Bill, Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp jogs across the pitch to the Liverpool dugout as two columns of fire blast skywards on the edge of the pitch.

Fulham really could not do much more to raise the atmosphere here. Now it is down to their players.

Fulham

Fulham boss Marco Silva speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off: "Of course we trust ourselves and we believe we can change the result - we are playing against a top side.

"Even the two games this season at Anfield we have shown out capacity and we have a huge opportunity [tonight].

"We will do our best to get to Wembley."

Fulham fans were urged to bring the atmosphere and they are doing just that. There's black and white flags being waved around the ground as the pre-match music belts out.

Five minutes until kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

A reminder that for whoever comes out on top tonight and progresses to the final they will face Chelsea.

The Blues have struggled for goals at times this season but put on a clinical display last night as they thrashed Championship side Middlesbrough 6-1.

Chelsea scored four times in the first half through a Jonny Howson own goal, Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer.

Palmer's second and Noni Madueke completed the rout, before Morgan Rogers scored a consolation.

Read Emma Smith's report on the match here.

Anon

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

The English Football League says it will keep two-legged semi-finals in the Carabao Cup for the 2024-25 season.

But BBC Sport understands the EFL is willing to change the format if it can strike a deal with the Premier League.

The EFL is frustrated the Premier League has not agreed to send more funds to the lower leagues.

EFL chairman Rick Parry told a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing last week that two-legged semis would not be scrapped without a deal.

"As it stands there is no agreement in place to make any changes to the Carabao Cup's two-legged semi-final format, which continues to provide significant financial benefit to EFL clubs," said EFL chief executive Trevor Birch as the EFL announced its 2024-25 calendar on Wednesday.

"The League remains committed to a review of the calendar, but any significant changes cannot be made unilaterally, and would need to come with significant levels of compensation and adopted as part of any new distribution deal with the Premier League and its clubs."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has praised the Reds' attackers for stepping up when needed.

Egypt international Mohamed Salah has picked up an injury while on international duty that is set to keep him out for three weeks.

In Liverpool's last game - a 4-0 win against Bournemouth - both Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota scored twice.

"That's the sign of a good squad and of the character, passion and ambition of the players we have. That includes all of them," Lijnders said.

"I'm really happy with how Darwin [Nunez], Lucho [Luis Diaz], Diogo [Jota], Harvey [Elliott] and Cody [Gakpo] all step up in different moments."

Image source, Getty Images

Marco Silva has called on the home fans to make themselves heard as Fulham bid to reach the EFL Cup final for the first time.

"They [the home fans] are going to be crucial, they are going to play a big part," Silva said.

"We need them behind us. Some moments we are going to be playing well; other moments probably Liverpool will make us suffer.

"We need them always behind the team to make Craven Cottage really difficult for Liverpool.

"In these types of games, the crowd can make a big impact. We had good examples at Anfield with the two games we played there.

"We were playing so good and, in tough moments for Liverpool, they are always there and pushed the team forward. That's what we need from our fans [on Wednesday].

"I'm sure they will be with us and they will play a big part in it."

Fulham have this season managed to progress past the quarter-finals in the EFL Cup for the first time since the 2004/05 campaign, when West London rivals Chelsea beat them 2-1 in the semis.

The last time Liverpool knocked Fulham out of the EFL Cup was in December 2000. Fulham travelled to Anfield that evening and managed to push the Reds into extra-time.

However, a three goal onslaught in the final 30 minutes saw the Cottagers knocked out of the cup.

Ryan

Liverpool

Liverpool's Joe Gomez, speaking to Sky Sports before the game: "Obviously it is a big game and we know we need to try get the job done.

"The gaffer has emphasised on winning the game and we are hoping to progress."

On being Liverpool's longest serving player: "It is surreal I came to Liverpool and learned from the likes of you [Daniel Sturridge].

"I have just enjoyed the process and the journey, it is about getting success for the club and the team."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger

Liverpool have built an almost entirely new team over the past couple of seasons, developed an impressive crop of youngsters and are top of the league while losing only one domestic game so far this season (and that was the nine-man VAR farce at Spurs).

It all looks very impressive; in fact they probably deserve even more credit than they have got, and they haven’t spent £1bn getting there.

Victory over Bournemouth on Sunday took Liverpool five points clear at the top of the Premier League, continuing their impressive turnaround from last season, when Jurgen Klopp's side finished fifth.

Former Reds defender Stephen Warnock tells The Football News Show why he would still prefer to watch the 2019-20 title-winning team, even though the current side may carry more creativity and unpredictability.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer and above.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has hailed "world class" team-mate Diogo Jota for his ability to get goals for the side.

The Portugal international has hit the ground running since his return from injury in December, scoring three goals and providing four assists in five games.

It has been a timely return for Jota with the Reds' now injured forward and top goalscorer Mohamed Salah on international duty with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking to the club website, Jones said: "I'm at the point now where I call [Jota] 'the ghost' because he's one of them where you think he's not involved in the game, and then he'll pick up the ball and it'll turn into a goal.

"I've been around a lot of world-class strikers from my academy days into the under-21s and then the [senior] team and he's right up there. When the game isn't going his way, it's quite easy for a striker to not be on the ball and not impact the game, but Jots is always in the game."

Image source, .

Sammy James, Fulhamish, external: It has felt like a long time to wait, but I am so excited for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool.

Craven Cottage might not be top of the list when people think of great atmospheres, but on special occasions such as our Europa League run in 2010, it has the ability to be an incredible venue.

To win this game, we are going to have to summon the spirit of all the special nights over the years like Juventus, Hamburg and the Derby play-off semi-final in 2018 and channel them into this one match of football.

This is a chance for Marco and his team to make history. To be the first Fulham team to reach a domestic cup final since 1975. Us FFC fans know that this team has the ability to beat anyone - hopefully they can turn up and achieve what they deserve.

For me, the key is to stay in it - an early goal for them would be very difficult to recover from. If we can get the first goal, then I really think the game will be there for the taking.

Good luck, lads. Here's hoping this game can go down in Craven Cottage folklore too

Fulham

Fulham's goalkeeper Bernd Leno, speaking to Sky Sports before the game: "You can feel it and you can smell it! It is a big moment for us and the club, hopefully it will be a special night.

"Of course at home we have had some great results, we won against Arsenal and Liverpool will know what to expect. We will try to take advantage of our home fans.

"It is about emotional control today, hopefully we can turn these emotions in the right way."

Speaking of Cody Gakpo, he could make history tonight by becoming the first player in Liverpool's history to score in five consecutive League Cup fixtures.

As well as his winner in the first leg, he also scored against West Ham, Bournemouth and Leicester City in previous rounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have the advantage in the tie after beating Fulham 2-1 in the first leg at Anfield.

Willian had given the visitors a first-half lead but the Reds turned it around with second-half strikes from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.

There are two Fulham changes from the side who lost to Chelsea in the Premier League.

Timothy Castagne and Bobby De Cordova-Reid are in for Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez.

Liverpool make four changes from the 4-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend.

Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch replace Alisson, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Elliott, Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez.