Liverpool v Fulham player ratings: Jones 8, Nunez 7; Willian 7, Jimenez 5

Merseysiders beat Fulham 2-1 in League Cup semi-final first-leg at Anfield

Caoimhin Kelleher 7/10

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Struggled in Premier League fixture between two sides last month but no problems here. Had no chance with Willian’s early goal. Regulation save when De Cordova Reid shot from tight angle on the hour was extent of second-half efforts. ReutersShow less

Conor Bradley 6/10

The 20-year-old right-back found Robinson and William tough customers, particularly in first half when the Brazilian hurdled his tackle before scoring. More solid after break and set-up great chance for Nunez with perfect cross. Getty ImagesShow less

Ibrahima Konate 8/10

Man of the match in the FA Cup win at Arsenal on Sunday, the French defender was strong, quick and composed again here. Reuters

Virgil van Dijk 7/10

Liverpool’s captain was guilty of rare error that led to Fulham’s opener. Harsh booking for putting hand into face of Pereira who went down as if he’d been punched. Sailed through rest of game untroubled. APShow less

Joe Gomez 7/10

Playing his 200th game for club, cracked decent effort just wide of Leno’s goal as wait for first Liverpool goal goes on. Continues to fill in at left-back impressively. AFP

Alexis Mc Allister 7/10

Argentine was strong presence in middle of park, winning the ball back impressively on several occasions, testing keeper Leno with one curling effort from out wide in second half. PA

Ryan Gravenberch 6/10

Former Bayern Munich midfielder’s impact in first half was negligible but came to life after break dragging a shot from edge of area just wide of target - but was still hooked before hour mark. AFP

Curtis Jones 8/10

Drilled game’s first shot straight at keeper in sixth minute then did the same at start of second half. Levelled for Liverpool in 67th minute after shot from outside box took huge deflection off Tosin. In great form at moment. ReutersShow less

Harvey Elliott 6/10

Elliott, who made his pro debut for Fulham and was jeered by away fans throughout, would have been relieved to see linesman raise his flag when he sliced over great chance minutes after Fulham took lead. Struggled to make impact and was replaced early in second half. AFPShow less

Diogo Jota 7/10

Tireless effort from Portuguese and his pressing on Fulham’s backline would have delighted manager Jurgen Klopp. Fizzed one cross-come-shot across face of goal in 15th minute. Blasted another strike over bar 13 minutes from time. AFPShow less

Luis Diaz 6/10

Very quiet opening 45 minutes from Colombian and Liverpool’s attacking trio in general. More threat after break but it was Liverpool’s attacking substitutes that changed game. Getty Images

Darwin Nunez 8/10

SUBS: (On for Elliott 56’) Supplied assist with perfect cut-back for fellow substitute Gapko’s goal that put Liverpool 2-1 up. Denied hat-trick by three fine Leno saves. Getty Images

FBL-ENG-LCUP-LIVERPOOL-FULHAM

Cody Gakpo : 7/10 (On for Gravenberch 56’) Lovely first-time finish to put team in front at Anfield. AFP

Bernd Leno 8/10

FULHAM RATINGS: Would have been surprised at how little he was tested in first half as Liverpool managed just one shot on target. No chance with deflected Jones goal or Gapko finish after break. Three excellent stops to deny Reds substitute Nunez. APShow less

Timothy Castagne 7/10

Brilliant recovery tackle just after half-time prevented Jota having what would have been a clear shot at goal. Comfortable until last 20 minutes when Fulham defence finally cracked against Liverpool pressure. PAShow less

Tosin Adarabioyo 6/10

Sloppy pass handed early chance to Jones and looked an accident waiting to happen trying to play out from back. Unfortunate when he deflected Jones’ shot past Leno and into the net. Reuters

Issa Diop 6/10

While his centre-back partner was taking risks, former West Ham defender Diop was much more no-nonsense and looked fairly comfortable until introduction of Nunez. Gave Gakpo too much space for second goal. APShow less

Antonee Robinson 7/10

Regularly bombed forward down left wing on overlap and sent over a number of dangerous crosses in first half. Less so after break. Important block denied Jota shot at goal after break. AFP

Harrison Reed 8/10

Impressive pressing and distribution - both long and short, including one glorious cross-field pass to Willian on the left in first half - despite apparent illness. Clobbered by Kelleher just before break but able to come out for second half. PAShow less

Joao Palhinha 7/10

Portuguese midfielder is one of Premier League’s finest at hoovering up any mess in front of the defence. Has lovely ability to nick ball of opponent’s toes and rarely gives ball away. Reuters

Bobby De Cordova-Reid 6/10

Went looking for what would have been his third goal in three games just after the hour mark but saw shot saved when a ball across six-yard box to Palhina would have given his teammate an open goal. Liverpool levelled minutes later. PAShow less

Andreas Pereira 6/10

Claimed assist for Willian’s goal after being gifted possession by Van Dijk. Rolled around in embarrassing fashion after Dutch defender’s hand touched his face not long after. Cracked long-range effort straight at keeper. AFPShow less

Willian 7/10

Brazilian, making 50th appearance for club, showed great skill and composure to drill Fulham into a 19th-minute lead with their first attempt at goal. Getty Images

Raul Jimenez 5/10

Has re-found scoring touch of late but never threatened the Liverpool goal at Anfield. One failed attempt at a Showboating Rabona cross in second half sailed out for goal kick when teammates were waiting in penalty area. APShow less

Harry Wilson 6/10

SUBS: (On for Willian 73’) Brought on against former club who had just taken the lead and offered little bar picking up booking for hauling down Jones. Reuters

BRITAIN SOCCER

Tom Cairney : 6/10 (On for Pereira 73’) Club captain could not help turn the game back in Fulham’s favour. EPA

Liverpool fought back from a goal down to beat Fulham 2-1 at Anfield in the League Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield on Wednesday.

Fulham had taken a first-half lead through Willian's composed finish and could have made it 2-0 after the break had Bobby De Cordova-Reid squared the ball to teammate Andreas Pereira instead of going for goal himself and seeing his shot saved.

It was to prove a key moment in the game as Curtis Jones levelled for Liverpool in the 68th minute with a deflected strike. Darwin Nunez set-up fellow substitute Cody Gakpo to score what turned out to be the winner on the night three minutes later.

Nunez was also denied three times by good saves from Fulham goalkeeper Bern Leno meaning Liverpool will only have a one-goal advantage when they head to Craven Cottage for the second leg on January 24.

“[Curtis Jones] got a very important goal to get us back in the game and after that I felt we really dominated, not only with possession but creating chances and then the second so I was happy,” Gakpo told Sky Sports after the match.

“It's the mentality in the group, in the club, in the city, everyone is like this mentality of just keep going and it doesn't matter what happens and we showed that again today. If you have that mentality a lot of things can happen.

“I love playing with these guys. We showed good mentality and have to keep going as it's only the first leg of this game.”

Jurgen Klopp's men have now fallen behind in 14 games this season, but have lost just three and needed their powers of recovery once more after a sluggish first half.

Fulham could not have wished for a better start when Willian opened the scoring on 19 minutes.

Virgil van Dijk was at fault as his weak header was pounced on by Andreas Pereira.

Willian then got the break of the ball inside the penalty area before firing through Van Dijk's legs beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.

The Liverpool captain was then lucky to escape a second yellow card before half time as Van Dijk trod on Pereira.

Fulham were again left to curse their fortune after the break, but the visitors were architects of their own downfall for not taking the chance to extend their lead.

Klopp left his midfield wide open as he threw on Gakpo and Nunez to form a front four alongside Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

But before the home side turned the game around, Fulham had multiple opportunities to pick them off on the counter-attack.

De Cordova-Reid wasted the best of them when he forced Kelleher into a comfortable save with Pereira begging for a cross.

Liverpool were struggling to make their numbers in attacking areas count until Jones' long-range effort deflected off the unfortunate Tosin Adarabioyo and beyond the helpless Bernd Leno.

Moments later the record nine-time League Cup winners led. The substitutes combined as Nunez's low cross was turned home by Gakpo at the near post.

But Leno then won his personal duel with Nunez three times in the final 20 minutes to keep Fulham in the tie. The German goalkeeper was stretched by a towering header and blast from a tight angle by the Uruguayan.

Leno's best stop, though, came five minutes from time when the former Arsenal goalkeeper spread himself to block from a narrow angle.

“You cannot concede another goal, you have to manage the game,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva. “A fast counter attack away from home, drawing in a competition where you have the second game at home, you cannot concede.

“The reality is that they score in that moment. But OK, they are winning 2-1 at half time, we have a game to play at home and we are for sure going to fight for it. We are going to do our best to play in the final.”