Liverpool hold narrow lead heading into Carabao Cup semi-final second leg

The Reds hold a narrow 2-1 lead after coming back from behind in the first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones.

Jurgen Klopp's side started that game poorly but ended strongly and they will be aiming to carry that into this clash away from home.

Marco Silva will fancy his side to cause an upset though, with the Cottagers proving they can go toe-to-toe with their in-form opponents.

Live commentary: talkSPORT website stream HERE, via the app HERE/ Live stream: Sky Sports

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Jiménez.

Subs: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Reed, Lukic, Francois, Wilson, Muniz, Vinicius.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Elliott, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Núñez, Díaz.

Subs: Alisson, Konate, Jones, Jota, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Beck, Nyoni.

Follow our live match blog below for regular updates…

a minute agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool

17' - There's been plenty of groans for Elliott from the home fans.

But the former Fulham man almost silences the support with a dangerous cut back from the byline.

Gravenberch almost arrives to get a shot underway yet Fulham get enough bodies back to scramble it away.

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2 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool

15' - That's how quickly a game can change!

Just as Fulham had gained a foothold in the game with the biggest two chances of the game Liverpool went up the other end and scored.

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4 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-1 Liverpool

13' - There's a brief delay before the restart following a red flare launched by the travelling fans following that goal.

More time for Leno to reflect on that mistake...

Minto said: "Bernd Leno, my goodness me, he saves that 99 times out of 100… he'll be thinking, 'how on earth have I not saved that?"

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7 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

GOAL!! Fulham 0-1 Liverpool Luis Diaz

11' - SUCKER PUNCH STRIKE!!

It's a simple ball over the top that Diaz does brilliantly to rake on his chest ahead of Castagne as he cuts inside.

He then gets a shot away but it seems to lack the conviction to find the back of the net however it somehow squeezes inside Leno's near post.

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7 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

10' - Suddenly the visitors look to be hanging on!

From nowhere, Fulham have upped the tempo and Robinson makes tracks down the left and is afforded the space from Bradley to whip a dangerous cross across the face of goal.

But Kelleher comes flying out to divert it out of Decordova-Reid's path.

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9 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

Matterface: "How has he missed… that is a golden chance for Fulham."

A massive let-off for the Reds!

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10 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool - CHANCE

8' - Palhinha blazes over a massive opportunity for the Cottagers!

Cairney drives down the right flank and his miss-hit cross almost sneaks in Kelleher's near post causing the Liverpool goalkeeper to turn it behind.

Pereira's cross picks out Palhinha unmarked arriving in the six-yard area but he gets underneath his first-time volley and lifts it over!

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12 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

Minto: "Liverpool have started very well... they're very much on the front foot."

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12 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

6' - It's been all the visitors during the early stages as Fulham waste a rare opportunity to counter after a spell without the ball.

Willian's attempted pass to Jimenez is underhit and cutout by Elliott - the ball is then worked out to Nunez to cut inside and shoot but it's a comfortable stop for Leno.

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14 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

4' - Elliott is already showcasing his ability on the ball during the early proceedings on what is a huge occasion for him upon his return.

Speaking about the youngster on talkSPORT, Minto said: "£3.8million, it's amazing Liverpool got away with that."

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17 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

2' - Gravenberch wins an early foul which gives Elliott the chance to stand up a teasing free-kick into the box.

Diaz rises highest at the near post to flick on but he can't divert it on target as it bounces out of play past the far post.

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18 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham 0-0 Liverpool

1' - Former Fulham youngster Elliott gets this one underway for the Reds.

A huge night in store for both teams with a clash against Chelsea at Wembley on offer!

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26 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

If they qualify, Fulham would be the 37th different team to reach the EFL Cup final, and first maiden finalists since Bradford and Swansea in 2012-13.

Only 25% of teams to lose the first leg of a semi-final tie have reached the final (23/92).

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31 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

Liverpool's past and present shared a warm embrace as Sturridge greeted Elliott.

Also a big name for the Reds youngster upon his return to Craven Cottage where he came through the ranks as a 15-year-old.

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39 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

All smiles between the two managers ahead of kick-off.

A place at Wembley on the line - for Klopp, a return for the first time since 2022 but it would be Silva's first time managing at the national stadium.

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43 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Thoughts from Joe Gomez pre-game

Gomez to Sky Sports: "Obviously it is a big game and we know we need to try get the job done.

"The gaffer has emphasised on winning the game and we are hoping to progress."

On being the Red's longest-serving player: "It is surreal I came to Liverpool and learned from the likes of you [Daniel Sturridge].

"I have just enjoyed the process and the journey, it is about getting success for the club and the team."

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49 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Leno speaks pre-game

The Fulham goalkeeper told Sky Sports: "You can feel it and you can smell it! It is a big moment for us and the club, hopefully it will be a special night.

"Of course at home we have had some great results, we won against Arsenal and Liverpool will know what to expect. We will try to take advantage of our home fans.

"It is about emotional control today, hopefully we can turn these emotions in the right way."

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54 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

West Ham star Michail Antonio has risked escalating his feud with Liverpool supporters - by expressing his hope Fulham win tonight.

Earlier this month, Antonio insisted that he doesn't want the Reds to win the Premier League this season amid an ongoing war of words.

The feud originally started after the forward predicted that the Hammers were going to finish above Jurgen Klopp's men this year - days before the Irons were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool in September.

As a pundit for Sky ahead of tonight's game, Antonio said he hoped Fulham set up a derby date with Chelsea at next month's final.

However, the Jamaica international revealed it was down to his desire to see a derby on the big stage rather than any more anti-Liverpool bias.

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59 minutes agoBy Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

If Liverpool avoid defeat they will reach the EFL Cup final for a record 14th time, at least four more than any other side.

The Reds have conceded in all four of their wins in the competition this season - the last team to win more consecutively without keeping a clean sheet were Tottenham (6 between the 2007-08 semi-final second leg and 2008-09 semi-final first leg).

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Today, 19:16By Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool: What has been said?

Mohamed Salah will return to Liverpool to recover from his injury suffered at the Africa Cup of Nations for Egypt.

He won't feature for the Reds but he will be back on Merseyside receiving treatment.

Klopp said: "That's the plan. If that's already decided 100 per cent, I don't know. But that's the plan.

"However long he's out, probably everybody sees it like this, it makes sense that he's doing the rehab with us or with our people. If that's written in stone already, I don't know.

"I spoke with him directly after, the night when it happened. Since then he's in contact with our doctor. I think he will be back."

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Today, 19:12By Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

Fulham are winless in their last five home games against Liverpool (D2 L3), since a 1-0 win in the Premier League in December 2011.

Liverpool 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

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Today, 19:11By Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool

Klopp has made four changes to the side that smashed Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday.

And strangely enough, it's in every section of his formation, with Kelleher replacing Alisson in goal.

Quansah, Gravenberch and Gakpo take up spots across the centre, while Konate, Jones and Jota drop to the bench.

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Today, 19:03By Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool: Team news

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Andreas Pereira, Willian; Raúl Jiménez.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Elliott, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Núñez, Luis Díaz.

Subs: Alisson, Konate, Jones, Jota, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Beck, Nyoni.

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Today, 19:02By Joe Brophy

Fulham vs Liverpool: Team news

The Cottagers meanwhile have gone as expected, with Raul Jimenez leading the line.