HIGHLIGHT : Liverpool player ratings as Conor Bradley and Darwin Nunez steal show vs Fulham

OPINIONLiverpool player ratings as Conor Bradley and Darwin Nunez steal show vs Fulham

Ian Doyle rates the Liverpool players after the 2-1 win against Fulham at Anfield in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday evening

 

 

The outstanding Conor Bradley celebrates with goalscorer Cody Gakpo after he linked up with fellow substitute Darwin Nunez to put Liverpool 2-1 up against Fulham (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

 

Liverpool came from behind to ensure a slender first-leg advantage in their League Cup semi-final against Fulham.

 

Two goals in three second-half minutes from Curtis Jones and substitute Cody Gakpo turned the game on its head after Willian had given Fulham a deserved first-half lead.

Caoimhin Kelleher

Conor Bradley 8

 

Roused the crowd with tackles on Robinson and Willian first half and a constant attacking threat and tenacious at both ends. Very encouraging.

 

Ibrahima Konate 6

 

Saw plenty of possession but unable to do much when bringing it out from the back first half. Better as game progressed.

 

Virgil van Dijk 6

 

Back from illness but didn’t look his best first half, indecisive with clearing header for Fulham opener and unsure on a number of other occasions. Improved considerably second half. Booked.

 

Joe Gomez 6

 

Not quite as sure-footed defensively as of late but able to push forward regularly, and fired one effort wide. Vital clearance second half.

 

Alexis Mac Allister 7

 

Looked to inject much-needed tempo with some of his passing, which didn’t always come off first half but much more influential as Liverpool stepped up gears.

 

Ryan Gravenberch 5

 

Occasional good pressing moments but far too loose in possession at times and kept hold of ball too long. Wide with one effort second half. Subbed.

 

Curtis Jones 7

 

Probed during the opening quarter but guilty of losing the ball a few times in dangerous areas before break. Kept going and willingness to shoot paid off with deflected equaliser.

 

Harvey Elliott 6

 

Got into some good positions that weren’t seen by his team-mates, but also ran into a few too many dead ends. Slightly better when drifting into central areas briefly after break. Subbed.

 

Diogo Jota 6

 

Not involved anywhere near enough first half as Liverpool created not very much. Shifted into several positions after break and started find openings, and involved in build-up to both goals.

 

Luis Diaz 6

 

Plenty of endeavour and pressed well but biggest contribution first half was good covering challenge on Cordova-Reid. Quiet after that.

 

SUBS

 

Darwin Nunez (for Gravenberch 56) 8

 

Not always the most elegant but could claim an assist for equaliser and did very well to set up second, and forced Fulham goalkeeper Leno into three fine saves.

 

Cody Gakpo (for Elliott 56) 7

 

Played on the right side and put in a proper shift which was rewarded with excellent finish for the winner.

 

 

 

Full Time: Liverpool 2-1 Fulham –

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GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Fulham (Willian, 19)

 

Well that has come against the run of play…

 

I said Fulham might have to wait for a slip – and a rare error from Virgil van Dijk has helped Fulham take the lead in this tie with their first attack!

 

The Dutchman misjudges a header, presenting the ball to Andreas Pereira, who cuts the ball back to Willian.

 

The Brazilian has so much to do, but he rides a tackle before showing some neat footwork and then striking beyond

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“Opportunity knocks for Conor Bradley with Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured. The 20-year-old starts at right-back following an eye-catching cameo in the FA Cup win over Arsenal.

 

1. “The Northern Ireland international has big boots to fill and this is only his second start of the season. But he’ll hope to show his attacking qualities tonight having chipped in with five goals and four assists during a fine season on loan at Bolton last term.”

Klopp also swaps five

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also rings the changes, returning to a more familiar team.

 

Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz keep their places following the FA Cup win over Arsenal.

 

Caoimhin Kelleher starts his 10th game of the season in goal, while Virgil van Dijk returns. Diogo Jota and Ryan Gravenberch are also in from the off, whike Conor Bradley replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

 

 

 

Five Fulham changes

Marco Silva reverts to a more familiar starting lineup from the one that started the FA Cup third round win over Rotherham last week, as Marek Rodak, Kenny Tete, Sasa Lukic, Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz drop to the bench.

 

In come Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, Joao Palhinha, Willian and Raul Jimenez.

 

 

Fulham team news

Starting XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, De Cordova-Reid, Andreas, Willian, Jimenez.

 

Subs: Rodak, Tete, Ream, Lukic, Francois, Cairney, Wilson, Muniz, Vinicius.

 

 

Liverpool team news

Starting XI: Kelleher, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Gravenberch, Bradley.

 

Subs: Alisson, Nunez, Gakpo, Clark, Gordon, McConnell, Beck, Quansah, Nyoni.

 

 

Gomez: We have fire to succeed on all fronts

Joe Gomez insists Liverpool will not get giddy at the prospect of another potential quadruple tilt, but has acknowledged there is a fire in the squad to achieve this season.

 

The Premier League leaders continue to battle on four fronts after they progressed into the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Arsenal.

 

Next on the agenda for Jurgen Klopp’s team is Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Fulham, but Gomez says there is no prospect of complacency creeping in.

 

He said: “We don’t want to get giddy. We’re all just full of desire and want to make the best out of the season.

 

“All we can do is take it one game at a time. I know it’s a cliche, but there’s desire and we have a platform to build on.

 

“We can’t take that for granted, as we know with last season it’s not always plain-sailing and we went through rough patches but we built from it and learnt from it. So, we have to keep at it and see where it takes us.”

 

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It’s mixed news for Liverpool in defence ahead of their semi-final clash

 

Liverpool could tonight welcome back Virgil van Dijk for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham.

 

Van Dijk missed the FA Cup win over Arsenal due to illness, but Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders confirmed that the centre-back is available to face Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday night.

 

He said: “Virgil ran yesterday [Monday], while we were doing the training with the subs. He did a few jogs and was smiling and looked good. He will be back. He will be back.”

 

Alexander-Arnold, however, suffered a knee injury against the Gunners, and he is now expected to miss about three weeks of action.

 

It means the full-back is expected to miss both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final, a Premier League clash against Bournemouth and an FA Cup match at home to Norwich or Bristol Rovers. He faces a race to prove his fitness ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Anfield on January 31.

 

 

THE REDS WILL BE WITHOUT TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD AT ANFIELD

REUTERS

 

“He hyperextended his knee in the game,” Lijnders said of Alexander-Arnold.

 

“There’s a little tear in the collateral ligament. He will be out probably three weeks. A big blow — he was one of our most important players, creates a lot of dynamics and is always decisive. Even in bad spells, he was the one who put the ball where it would make the difference. We will have to find new dynamics without him.”

 

Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas all remain on the sidelines, but Lijnders was positive when asked about the four players’ potential returns.

 

“Dom is progressing well on the pitch, running, so he’s not far away,” he said. “Robbo is on the third month mark, so he has another scan and if that goes well then we can decide when to have more contact. That’s the tricky thing with this injury.

 

“Kostas is going as quickly as expected. Robbo and Kostas will be back probably at the end of this month training with the team. Stefan and Thiago will be into next month, but no complications so that is good.”

 

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Northern Irish right-back Conor Bradley could come in for Alexander-Arnold against Fulham, while Joe Gomez should again start at left-back, where Robertson and Tsimikas remain unavailable. In goal, Lijnders has confirmed that Caoimhin Kelleher will start.

 

There remains no Mohamed Salah due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, nor Wataru Endo, due to compete for Japan at the Asian Cup.

 

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez; Elliott, Gravenberch, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz

 

Injuries: Alexander-Arnold, Tsimikas, Thiago, Szoboszlai, Robertson, Bajcetic, Matip

 

Unavailable: Salah (AFCON), Endo (Asian Cup)

 

Date and time: 8pm GMT, Wednesday January 10, 2024

 

Venue: Anfield