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Liverpool are 90 minutes away from a return to Wembley, however they nonetheless have loads of work to do to get past Fulham and into the League Cup ultimate.
Fulham vs. Liverpool
League Cup semi-final second leg | Craven Cottage
January 24, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)
The Reds had been pressured to return from behind within the first leg two weeks in the past to provide themselves a bonus at Craven Cottage, with quickfire targets from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo sufficient to seal a 2-1 win at Anfield.
The return leg awaits on Wednesday evening, when Jurgen Klopp’s facet shall be seeking to e book their place within the League Cup ultimate for the second time in three seasons.
Right here’s a take a look at all the pieces you’ll have to know forward of Fulham vs. Liverpool
1. Crew information
It has been a tough few months on the health entrance for Liverpool, however they appear set to probably welcome one participant again into the fold on Wednesday night.
Andy Robertson has been declared match to affix the squad for the journey to London, having been out of motion with a dislocated shoulder since October.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold will hopefully not be far behind him, however Wednesday evening is ready to return barely too quickly for each.
2. Gakpo eyeing historical past
Cody Gakpo might write his identify into the membership’s file books ought to be get on the scoresheet at Craven Cottage.
The Dutchman would develop into the first-ever Liverpool participant to register a purpose in 5 successive matches within the competitors, having netted in each spherical of the competitors up to now this season.
He actually appears to love the League Cup!
3. No away targets – penalties doable
As is now the case in Europe, away targets don’t apply within the League Cup semi-final, which means any win by one purpose for Fulham would lengthen the competition into further time.
The match is not going to go straight to penalties, because it does after 90 minutes within the earlier rounds, however we might see spot-kicks if the combination rating stays degree after two hours.
Let’s simply hope it doesn’t come to that!
4. Not a foregone conclusion
Followers are naturally starting to dream of one other journey to Wembley, however the rating is on no account settled on this cup tie.
The hosts knocked Tottenham out of the competitors within the second spherical again in August and have received six of their 10 residence video games within the Premier League up to now this season.
5. Optimistic away fortunes
That stated, Liverpool themselves boast a formidable file on the highway this season, topping the league by way of away type with six wins from 11.
It was one other spectacular outing away to Bournemouth on the weekend, and the Reds shall be seeking to proceed that pattern on Wednesday evening.
It’s a far cry from final season’s away fortunes, with Liverpool having already picked up as might league wins on their travels as they managed in the entire of the 2022/23 season.
6. Hunt for double figures
Liverpool are bidding to develop into the primary workforce within the competitors’s historical past to achieve 10 League Cup triumphs, having re-established their place because the cup’s most profitable workforce by lifting the trophy in 2021/22.
The opposite finalists that yr had been Chelsea, however they should overturn a 1-0 deficit towards Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening if they’re to arrange the opportunity of a re-run.
The Reds have reached the final 4 a formidable 19 instances in 58 makes an attempt, and have received 13 of their 18 semi-final ties up to now.
7. Craven Cottage file
Solely a win will suffice for Fulham if they’re to have a chace of reaching their first-ever League Cup ultimate, one thing they haven’t achieved on this fixture at Craven Cottage in over 12 years.
The hosts had been 1-0 winners over the Reds again in 2011 with a facet that included Danny Murphy, when a late Clint Dempsey strike was sufficient for Martin Jol’s facet to select up all three factors.
That drought does solely account for 5 matches, nevertheless, with the Lilywhites having had plenty of spells within the Championship during the last decade.
8. Probability for six in a row
Liverpool are quietly placing collectively one other spectacular successful run, with an ideal file in 2024 up to now and 5 consecutive victories in all competitions.
A draw can be sufficient to make sure the Reds are within the Wembley showpiece on the finish of subsequent month, however a victory and one other assertion efficiency would do confidence no hurt for what continues to be to return.
9. Unpopular referee – and no VAR
Simon Hooper – the person within the center for Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed purpose at Tottenham in November – is accountable for this one, and he’ll accomplish that with out the help of VAR.
It had been deliberate for the expertise to be launched at this stage within the competitors, however Middlesbrough’s development to the final 4 means that we’ll now have to attend till the ultimate as a result of lack of VAR at Championship stadiums.
Hooper shall be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Simon Lengthy on the touchlines, with Tony Harrington on fourth official obligation.
10. Preserve up to date with us!
In the event you’re in search of biased, by-the-minute commentary of all the pieces occurring at Craven Cottage then look no additional than TIA’s very personal matchday liveblog!
As at all times, we’re readily available to deliver you the newest from one other big sport, and our protection begins at round 7.15pm (GMT) on our web site.
Let’s get again to Anfield south!
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