Liverpool stave off Fulham fightback to win on aggregate and advance to League Cup final
Luis Diaz scored early to put Liverpool back in familiar territory after a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the second leg of their semi-final tie at Craven Cottage on Wednesday secured the club's 14th League Cup final appearance.
The record nine-time League Cup winners defeated Fulham 3-2 on aggregate and will face Chelsea at Wembley on February 25 in a rematch of the 2022 final, which Liverpool won on penalties.
"It is fantastic," Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp told Sky Sports. "We had the experience before, we know what to expect. Again Chelsea, wow what a story that is. I told the boys, never ever take for granted if you are part of a team who can qualify for trophies."
"What the boys did tonight was exceptional," he added. "This was the full cup experience. Open game, second half they started a bit wilder. We don't score. They got the equaliser. But the boys did really well and I am really happy."
"The only thing that counts in the end is that we are through."
Diaz scored in the 11th minute by chesting down a high ball in the box, cutting inside, and launching a shot that deflected and found the near corner.
Issa Diop gave Fulham fans hope when he equalised in the 76th minute, kneeing home a pinpoint pass from former Liverpool player Harry Wilson.
Fulham pressed until the final whistle in tense minutes for Premier League leaders Liverpool, who are also still competing in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Mohamed Salah, their talisman and joint league top scorer, is expected to miss three to four weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations.
After a methodical first half, the pace picked up, with both sides squandering chances, including a frantic few seconds of action that saw Fulham's Andreas Pereira smash a shot off the post and Liverpool's Harvey Elliott firing straight at keeper Bernd Leno.
Darwin Nunez had a fantastic opportunity when he spun around a Fulham defender but shot just wide of the post, holding his hands up in disbelief.
Both teams will now focus on their fourth-round FA Cup matches, with Liverpool facing Norwich City on Sunday and Fulham hosting Newcastle United on Saturday.
SportsLigue