League Cup 2024 – Liverpool concedes a draw at Fulham (1-1) but joins Chelsea in the final

Liverpool played to scare themselves, but the Reds will do well at Wembley. Worried in the last quarter of an hour by Fulham’s equalizer, Jürgen Klopp’s players owe their qualification to the 2-1 success of the first leg. Led by a goalscoring Luis Diaz in great form, the Reds will challenge Chelsea in the final of the English League Cup on February 25, and will try to collect a tenth trophy in the competition.

A sigh of relief at the final whistle, which they could have easily done without if they had been more precise in front of goal! Wednesday evening at Craven Cottage, Liverpool controlled the debates for a long time against a Fulham team 13th in the Premier League and very timid, often late behind the passing game of Mac Allister or the strides of Gakpo, Elliott and Luis Diaz. It was also through the Colombian that the first banderilla came, following a marvelous cross from the young Jarell Quansah, 20 years old, impeccable in his kicking game. After eliminating Castagne aggressively, Diaz immediately deceived a guilty Bernd Leno, with a shot from the right to the near post (11th, 1-0).

Diaz at the party, Leno in trouble

Relatively shy during the first leg two weeks ago, the twirling winger had fire in his legs this Wednesday. Of all the good shots, the former Porto man even thought he doubled the lead on a subtle ball from Gakpo that was poorly taken by Nunez (27th), but his acrobatic goal was refused for offside. A relief for Bernd Leno, on the contrary very little in sight in a complicated first period for the Cottagers. The German goalkeeper could even have been the unfortunate hero of a gag goal, when his failed fist clearance bounced off Gakpo (23rd), before flying just over the crossbar.

Very dangerous on the counterattack (30th, 45th, 57th, 63rd), Liverpool could (should?) have doubled the lead on numerous occasions. Instead, the Reds suffered a first warning on a post from Pereira (53rd), before giving in in the last quarter of an hour on a goal from the thigh of Frenchman Issa Diop (77th, 1-1).

The Reds towards a record 10th title

Enough to wake up a previously listless Craven Cottage, for just a few minutes. By the time Jürgen Klopp readjusts his defense with the entry of Konaté, and Liverpool calmly secures the end of the match, get on with it.

By settling for a draw, the Reds qualified for the final of the League Cup, which they won in 2022 after a historic penalty shootout. Their opponent on February 25 will once again be Chelsea, who brilliantly qualified the day before at the expense of Middlesbrough. Hero two years ago thanks to his winning shot, and starter in the Reds’ cup goal this season, Irishman Caoimhín Kelleher will undoubtedly be keen to shine again, to offer his 10th League Cup to Liverpool. An absolute record in England.