Fulham 1-1 Liverpool [2-3 on agg.]: Diaz guides Liverpool into Carabao Cup final

Walking out at Wembley for a League Cup final is nothing new for Liverpool, but it will be a novel experience for a lot of the players in Jurgen Klopp’s revamped team.

This competition is often viewed as an ideal opportunity for a burgeoning team to kickstart a run of success — and that chance will come the way of this new-look Liverpool side when they face Chelsea on February 25 in a repeat of the final from two seasons ago.

Luis Diaz’s 11th-minute goal made Liverpool’s first-leg lead even more handsome and from there their appeared to be little jeopardy left in this semi-final against Fulham and wrapping up a place in a record fourteenth final seemed a formality.

Having squandered a good early chance, it felt like the best opportunity for Marco Silva’s side to reach a first major domestic cup final since 1975 had not been grasped. Yet the introduction of Harry Wilson, the Liverpool academy graduate, in the second half gave Fulham renewed belief.

It was the substitute’s cross 13 minutes before the end that allowed centre-back Issa Diop to equalise on the night, narrow Liverpool’s aggregate lead to a single goal and set up a tight and tense finish which few saw coming. It proved too little, too late.

Story of the game

This second leg was always going to be framed by Fulham — the club without a major trophy taking on the nine-time winners of this competition alone.

Not since their journey to the Europa League final in the 2009/10 season had Craven Cottage staged a semi final. That European run not only contained the come-from-behind 2-1 win over Hamburg but also the memorable triumph against Juventus that required a four-goal turnaround.

This League Cup encounter also demanded Fulham to rally against the odds. Klopp’s side had the advantage, had only lost one domestic game this season — the controversial Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur — and had scored in every away game so far.

Yet, it was clear the home crowd were up for the challenge. The sense of excitement was palpable on the walk through Bishops Park and along Stevenage Road on the approach to Fulham’s famous old ground.

These types of games do not come with any kind of regularity on this stretch of the River Thames — this was just the eighth major cup semi final in Fulham’s 145-year history — and it was apparent the locals were keen to enjoy it.

Whereas Silva made just the one change to the team that had pushed Liverpool close in the first leg two weeks ago with club captain Tom Cairney coming in for Harrison Reed in midfield, there were three changes for the visitors and Jarell Quansah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Núñez were in at the start.

Klopp was also able to name Andy Robertson in a matchday squad for the first time since the left-back underwent shoulder surgery in October.

The question was whether the home side could cope with the big-game nerves. Once the flags had been waved and the pyrotechnics gone off, Fulham didn’t settle particularly well. That did not stop them from going close inside eight minutes. Andreas Pereira’s corner was met first time by the unmarked Joao Palhinha close to the penalty spot but his volley sailed over.

Quansah played a big part in the goal that saw Liverpool put the tie in a vice-like grip. His cross-field pass from right to left picked out Diaz on the left and the Colombian outmuscled Timothy Castagne and ran at goal.

Diaz cut inside and used two Fulham defenders to shield his bending shot from Bernd Leno. The ball took a slight deflection on its way towards goal and sneaked in between the Fulham 'keeper and his right-hand post. It was not a great one to concede and Leno beat the ground in frustration.

Avoiding the same fate as Middlesbrough the night before will have been at the forefront of Fulham minds. The home crowd had little to get behind. Raul Jimenez drove a low shot that brought a diving save from Caoimhin Kelleher and the visiting goalkeeper also saved a straight effort from Willian.

The home gallery cried foul when Jimenez went down in the Liverpool area after brushing past Ryan Gravenberch but there was nothing in it. Liverpool remained unflustered and on top and possibly frustration — and desperation — was starting to tell for the hosts.

Klopp’s team might have added to their lead. Nunez threatened, Harvey Elliott relished the boos that came his way as an ex-Fulham player and Diaz was always looking to get in behind.

Fulham struck the post early in the second half with Pereira’s shot from a tight angle coming after Kelleher had failed to deal with a Willian cross. That Liverpool went straight up the other end and Elliott was denied by Leno highlighted their continued threat.

Nunez’s curling effort was also tipped wide and then, when the ball broke for him again, he performed a neat 360 spin before flashing a shot across goal. That proved to be his last involvement as he was replaced by Diogo Jota — however, it was a Fulham substitute who conjured the next goal.

Fulham had never given in and when Wilson came on for Bobby Decordova-Reid, he almost instantly cut past Conor Bradley and darted infield. The substitute’s centre glanced off Quansah and was guided past Kelleher by Diop, a very unlikely goalscorer.

That certainly gave Fulham a new lease of life in the final ten minutes. Wilson again strode forward, this time sending a shot that Kelleher dived to parry. But stopping Liverpool in this competition takes some doing.