‘Never take these things for granted’ – Liverpool set up Chelsea final

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

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.

Player of the match

DíazLuis Díaz

with an average of 8.26

Fulham

1. Squad number8Player nameWilson

   Average rating

   6.36

2. Squad number20Player nameWillian

   Average rating

   5.54

3. Squad number26Player nameJoão Palhinha

   Average rating

   5.48

4. Squad number33Player nameRobinson

   Average rating

   5.44

5. Squad number21Player nameCastagne

   Average rating

   5.32

6. Squad number7Player nameJiménez

   Average rating

   5.29

7. Squad number10Player nameCairney

   Average rating

   5.28

8. Squad number4Player nameTosin

   Average rating

   5.27

9. Squad number17Player nameLeno

   Average rating

   5.25

10. Squad number2Player nameTete

    Average rating

    5.19

11. Squad number6Player nameReed

    Average rating

    5.11

12. Squad number31Player nameDiop

    Average rating

    5.08

13. Squad number18Player nameAndreas Pereira

    Average rating

    4.96

14. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo Muniz

    Average rating

    4.94

15. Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid

    Average rating

    4.79

Liverpool

1. Squad number7Player nameDíaz

   Average rating

   8.26

2. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister

   Average rating

   8.14

3. Squad number84Player nameBradley

   Average rating

   8.14

4. Squad number2Player nameGomez

   Average rating

   8.08

5. Squad number4Player namevan Dijk

   Average rating

   8.05

6. Squad number9Player nameNúñez

   Average rating

   8.04

7. Squad number78Player nameQuansah

   Average rating

   8.01

8. Squad number62Player nameKelleher

   Average rating

   7.81

9. Squad number19Player nameElliott

   Average rating

   7.78

10. Squad number18Player nameGakpo

    Average rating

    7.66

11. Squad number38Player nameGravenberch

    Average rating

    7.59

12. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota

    Average rating

    7.53

13. Squad number5Player nameKonaté

    Average rating

    7.23

14. Squad number17Player nameJones

    Average rating

    7.18

15. Squad number42Player nameClark

    Average rating

    7.14