Liverpool vs Fulham EFL Cup preview, team news, line-ups and prediction

An all-Premier League affair sees Liverpool host Fulham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals at Anfield Stadium.

After securing a spot in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Fulham face a formidable challenge against Liverpool, who boast a rich history in the EFL Cup and are eager to add another title to their collection.

Liverpool stand as the most successful team in the competition, having lifted the trophy nine times, with their last triumph in 2022. Their journey in the current season have seen victories against Leicester, Bournemouth, and West Ham, showcasing their dominance across different tiers of opposition.

On the contrary, Fulham will be moving to an uncharted territory at Anfield Stadium, as they aim to make history by reaching their first-ever EFL Cup final. Their previous best performance was reaching the quarter-finals in the 2004/05 season, where they succumbed to eventual champions Chelsea. Fulham’s path to the semi-finals involved overcoming challenges, including a notable penalty shootout victory against Tottenham.

As the two teams prepare to clash in the semi-finals, Liverpool seeks to maintain its legacy, while Fulham dreams of a historic breakthrough in the EFL Cup.

In a season marked by thrilling encounters, Liverpool secured a memorable 4-3 victory against Fulham in their previous matchup. Despite trailing until the 87th minute, Liverpool orchestrated a late comeback with rapid goals from Wataru Endo and Trent Alexander-Arnold, clinching a dramatic triumph.

While this victory showcased Liverpool’s resilience, recent history suggests a more balanced contest with Fulham, as Klopp’s side has only emerged victorious in two of their last five meetings with the Cottagers. Klopp is well aware of the challenges posed by Marco Silva’s side and will need to approach the upcoming clash with caution.

Liverpool enter the semi-final clash on the heels of a smash-and-grab 2-0 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup, demonstrating their ability to navigate tough encounters. Meanwhile, Marco Silva’s Fulham secured a 1-0 victory over Rotherham United to advance to the fourth round, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown at Anfield.

Emulating West Ham United’s resilience at the Emirates Stadium, Liverpool weathered nearly 90 minutes of pressure to secure a remarkable 2-0 victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup. Despite missing key figures like Virgil van Dijk due to illness and Mohamed Salah gearing up for the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool demonstrated their ability to capitalize on their opponent’s wastefulness.

In a first half where Arsenal could have easily taken the lead, Liverpool’s defense held firm, with Alisson Becker denying the Gunners multiple times. The Reds seized the opportunity and punished Arsenal’s inefficiency with a Jakub Kiwior own goal and a late strike from Luis Diaz.

With this impressive victory, Liverpool are now in contention for a quadruple of honors, including realistic aspirations for Premier League and Europa League glory. As they enter the EFL Cup semi-finals for a record 19th time, having dispatched Leicester City, Bournemouth, and West Ham United in previous rounds, the Reds maintain an unbeaten record in semi-final first legs at home, further solidifying their status as contenders.

Liverpool’s triumph over Arsenal on Sunday not only extended their unbeaten run to six matches across all competitions but also marked their 23rd consecutive competitive game at Anfield without a defeat.

The upcoming EFL Cup clash will see Liverpool face Fulham, a team that secured a 2-1 victory against Arsenal on New Year’s Eve and followed it up with another win against Rotherham on Friday.

While facing Championship strugglers, Fulham fielded a strong starting XI, and Bobby Decordova-Reid, who previously scored the winner against Arsenal, secured the victory with a goal 24 minutes into the match.

Fulham, aiming for their first EFL Cup triumph, are on the verge of a historic semi-final appearance, having previously exited at the quarter-final stage in 1968, 1971, 2001, and 2005.

Their journey this season include victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Ipswich Town, and a penalty shootout win against Everton in the last eight. However, it’s worth noting that not since the 2012-13 season has a first-time semi-finalist managed to progress to the showpiece contest, adding an extra layer of significance to Wednesday’s clash at Anfield.

Liverpool v Fulham match details

Location: Liverpool, England

Stadium: Anfield

Date: Wednesday 10 December

Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT

Referee: David Coote

Assistant referees: Timothy Wood and Wade Smith

Tickets: Match going fans can buy tickets for the game through official club channels or via trusted resellers such as seatsnet.com.

Match stats and head-to-head 

• Liverpool managed to hit the target with only three of their 12 shots in the recent FA Cup clash against Arsenal.
• In the past two encounters, Liverpool emerged victorious against Fulham, both triumphs occurring at Anfield.
• Cody Gakpo has been in formidable form, netting three goals in three EFL Cup games this season.
• Fulham have struggled on the road, being winless in their last five away games within the regulation 90 minutes.
• After a three-game winless streak against Fulham, Liverpool secured victory in their last two matches, both hosted at Anfield, including a thrilling 4-3 win just a month ago.
• Notably, Liverpool’s most recent EFL Cup loss at Anfield took place against Arsenal in 2020.
• Fulham are aiming to reach their first-ever EFL Cup final, surpassing their previous best quarter-final exits in 1968, 1971, 2001, and 2005.
• The history between Liverpool and Fulham comprises 74 encounters, with Liverpool holding the upper hand by winning 43 times, losing only 13, and experiencing just two defeats at Anfield.
• The 4-3 victory for Liverpool over Fulham earlier this season was a particularly dramatic match, with the Reds overcoming a goal deficit until the 87th minute.
• Wednesday’s semi-final marks Fulham’s debut appearance at this stage in the EFL Cup, with their previous best performances resulting in quarter-final exits in 1968, 1971, 2001, and 2005.

Team news

Liverpool anticipate the return of Virgil van Dijk, who missed the Arsenal victory due to illness. However, Dominik Szoboszlai is sidelined with a hamstring issue while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out for a few weeks with a knee injury.

Long-term absentees include Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Joel Matip. Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Wataru Endo is representing Japan at the Asian Cup.

Fulham face absences with Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Fode Ballo-Toure who have joined their respective countries for the African Cup of Nations.

Tim Ream and Adama Traore are dealing with injuries. Manager Marco Silva opted to rest Raul Jimenez, Willian, Joao Palhinha, Antonee Robinson, and Tom Cairney in the Rotherham victory, and all are expected to return to the starting lineup.

Predicted starting line-ups

Liverpool starting XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Jones, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Jota, Nunez, Diaz

Fulham predicted XI: Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Cairney, Palhinha; Wilson, Pereira, Decordova-Reid; Jimenez

Prediction 

Despite a recent slump with three consecutive losses, Marco Silva’s Fulham have displayed notable improvements, with a resurgent Raul Jimenez and Bobby Decordova-Reid’s match-winning instincts playing a pivotal role. Jimenez’s form and the ball-winning abilities of Joao Palhinha provide Fulham with a chance against the Premier League leaders over the two-leg EFL Cup semi-final.

Marco Silva’s side are also enjoying an extra two-day rest following Liverpool’s FA Cup action. The Cottagers possess the resources to trouble Liverpool’s defense, especially considering the potential challenges the Reds may face despite Virgil van Dijk’s expected return.

Liverpool, unbeaten domestically since September, have showcased resilience even when not at their best. Although Fulham posed a threat at Anfield in December, it remains challenging to envision them securing victory on Wednesday.