THE NOTEBOOK: Trent eyes swift return and Nunez has cult standing

Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo scored three minutes aside as Liverpool fought again from a aim all the way down to beat Fulham 2-1 within the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at a cold Anfield on Wednesday.

Fulham threatened at hand the report nine-time League Cup winners their first residence defeat throughout all competitions this season after Willian scored within the nineteenth minute. Capitalising on Virgil van Dijk‘s poor clearance, the Brazilian slotted residence from the sting of the six-yard field between keeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s legs.

Premier League-leading Liverpool dominated possession and eventually acquired the higher of Fulham’s well-organised again line when Jones netted within the 68th minute, his shot from 25 metres out taking an enormous deflection off the again of Tosin Adarabioyo.

Substitute Gakpo fired Liverpool in entrance within the 71st, tapping in Darwin Nunez‘s cross on the close to publish.

Mail Sport’s Joe Bernstein takes a take a look at among the belongings you may need missed.

Conor Bradley began at right-back towards Fulham in solely his fifth begin for Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold eyes swift return

Conor Bradley’s run within the Liverpool first-team is probably not that in depth with Trent Alexander-Arnold concentrating on the Premier League sport towards Chelsea on January 31 as his return date.

Jurgen Klopp performed the 20-year-old Bradley at proper again towards Fulham in solely the Northern Ireland worldwide’s fifth begin for the membership.

Alexander-Arnold, who has hyper-extended his knee, will now sacrifice the chance to have a ‘break’ or partake in any warm-weather coaching as a way to report back to the AXA Training Centre for each day rehab periods.

The vice-captain will miss the league sport towards Bournemouth on January 21 in addition to Liverpool’s Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg at Fulham and FA Cup fourth spherical tie.

Nunez is reaching cult standing

Darwin Nunez already reaching cult standing at Liverpool. 

Goalscorers Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo should have been puzzled as they celebrated to listen to The Kop chanting ‘Noo-nez, Noo-nez’ as a substitute for offering the assists.

Jurgen Klopp began the Uruguayan on the bench however introduced him on after 56 minutes with Liverpool trailing and the group making their opinion recognized.

Sub Darwin Nunez delighted The Kop by making an immediate influence within the win over Fulham

Willian lastly will get present on the highway

Willian’s tidy end to place Fulham forward after 19 minutes dispelled the notion that he’s one thing of a ‘home bird’ with regards to scoring.

The 35-year-old winger’s earlier eight targets had all been at Craven Cottage and also you had to return to October 2022 at Elland Road towards Leeds for his final away strike.

Another oddity in regards to the Brazilian is he’s already a serial winner in comparison with his newest membership. Willian received the Premier League (twice), FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League in his trophy-laden spell with Chelsea. 

Fulham, nevertheless, are nonetheless ready for the primary main trophy of their historical past.

Tribute to Merseyside soccer legend

Local rivalry was put apart at Anfield for the unhappy passing of Peter Johnson, the one-time chairman of Everton and Tranmere.

Johnson, who died on Wednesday aged 84, was in management at Everton once they received the 1995 FA Cup which stays their final main trophy.

He additionally had three spells at Tranmere the place his backing for Liverpool nice John Aldridge as supervisor led to their look within the 2000 League Cup closing.

Liverpool’s biggest-ever win in home soccer was additionally towards Fulham within the League Cup – a 10-0 romp at Anfield in 1986 when Steve McMahon scored 4. 

Back then, second spherical ties had been performed over two legs and when Kenny Dalglish’s aspect turned up for the return, they had been amused that the Fulham programme carried particulars of extra-time and penalties being required if the general scores had been stage!

Joe Gomez tried to copy the runs of left again regulars Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas

Gomez runs are too left area

Joe Gomez standing in at left again on his 2 hundredth look, tried to copy the runs of regulars Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas but it surely’s truthful to say he appears extra comfy within the deal with. 

Gomez did attempt to take up some superior positions. 

But when he arrived, the standard was missing. 

There had been groans when he sliced a cross or shot into the side-netting.