Carabao Cup: Fulham vs Liverpool Live
Preview
Competing for the opportunity to secure a match at Wembley against either Chelsea or Middlesbrough, Fulham and Liverpool will face off in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Craven Cottage on Wednesday. Fulham initially took the lead in their first meeting at Anfield two weeks ago, but ultimately fell victim to a comeback by Liverpool, resulting in a 2-1 loss. However, the outcome of the upcoming match is still uncertain.
In December, the cottagers showed their ability to score goals against Liverpool, despite ultimately losing 4-3. Marco Silva’s team surprised the home crowd by scoring through Willian after just 19 minutes, taking advantage of a mistake by Virgil van Dijk. Fulham’s strong defense held out until Curtis Jones scored an equalizer, followed by Cody Gakpo’s goal, leading to a typical Liverpool comeback. The additions of Gakpo and Darwin Nunez proved to be Fulham’s downfall, but their fans remained optimistic as they look forward to their first-ever Carabao Cup semi-final.
Fulham aims to overcome the odds and become the 37th team to reach the Carabao Cup final, despite historical statistics showing that only 25% of first-leg losers have successfully turned the tie around. Fulham’s morale took a hit in a recent match against Chelsea, but they now prepare to face Liverpool at a ground where they have had success in their recent matches.
The cottagers has not lost a home Carabao Cup match while in the top flight since September 2007. However, Liverpool has a strong track record of advancing to the final when winning the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final, with only one instance of being denied by Middlesbrough in the 1997-98 season. Liverpool is now close to making their 14th appearance in the Carabao Cup final as they pursue multiple trophies.
After defeating Marco Silva’s men, the reds went on to secure a 4-0 victory against Bournemouth, extending their lead in the Premier League. They have achieved five consecutive wins in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in each game and maintaining a clean sheet in their last three away matches. Despite previous draws at Craven Cottage, another draw would be satisfactory for the reds in their upcoming match.
Head-to-head
The reds has won three consecutive games against Fulham, but all three were played at Anfield. The last two matches between these teams at Craven Cottage ended in a draw.
Prediction
Fulham has been the first to score in all five of their EFL Cup matches this season. Given Liverpool’s slow start in the 2023-24 season, Craven Cottage could be energized by an early goal on Wednesday. Silva’s team must be aggressive, and although Liverpool’s defense may struggle, their strong attackers could retaliate and secure a win to advance to Wembley.
