2-1: Liverpool bounce back against Fulham without Salah or Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool now has the aura of a good team and even without two great stars, Mohamed Salah (in the Africa Cup) and Alexander-Arnold (injured), they managed to overcome Fulham (2-1) in the first leg of the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

The Reds will have to get used to being without their fearsome right wing this January and this will be a good test. Jürgen Klopp opted to use youth player Bradley as a full-back and Harvey Elliott as a false winger, and the absence of Tsimikas and Robertson also through injury prevented what would have been natural, for Joe Gómez on his natural leg.

But this is what it is. It is not worth complaining though that this carousel of casualties, mixed with new features in the Liverpool eleven, caused stuck attacks without magic throughout the first half. Luis Díaz, who has more offensive responsibility than usual, is a bit lost in the interior areas, wanting to play where he normally doesn’t. There should be more Diego Jota, who could not find a team where Curtis Jones tried to pull the car.

The first half was nothing. Well, instead, just a risky move and it’s in Fulham’s favour. In a game where Van Dijk, uncharacteristically for him, was too soft, Pereira crossed low for the veteran Willian to score against Kelleher (19′). There is no immediate ‘red’ reaction. In fact, it didn’t come until the second half, when the team came out more dominant and moved the ball quickly.

Klopp doesn’t like surprises either, although in a few minutes he almost found another one, and decided to bring in Gakpo and Darwin Núñez to create a team with more punch. It has been proven. In just three minutes, Liverpool changed the score. First with luck, and that was Jones’ shot was deflected by Adarabioyo to deceive Leno (68′) and then Gakpo with a gentle first shot in relation to Darwin (71′). Furthermore, if the third goal did not come, it was because the German goalkeeper wanted to make the night miserable for the Uruguayan, who had two very clear goals but had to settle for his assist and the three points.