Thursday Fulham Stuff - 25/01/24...

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League Cup Result

Wednesday 24/01
Fulham	1-1	Liverpool
Diop

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Fulham 1-1 Liverpool

Luis Diaz's past three Liverpool goals have come in cup competitions

Liverpool saw off Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-finals to set up a final showdown with Chelsea at Wembley on 25 February.

The Reds led 2-1 from the first leg and their draw at Craven Cottage was enough to get the job done.

Luis Diaz gave Liverpool an early lead, chesting down Jarell Quansah's diagonal ball, cutting inside and beating Bernd Leno at his near post too easily, albeit with the help of a deflection.

Marco Silva's hosts had good spells and deserved their equaliser on the night when Issa Diop bunded in Harry Wilson's deflected ball.

Another Fulham goal would have sent the tie to extra time and Wilson's long-range strike was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.

But the Cottagers could not find a second goal despite pushing for one and their wait for a first EFL Cup final goes on.

Both sides are in FA Cup fourth-round action this weekend, with Fulham hosting Newcastle on Saturday and Liverpool at home to Norwich on Sunday.

Chelsea booked their place at Wembley on Tuesday with a 6-1 win over Championship club Middlesbrough, who won the first leg 1-0.

Liverpool get the job done
Despite some good Fulham play, Liverpool were looking comfortable until the 75th minute and could have led by more - but got over the line despite a nervy finale.

Liverpool are into a record 14th League Cup final and only 90 minutes away from getting back to lifting silverware after a trophyless 2022-23.

Jurgen Klopp has built an excellent new-look team, and the Premier League leaders' hopes of a domestic treble go on. They have only lost once domestically all season, at Tottenham in the Premier League on 30 September.

They have strength in depth too, making 191 changes to their starting 11 in all competitions this season, 56 more than any other Premier League club.

Diaz's early strike settled any immediate nerves and Liverpool had several chances to put the tie to bed, with Darwin Nunez going close on several occasions.

Colombia's Diaz had the ball in the net a second time but the goal was ruled out with Nunez flagged offside.

Andy Robertson was an unused substitute as the Liverpool left-back was involved in a squad for the first time since injuring a shoulder in October.

It was a big night for Fulham, bidding to reach the final of this competition for the first time. Fans were given flags to wave as the players came out and there was a feeling it could be a special night at Craven Cottage.

Andreas Pereira went desperately close when he hit the post from a tight angle after Tosin Adarabioyo had beaten Kelleher to the ball with his head.

When substitute Wilson picked out Diop, who nudged the ball home with his thigh for his first goal since October 2022, it gave the hosts renewed hope.

But in the end they failed to create a clear-cut chance to send the game to an extra 30 minutes.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68002571

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Fulham 1-1 Liverpool (agg 2-3)
Fulham's Carabao Cup hopes came to a crushing end on Wednesday night, as Liverpool squeezed their way into next month's Wembley Final.

Trailing 2-1 from the First Leg, we were up against it when Luis Diaz saw his deflected effort find its way inside the near post after just 11 minutes.

But the Whites continued to fight, and after Andreas Pereira had hit a post, Issa Diop diverted a cross from substitute Harry Wilson to make things interesting.

Wilson himself then nearly restored parity on aggregate, but visiting goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher just about got enough on his strike to turn it behind and preserve Liverpool's place in the Final.

It had been 11 days since Fulham were previously in action, with Marco Silva making two changes to the side that was narrowly defeated by Chelsea that afternoon. Timothy Castagne and Bobby De Cordova-Reid were the preferred options on the right-hand side, with Kenny Tete and Wilson dropping to the bench.

After the players walked out to a fervent Cottage atmosphere, it was the away side who started the stronger, with Diaz heading wide and Darwin Nunez shooting into the arms of Bernd Leno.

Fulham had the best early opening, though. After Castagne did well to win a corner, Andreas sent a peach of a delivery into João Palhinha, who volleyed a yard over the bar.

A slick move down the left then ended with a wicked Antonee Robinson cross that would have been a tap-in for De Cordova-Reid, but Kelleher got a crucial fist on the ball to divert it out of the Fulham man's path.

Liverpool's equaliser in the first leg came via a cruel deflection, and there was déjà vu when they took control of this tie in the 11th minute. Diaz managed to beat Castagne to get into a shooting position, but then his effort only beat Leno courtesy of a whopping ricochet off Palhinha.

Raúl Jiménez went close to drawing us level on the night when he drove forward and prodded an effort towards the far post from the edge of the box, but Kelleher got across well to palm away the danger.

That buoyed the home crowd, with their team responding with a Raúl penalty shout waved away, and Willian bringing another stop from Kelleher.

After De Cordova-Reid had a shot blocked early in the second half, Andreas could have got his side back in the tie when Tosin beat Kelleher to a high ball, but the Brazilian could only rattle the upright – though it was from an acute angle.

Liverpool threatened to make us pay, as the power on that Andreas strike inadvertently launched a counter-attack, one which ended with Leno making a good save to deny Harvey Elliott.

Our goalkeeper made an even more impressive stop soon after, turning Nunez's curler around the post at full stretch.

But it was at the other end where the next goal arrived, with Diop giving the majority inside Craven Cottage hope. Wilson had been a livewire since his introduction and skipped beyond Conor Bradley before putting a ball across the face. A deflection saw it spin up in the air, making Diop's reactionary finish all the more impressive as he guided home with his thigh.

Wilson was really enjoying himself and had Kelleher worried when he opened up his body and placed one from distance. It wasn't quite in the corner but it had plenty of zip, with the Reds 'keeper almost pushing it into his own net. He will have been very relieved to see the ball end up just the other side of the post.

The Whites continued to probe for the strike which would force extra-time, with the Hammy End trying to suck the ball into the goal, but unfortunately we could not find our way past a Liverpool backline which was now five strong as Jurgen Klopp looked to see the game out.

A gutting end to a fantastic League Cup campaign.

Fulham FC: Leno, Castagne (Tete 83'), Tosin, Diop, Robinson, João Palhinha, Cairney (Reed 83'), De Cordova-Reid (Wilson 67'), Andreas Pereira (Rodrigo Muniz 83'), Willian, Jiménez

Subs: Rodák, Tete, Reed, Wilson, Ream, Rodrigo Muniz, Lukić, Carlos Vinícius, Francois

Liverpool: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez, Elliott, Mac Allister (Jones 67'), Gravenberch (Clark 84'), Gakpo (Konaté 83'), Núñez (Diogo Jota 67'), Díaz

Subs: Alisson Becker, Konaté, Jones, Diogo Jota, Robertson, Clark, McConnell, Beck, Nyoni



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/january/24/Fulham-1-1-Liverpool-agg-2-3/

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Fulham fall agonisingly short as Liverpool dash dream of a first League Cup final
Carabao Cup semi-final second leg

Fulham (0) 1 Diop 77

Liverpool (1) 1 Diaz 11

Aggregate: 2-3

There is to be no dream showdown with Chelsea at Wembley then. Just a slight sense of regret at what might have been.

The Whites gave up control of the tie for most of it after shedding an early goal, but after drawing level, they raised hopes that they might yet take it to extra-time. Close, but not quite enough.

The hand-out flags were waving with unbridled enthusiasm before kick-off and Whites fans were praying they would not be portents of surrender.

It was never going to be a case of that, but the optimism generated by a spiced-up atmosphere, and an early volley from Joao Palhinha at a corner just clearing the bar, was soon punctured.

We had only been playing 11 minutes when the difficult task of overhauling the 2-1 first leg defeat became even more onerous as Luis Diaz put the Reds ahead.

The Colombian was picked out many times during the first half out on the left by long balls played from deep and when Jarell Quansah launched another  bomb into his orbit, the winger got up highest, outmuscling Timothy Castagne to clear a path to goal, that ended in a shot creeping past Bernd Leno and into the bottom corner.

There was a slight deflection off Palhinha which did not help the Fulham goalkeeper's cause, but there is no disguising the fact he was badly at fault.

This was no time to be giving Jurgen Klopp's men a helping hand.

That setback undoubtedly rocked the home side - and the previous boisterous home fans. Suddenly, they were very much subdued. The boos aimed at Fulham-defector Harvey Elliott didn't even seem to carry quite as much venom as in the first leg at Anfield.

It seemed to take an age for the Whites to shake off their sense of inferiority but they began to sense they might yet change the narrative.

When Tosin went up for a high ball with Reds keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, the ball ran loose and wide to Andreas Pereira, who crashed a shot against the near post from a narrow angle.

Leno went some way towards atoning for his error with a fine spring to his left to turn aside a Darwin Nunez curler - keeping the Whites alive in the tie.

It proved significant as Fulham drew level on the night with 13  minutes left of regulation time when sub Harry Wilson got the better of Quansah down the left and his cross was nudged in by Issa Diop, getting in ahead of Virgil van Dijk.

It was quite the mood changer. Wilson almost levelled up the aggregate score with a low shot that Kelleher only just scrambled down to turn aside and the decibel count rose.

In the end, Fulham ran out of time - perhaps wishing they had started the encounter the way they approached it late on in the second half. Perhaps they showed too much respect to their famed opponents. But they still came very close to an upset.

Whites: (4-2-3-1) Leno - Castagne (Tete 83), Tosin, Diop, Robinson - Palhinha, Cairney (Reed 84) - Decordova-Reid (Wilson 67), Pereira (Muniz 83), Willian

Liverpool: (4-3-3) Kelleher - Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez - Gravenberch (Clark 84), Mac Allister (Jones 67), Elliott - Gakpo (Konate 84), Nunez (Jota 67), Diaz

Attendance: 24,320



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/fulham-fall-agonisingly-short-as-liverpool-dash-dream-of-a-first-league-cup-final

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Liverpool set up Carabao Cup final vs Chelsea after Fulham scare - 5 talking points
FULHAM 1-1 LIVERPOOL (2-3 AGG): Luis Diaz's early goal set Liverpool on their way at Fulham, but Jurgen Klopp's team needed to dig deep to book their place at Wembley

 Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final after working hard and digging into all their reserves to overcome Fulham in their semi-final second leg.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds took a narrow 2-1 advantage into the second leg, having come from behind to win at Anfield. They took less than 15 minutes to extend their advantage, with Luis Diaz's deflected effort squirming beyong home goalkeeper Bernd Leno and into the bottom corner.

Fulham battled back, with Andreas Pereira firing against the post from a narrow angle early in the second half, while Darwin Nunez was inches away from doubling Liverpool's lead on the night. An Issa Diop goal 15 minutes from time worried the visitors but it wasn't enough, with Liverpool now preparing to face Chelsea at Wembley after the Blues' demolition of Middlesbrough.

Going into the game, both teams knew a match-up with Chelsea would be the reward for making it through to Wembley. Mauricio Pochettino's Blues went through in style on Tuesday night, putting six goals past Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge.

Fulham were aware they would need to balance chasing a goal with keeping a frightening Liverpool team at bay, and they were almost caught out early when Luis Diaz headed off-target. At the other end, though, Caoimhin Kelleher was almost caught out by a mishit Timothy Castagne cross before Joao Palhinha volleyed over from a fantastic position.

The hosts made Kelleher really earn his keep, with the Irishman needing to be alert to push away a dangerous Antonee Robinson delivery before Bobby Decordova-Reid could pounce. Liverpool were still dangerous, though, and Leno will have felt he should have done better with Diaz's 12th-minute effort.

A second Liverpool goal on the night was chalked off, with Darwin Nunez straying offside before hitting the post and seeing the rebound slotted beyond Leno. Diop's well-taken effort rallied the home fans and worried the visitors, but in the end it wasn't quite enough. Here are Mirror Football 's talking points from a busy night under the lights.

1. A tale of two keepers
With the game so delicately poised before kick-off, there was every chance it would turn on narrow margins. Goalkeepers would need to be at their best, and Bernd Leno was anything but that early on.

After some sharp play from opposite number Kelleher early on, Fulham's German stopper was less convincing. Yes, Diaz's shot took a deflection - possibly two of them - but he was still very slow to get to ground.

Kelleher was called upon again just after the half-hour mark, getting down sharply to push a Raul Jimenez effort away from the bottom corner, and needed a firm hand to keep out Harry Wilson at 1-1. Sometimes, though, a keeper can live or die on whether his nervy moments are punished.

In Kelleher's case, he'll be breathing a sigh of relief after getting away with one. He was firmly second best when challenging Tosin for a high ball, leading to a golden chance for Pereira, but the Fulham man couldn't squeeze the ball into the unguarded net.

2. Bradley won't let himself be targeted
Conor Bradley's run at right-back continued at Craven Cottage, and Fulham appeared ready to target the youngster from the get-go. Left-back Robinson felt as though he was playing as a winger at times, with Willian floating left to support the American up against Bradley.

There were challenges, of course, with the 20-year-old caught too high upfield to leave space for a Fulham attack after the break. However, he didn't appear rattled, returning to his task and still finding time to support his own team's attacks, on one occasion winning the ball back high to provide Ryan Gravenberch with a shooting chance.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders indicated before the game that Trent Alexander-Arnold, the first-choice in Bradley's position, may be available to face Norwich City in the FA Cup. Even if this proves to be Bradley's final game for a while, he hasn't looked one bit out of place.

3. Robertson's return welcome for Reds
 You have to go back more than three months for the last time Andy Robertson took to the field in a Liverpool shirt. He completed the full 90 minutes against Brighton on October 8, only to suffer a shoulder injury four days later while playing for Scotland.

With the experienced defender unavailable, Klopp has tried a number of approaches on the left. He even opted to recall Owen Beck from loan, giving the youngster a Premier League debut at Bournemouth, while it was Joe Gomez who started on the left against Fulham.

Robertson wasn't called upon on this occasion, but just seeing his name on the bench feels like a boost. He could be crucial for Liverpool between now and May.

4. Elliott can benefit from Salah absence
There was a moment towards the end of the first half when Harvey Elliott showed a real moment of quality. First there was his note-perfect collection of the ball, and then he sent in a curling, terrifying ball which the Fulham defence had no answer for.

Darwin Nunez wasn't quite able to bring that one under his spell, but Elliott conducting at will is something the Reds may find themselves getting used to in the coming weeks. Mohamed Salah's injury may impact how Klopp's team use the ball down the right, regardless of how soon Trent Alexander-Arnold is back ready to play a full 90, and that means opportunities for their number 19.

Some members of the home crowd looked to remind their former charge where he came from, but Elliott wasn't letting that distract him. He was cool and calm on the ball throughout, slowing play down and speeding it up as the moments dictated.

5. Liverpool out to avoid Chelsea revenge mission
The final is a repeat of the 2022 showpiece, which came in a season where Liverpool beat Chelsea in both domestic cup finals. While the FA Cup final was a drab affair, the February meeting was far more entertaining as far as goalless draws go.

That game will be best remembered for an epic penalty shoot-out. Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was brought on for the spot-kicks, but ended up skying his effort to make Kelleher Liverpool's match-winner.

Since those two finals, Liverpool and Chelsea have played out three further draws in the Premier League. Will something give next time out, or might we e in line for penalties once again?



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/breaking-liverpool-fulham-highlights-carabao-31960678

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Fulham player ratings - 'Anonymous' 3/10 but 'gamechanger' 8 in Liverpool defeat
Fulham were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool in a tight match at Craven Cottage.

It wasn't to be for Fulham on Wednesday night as a respectable draw against in-form Liverpool wasn't enough to book a ticket to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final.

The Cottagers needed to overturn a 1-0 deficit against the Reds and an early Luis Diaz goal made that task doubly hard as the Colombian pounced on a slow Timothy Castagne. Marco Silva's side slowly worked themselves back into the fixture and piled on the pressure after a second-half goal from the unlikely source of Issa Diop.

Defeat in the semi-final will hurt, but a draw against rampant Liverpool on any other night would be a praiseworthy result for Fulham. Here's how the players got on.

1. Bernd Leno - 6
Could have done better with the goal, but it did take a deflection. Made a couple of nice saves in the second half and was alert to late Liverpool counters.

2. Antonee Robinson - 8
Robinson was superb again and is fast becoming a real star. Lightning quick going forwards and assured in his defensive work all night.

3. Issa Diop - 7
Another decent showing at centre-back and made the type of run Fulham needed their striker to do all game to steal in for the goal.

4. Tosin Adarabioyo - 6
Was sluggish when Liverpool took their early goal but made some vital interventions during the match and carried the ball forwards well.

5. Timothy Castagne - 3
Overpowered by Luis Diaz for the goal and never looked in control of the Liverpool winger. The full-back may have nightmares about the Colombian.

6. Tom Cairney - 7
One of the few Fulham players who looked truly switched on from the beginning. Played some nice balls and was unlucky to receive his yellow card.

7. Joao Palhinha - 6
Palhinha's long legs, as always, were often in the right place. Midfielder perhaps didn't dominate as he has done in the past.

8. Andreas Pereira - 6
Looked well deflated after the Liverpool goal but did fire himself up eventually. Played some nice balls which went to waste.

9. Willian - 6
As always, looked a threat with the ball at his feet and worked some nice opportunities. Never came that close to grabbing a goal.

10. Raul Jiminez - 5
Jiminez had a couple of chances but put in another frustrating performance. Slow when closing down in the first half and misfired a couple of audacious passes. Made Kelleher work in the first half with a shot that reinvigorated Fulham.

11. Bobby Decordova-Reid - 3
Anonymous in his 65 minutes on the pitch except for dithering at a chance early in the second half. A shame as he was a real danger at Anfield earlier this month.

12. SUB - Harry Wilson - 8
Was a gamechanger with his directness after coming on. His brilliant run and pass made the Fulham equaliser.

13. SUB - Kenny Tete - 6
Made some good runs and found himself in a dangerous position later on but perhaps should have spotted Harrison Reed in space on the edge of the box.

14. SUB - Rodrigo Muniz - 5
Very small cameo with little chance to impact the match.

15. SUB - Harrison Reed - 6
Added fresh legs in midfield and tried to busy himself to find another goal for his side.

16. Marek Rodak - N/A
Unused sub.

17. Tim Ream - N/A
Unused sub.

18. Sasa Lukic - N/A
Unused sub.

19. Carlos Vinicius - N/A
Unused sub.

20. Tyrese Francois - N/A
Unused sub.




https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-player-ratings-anonymous-310-but-gamechanger-8-in-liverpool-defeat-4491861

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Precise Liverpool book place in Carabao Cup final despite Harry Wilson inspiring late Fulham charge
Issa Diop set up a grandstand finish but Liverpool held firm

Fulham's hopes of reaching a first-ever Carabao Cup final were killed by Liverpool at Craven Cottage, and this was a decidedly slow death, the Reds picking them off one precise pass at a time.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Anfield a fortnight ago, Fulham were patently aware of the task that confronted them but powerless to prevent Liverpool reaching their record-extending 14th final of this competition, where they will face Chelsea.

 This 1-1 draw had two starkly different periods to it. For the first 75 minutes, it was a wholly one-sided affair, Jurgen Klopp's Premier League leaders enjoying an ominously large share of possession and thwarting everything Fulham tried when they did pinch it.

But when Harry Wilson came on against his former team, he gave Fulham an immediate outlet on the right flank and, indeed, an immediate lift. Luis Diaz's 13th-minute opener feeling an awful long time ago, Wilson popped up on the left, cut inside young Conor Bradley, and crossed for centre-back Issa Diop to bundle home a leveller on the night.

Liverpool rode out the storm, though, and in the end they were the deserved finalists — not necessarily better than Fulham at Anfield earlier this month but markedly better over the course of these 90 minutes.

 They took the lead on 13 minutes in somewhat fortuitous circumstances, though there was nothing lucky about the way Jarred Quansah's outstanding long pass into Diaz made the goal possible.

The fortune was in how Diaz's weak shot deflected off both Joao Palhinha and Tosin Adarabioyo, before squeezing into the net via the post and a soft attempt to keep it out by Bernd Leno.

 Fulham had moments in the first half — like Raul Jimenez's and Willian's long-range efforts which Caoimhin Kelleher was equal to — but they were only ever incidental moments in a half which Liverpool dominated from start to finish.

Andreas Pereira struck the post from a tight angle shortly after the interval — another opportunity which came and went and left many of a Fulham persuasion inside Craven Cottage hoping they would not come to rue it.

 Darwin Nunez, desperate to shake the tagline of misfiring striker for good, forced Leno into a wonderful, sprawling save as Liverpool sought to put victory on the night and, indeed, the tie beyond any doubt.

Instead, Wilson came on, delivered for Diop, and there was hope once more for Fulham.

Only hope, though. Liverpool wound down the clock and walked their final few steps to Wembley. It is they who will grace the national stadium next month, not Fulham.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/liverpool-fc-vs-fulham-result-carabao-cup-2024-b1134663.html

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Silva: Fulham will grow stronger
Marco Silva believes Fulham will grow stronger after missing out on the Carabao Cup final.

The Whites fought hard in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the semi-final second leg at Craven Cottage, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

"It was a difficult match, as we expected," Silva said.

"Performance-wise it wasn't our best, but the players gave everything from the first minute to the last. They showed attitude and commitment, although the first 20 minutes were difficult for us.

"We were not ruthless. We improved in the last 10 minutes in the first half and we started to build late in the second half. We did create some very good chances, but not being ruthless enough means Liverpool are in the final."

It was the club's first-ever appearance in the last four of the competition and boss Silva feels Fulham will benefit from the experience.

He said: "The players will learn not to be so emotional at the beginning of these types of games.

"We are really growing and need to be more mature in these moments.

"We wanted to play better tonight than we did. Sometimes it's not easy to play the good football at this level in the semi-final against a team that is so consistent.

"They (Liverpool) are top of the league for a reason. But for the club it is these moments which allows you to grow."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/silva-fulham-will-grow-stronger

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Marco Silva explains 'nervous' Fulham start as Liverpool prove too strong in Carabao Cup semi-final
Liverpool started well at Craven Cottage and took control of the tie

Marco Silva says Fulham's players will be less "emotional and nervous" once they are used to reaching the latter stages of cup competitions more often.

Wednesday night's 1-1 draw at home against Liverpool saw them knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage, with the Reds reaching next month's final 3-2 on aggregate.

 For Fulham, it was a missed chance to reach their first-ever League Cup final and only a second domestic final in their history, after the 1975 FA Cup final.

"Any club that is not used to being at this stage is going to develop," Silva said following his side's exit.

 "Not being so emotional [and] nervous, at the start of these games comes with experience of these types of games. It is a journey. In some things we are really growing. Last season our Carabao Cup was not good enough. This season we were able to be in the semi-finals.

"It was a difficult match as we expected. Performance-wise it was not our best performance, to be honest. But my players gave everything, with the attitude and commitment that they showed.

 "There were two or three spells that we had, and before they scored we had a big chance with Joao [Palhinha, who] should hit the target in that situation.

"We were not performing at our best level, I have to say. We were not ruthless enough. We knew before the match we wanted to play better tonight than we did. Sometimes it is not possible to play the good football under our plan."

 He said of Liverpool: "They are so, so consistent. They are top of the league for a reason."

Silva's victorious counterpart, Jurgen Klopp, hailed his team's performance after admitting his side could have secured victory earlier in the night.

 The Liverpool boss said: "Pleasing that we got the first goal. I think we could have got the second. We could have put the game to bed tonight but we didn't. Then 1-1. Harry Wilson, another [former] Liverpool boy, so that's great! But we got over the line.

"We are now looking forward to Wembley definitely."

Liverpool's goal on the night was scored by Colombian winger Luis Diaz, who was also their most threatening player at Craven Cottage.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-fulham-liverpool-fc-carabao-cup-semi-final-b1134671.html

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Post-Liverpool Press Conference
Marco Silva rued the lack of a cutting edge in the Second Leg of Fulham's Carabao Cup Semi-Final with Liverpool.

There was nothing to separate the sides on the night, but a 1-1 draw booked the Reds a place in next month's Wembley Final with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Things may have been different, though, had João Palhinha scored early on or Andreas Pereira hadn't hit a post.

"Difficult match, like we expected really," was Silva's assessment. "They were leading 2-1 [from the First Leg], of course, we knew that it was a game where we had to score two to play the Final.

"Performance-wise, overall the game wasn't our best performance, I have to say, but I would prefer to start with the desire and the attitude and the commitment from our players. They gave everything.

"They gave everything from the first minute until the last minute to keep to the Semi-Final open until the last minute of the game.

"First 30 minutes were difficult for us. Probably too emotional, probably a bit more nervous than Liverpool.

"The details make the difference. Tonight, I felt that they were much calmer than us. For them it's another game. And for most of our players, probably apart from three or four or five, it's new for them to play Semi-Finals of this competition.

"We were not able to keep the possession like normally we do, to make three or four passes between us. We lost many, many balls when we were building our attack or moments for our counter-attack as well. Even so, the first big chance was for ourselves.

"Before they scored, we had a big chance with João in that corner, something that we planned with Andreas and the moves inside the box – they were really good. João should hit the target in that situation.

"It's a completely different game probably with that possible goal. We were not ruthless, we were not clinical in that moment.

"And Liverpool scored in a moment that we have to defend much better on our right hand side – a big diagonal from them, first challenge our central defence should be closer in that moment to cover our full-back, and we were not able to do it in the best way, and they scored, creating a more difficult scenario for us.

"We improved a little bit last 10 minutes of the first half. Even so, not enough to score.

"Second half they started better than us, but we started to grow during the game. We knew that we needed a goal to boost the game, to lift the team, to lift the crowd as well.

"We had that moment with Andreas off the post. If we scored 1-1 a little bit earlier it could have been different. And after, when we scored the goal, of course the game became even more emotional.

"The attitude was everything, the players gave everything, but it was not enough. I think [we were] not performing at our best level, I have to say.

"I think we did create some very good chances to score more goals. The truth is we were not ruthless enough, and Liverpool is in the Final."

Fulham's home support never lost faith in the team, with the Cottage experiencing a rocking atmosphere from start to finish – something our Head Coach is always keen to see.

"I think the Club is going to grow with these type of moments, the players as well," he said. "I want to thank our fans because the environment and atmosphere in our stadium was brilliant tonight.

"I know that it's a special night, we're playing a Semi-Final, but we need this type of moments much more because the Club is going to be stronger on the pitch with this type of support from outside."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/january/24/post-liverpool-press-conference/

[Mullers OG]

London world's player rating gave DR 3/10. Generous I would have thought. How the manager continues to pick him ahead of Wilson defies understanding.

Tonight we looked a different side once Wilson came on.

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London world's player rating gave DR 3/10. Generous I would have thought. How the manager continues to pick him ahead of Wilson defies understanding.

Tonight we looked a different side once Wilson came on.

Wilson should have started as he was really motivated and up for it.