GAK’S GOT THE KNACK
Super-sub Cody has magic Dutch for Klopp as rattled Reds stage comeback after Willian’s early strike
MARCO SILVA must be sick of Liverpool’s fightbacks at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s comeback kings did it once again.
Fulham were on course for a famous win in their first-ever League Cup semi-final with the match entering the final quarter.
But, after losing here last month when the Cottagers led with three minutes to go, Silva (right) must have feared the worst.
And, sure enough, Liverpool scored twice in three minutes to give them the advantage, heading to Craven Cottage in two weeks’ time for the second leg of their record 19th League Cup semi.
Credit must go to the Kop’s hero Darwin Nunez and he came on with Cody Gakpo, with just over half an hour remaining to turn the tie Liverpool’s way.
He has hardly been prolific lately, but the Liverpool fans love his work rate and he had a hand in Curtis Jones’ deflected leveller before he set up Gakpo’s winner.
Liverpool were missing 10 players through injury and international call-ups, but such is their attacking might, they still found a way to win.
Defeat was tough on Fulham and they gave a great account of themselves to keep the tie alive.
The match began as expected as Jones
(left) and Diogo Jota went close with shots before Fulham ripped up the script by scoring against the run of play after 19 minutes from their first attack.
Virgil van Dijk, who returned from illness, uncharacteristically gave away possession on the edge of the box and Andreas Pereira fed Willian, who ghosted past Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, before shooting past keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Fulham sensed an opportunity and Pereira rolled over and over to earn
Van Dijk a dubious caution for supposedly catching him with his hand.
The Cottagers almost snatched a second and Bobby De Cordova-reid was left in acres of space in the box and Luis Diaz did well to get back to nip the ball away.
Pereira then had a drive saved by Kelleher and Fulham had three shots on target compared to just Jones’ early effort, despite the Reds’ possession.
Joe Gomez is still waiting for his first career goal and he will have to wait a little longer when he fired wide in first-half stoppage time. Liverpool roused themselves – and the Kop – in the second half and Ryan Gravenberch shot just wide following a mazy run before Timothy Castagne robbed Jota as he prepared to shoot in front of goal.
Finally, there was an urgency to Liverpool’s play and Klopp further upped the tempo when he brought on Nunez and Gakpo. As Liverpool piled forward, there were opportunities for Fulham on the break and Kelleher did well to push away a shot from De Cordovareid.
When Liverpool’s equaliser did come in the 68th minute, it was thanks to a slice of luck and Nunez fed Jones, whose drive hit Tosin Adarabioyo to take a massive deflection home past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.
Jones did not celebrate and he urged the Kop to make more noise because he wanted a winner.
Fulham began to wilt and, three minutes later, Jota played in Nunez on the left and he crossed for Gakpo to score expertly at the near post.
Now Anfield was rocking. And Nunez fired over from a free-kick before Leno touched over another effort.
He was again denied the goal he deserved when Leno saved his shot from point-bank range – but Liverpool now hold that narrow advantage.