonstrating their ability to overcome adversity and keep their eyes on yet another potential cup final appearance.
