Liverpool on the hunt for a quadruple again as Jurgen Klopp call sets the tone

24 January 2024 , 22:24

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The heavyweight rematch is back on at Wembley.

And, incredibly, it leaves Liverpool still chasing trophies on four fronts as they reached next month’s Carabao Cup final. Jurgen Klopp’s men will face Chelsea on Sunday, February 25, in their second Carabao Cup final in three years after coming through a late scare at Craven Cottage.

Fulham defender Issa Diop grabbed a late goal to set up a nail-biting finish to a night which had largely been rather comfortable for Liverpool. But it ended up being no more than a consolation for a memorable cup run for Marco Silva’s men who played well enough but just could not summon up enough spirit to knock Liverpool off course.

Now, Liverpool will face Chelsea again in a repeat of the final two years ago when Klopp’s heroes won a penalty shoot-out and did the same again in the FA Cup final three months later. Liverpool are back in that winning groove as they are top of the Premier League, already in one cup final have a home tie with Norwich in the FA Cup on Sunday and are still in the Europa League.

The fixture list looks pretty daunting but it is wonderful to see Klopp setting the tone by going all-out in the domestic cup competitions again. And let’s not say the Carabao Cup is not worth its place in the English football calendar because the big guns see it as a valuable piece of silverware and if they lift the trophy it will be remembered as another chapter in Klopp’s legacy.

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They made changes, it looked a mix-and-match line-up amid a growing casualty list in the Anfield treatment room but they still had enough quality and promising youngsters to get the job done. Liverpool youngster Jarell Quansah, 20, got the assist for Luis Diaz’s opening goal while Conor Bradley did well as Klopp will have to get through this period using all of his squad.

And judging by Klopp’s smiles at the final whistle and the celebrations in the away end, they are enjoying the ride with another trip to Wembley to come. Fulham gave it a good go, Craven Cottage was loud but is way too charming to be intimidating and they never looked truly capable of repeating the magic of their European run of a few years back.

That never looked likely when Liverpool went ahead after just 11 minutes to give themselves a two-goal aggregate cushion. It was an ugly, sloppy goal. Jarell Quansah’s cross field pass caught out Fulham full back Timothy Castagne, Luis Diaz slipped inside and then darted into the box.

Luis DIaz celebrates his opener for Liverpool (Offside via Getty Images)

Diaz’s shot took a double deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Palhinha but Fulham keeper Bernd Leno still should have saved it rather than just shovel it against the post and in. That just sucked the life out of Craven Cottage and the atmosphere which had been building suddenly fell flat like sticking a pin in a balloon.

Fulham took a long time to regroup, breath deep and go again. Finally, Fulham striker Raul Jimenez hit a low shot which forced Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher into a decent save. Tosin also made a terrific sliding tackle on Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez to show exactly why there has been interest around the Fulham defender who is out of contract in the summer.

Liverpool took charge of the tie when they went ahead after just 11 minutes. Quansah’s cross field pass caught out Fulham full back Timothy Castagne, Luis Diaz slipped inside and then darted into the box.

Diaz’s shot took a double deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Palhinha but Fulham keeper Bernd Leno still should have saved it rather than just shovel it against the post and in. Fulham took a long time to regroup, breath deep and go again.

Issa Diop scored a late equaliser for Fulham, but they ultimately lost 3-2 on aggregate (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Finally, Fulham striker Raul Jimenez hit a low shot which forced Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher into a decent save. Fulham were actually giving a good account of themselves, finding space behind Liverpool’s defence and making chances but they struggled to find the spark or the moment to give them real hope.

Fulham’s Andreas Pereira crashed a shot against the post but then the home side really set up a grandstand finish when Diop scored in the 77th minute. Pereira started the move, substitute Harry Wilson put over a cross and Issa Diop deflected the ball into the net to give Fulham hope.

Sadly for Fulham, it was too little too late. Liverpool weathered the storm and booked their place in another cup final in what is shaping up to be another remarkable season.