Liverpool staged another comeback after losing first, leading 2-1 over Fulham in the second leg of their League Cup semifinal.
Willian put the visitors ahead in their first-ever League Cup semi-final at Anfield.
Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo scored twice in three second-half minutes, giving the Reds a slim lead heading into the second leg at Craven Cottage on January 24.
Jurgen Klopp’s side has already trailed in 14 games this season, but have only lost three, relying on their recovery abilities once more following a slow start.
Fulham’s start could not have been better, with Willian opening the score on 19 minutes.
Virgil van Dijk was twice at fault, as Andreas Pereira capitalised on his weak header.
Willian then received the ball inside the penalty area and fired through Van Dijk’s legs, past Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Liverpool skipper was then fortunate to avoid a second yellow card before halftime as Van Dijk stepped on Pereira.
Fulham were once again left cursing their luck after the break, but the visitors were the architects of their own demise by failing to take advantage of the opportunity to expand their lead.
Klopp left his midfield wide open, bringing in Gakpo and Darwin Nunez to form a front four with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
But, before the home team turned the game around, Fulham had several chances to catch them on the counter-attack.
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Bobby De Cordova-Reid squandered the best of them as he forced Kelleher into a comfortable save while Pereira and Raul Jimenez begged for a cross.
Liverpool were trying to make their attacking numbers count until Jones’ long-range shot rebounded off the unfortunate Tosin Adarabioyo and past the helpless Bernd Leno.
Moments later, the record nine-time League Cup champions took the lead.
Gakpo converted Nunez’s low cross at the near post after the substitutes combined.
However, Leno won his personal combat with Nunez three times in the closing 20 minutes, keeping Fulham in the tie.
The Uruguayan stretched the German goalkeeper with a thunderous header and a blast from a tight angle.
Leno’s best save came five minutes from time, when the former Arsenal goalkeeper extended himself to block from a tight angle.
Liverpool remain strong favourites to face Middlesbrough or Chelsea in the Wembley final next month.
Fulham, on the other hand, has a chance of winning the second leg at home.
AFP