Fulham

Fulham manager Marco Silva, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "You cannot concede another goal, you have to manage the game. A fast counter attack away from home, drawing in a competition where you have the second game at home, you cannot concede.

"The reality is that they score in that moment. But OK, they are winning 2-1 at half time, we have a game to play at home and we are for sure going to fight for it. We are going to do our best to play in the final."

On his message to the players ahead of the second leg: "Of course that is the message [Fulham can take it to this Liverpool side]. I told the players that straight away. We believe in ourselves, and we will fight for it until the very end. It is an ambition for us. It is going to be difficult for us, but it is going to be difficult for Liverpool too.

"We play at home, it is important for our crowd to create the right environment, to get behind us and to do their part, to help us to beat Liverpool and to reach the final."

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think the tie just leans in Liverpool's favour a little bit as they now know how good Fulham can be in fits and starts and what they can do on the break.

Fulham won't play the same at Craven Cottage, they will be more positive, want more of the ball and Liverpool will have to defend a little bit more. It will be a completely different game in the second leg.

The tie is in the balance but I would still fancy Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to BBC Radio 5 Live: "Curtis [Jones] is super, super, super important to us and he knows that. Coincidentally I heard his interview and the only thing to break through was 'I need more game time'. *laughs* I love that! So sorry Curtis that I didn't give you more game time earlier.

"He has made big steps. He looked like the fittest player on the whole pitch. He got a knock, I think a dead leg, he went down, but then a second later he turned around and scored.

"A good footballer, very, very good - he always was... but using these skills, he is now for me, for him for everybody thank god, doing it consistently. That is really cool. He made big steps in defensive things, which gives him a better feeling for the game. Then all of a sudden he can show his quality more.

"It is a joy to have the boy around because he has this natural scouse confidence and it is really cool."

Rate this man's performance:

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

Man of the Match Curtis Jones, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was an enjoyable evening. The first half was a tough game, we had most of the ball, we dominated, but we couldn't score. In the second half we turned that around, we scored two good goals and dominated again. So good game all round."

On if it has been a special week in the cups: "Yeah definitely. It is one of those things that there are plenty of games coming round, we are making changes to the team but we are still getting the job done. So happy days."

On getting a good run in the team: "It is benefitting me loads. The important thing is that I keep it up. My chance is there, so it is on me now [to perform]."

On the second leg: "It is always a tough task until the end in all games. We're going there with a lead but the tie isn't over, so we'll see on the day."

Liverpool

Goalscorer Curtis Jones, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "In the first half it was tough, we had all the ball but couldn't find the back of the net and in the second half we changed that around. The fans are leaving with smiles on their faces so I'm happy.

"I came all the way through the academy so it [scoring] means more. I've been around the team since I was 17 and the journey has been up and down.

"It has not always been easy but I've always stuck in there, my mindset is right, I know I have the ability and I just need the game time."

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool went through the gears in the second half, changed the game completely. The introductions of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo at half time allowed Diogo Jota to go on and do what he does best, working from a little bit deeper in midfield.

Nunez and Gakpo did really well up top, combined for one of the goals.

Fulham played their part in this game. Led for 40 minutes, and had their chances to make it 2-0 too but didn't.

Liverpool bided their time, got the fans involved in the game and took over.

Big stat incoming:

Last night against Fulham was the seventh time Liverpool have won a match despite conceding the first goal in all competitions this season, the most of any side in England’s top four tiers in 2023-24.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool staged a second-half turnaround to beat Fulham at Anfield in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

The visitors had taken the lead in the first half when Willian showed great control inside the area to slot in.

It was no less than Fulham deserved after an impressive first half, but Liverpool stepped it up after the break and fought back with two goals in three minutes.

First, Curtis Jones equalised when his 68th-minute strike from distance took a big deflection off Tosin Adarabioyo to wrong-foot Bernd Leno in the Fulham goal.

Substitute Cody Gakpo then drove in a Darwin Nunez pull-back to send the home crowd wild.

It was the second time in just over a month that Liverpool had denied Fulham success at Anfield. Marco Silva's side had led 3-2 in the final 10 minutes of their Premier League clash on 3 December but lost 4-3.

The two sides will meet again in the second leg at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, 24 January, with Jurgen Klopp's men now in the driving seat as they look to keep alive their hopes of a record-extending 10th League Cup win.

Image source, Getty Images

Morning all! January just keeps on going, doesn't it? It feels like it's been 2024 forever.

Anyway, I'm here with today's footy blog. I reckon we'll have time for plenty of transfer chat, and I'd quite like to hear your Premier League team's midseason report (more on that later).

But first, let's soak up all the reaction from Liverpool's win over Fulham last night...