Liverpool gained a first-leg leg advantage in the Carabao Cup semi-finals after coming from behind to rescue a 2-1 win over Fulham on Wednesday evening.
The Reds made five changes from their win over Arsenal in the FA Cup, as Diogo Jota, Virgil Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Conor Bradley and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher were all brought in.
Jurgen Klopp's charges were on the front foot in the early exchanges but they went behind on 19 minutes after Willian converted Fulham's first chance with a close-range finish from a cut-back by Andreas Pereira.
The Cottagers dropped deep in their own half after that, as they denied Liverpool spaces in the dangerous areas and looking to attack on transitions.
The Reds had all the possession in the latter phase of the first stanza but their final pass let them down in the last third and went to the break trailing by an odd goal.
The hosts had quick start in the second stanza as four minutes in Gravenberch came very close to levelling matters with a strike on the edge of the box that missed narrowly wide after he found acres of space to shoot.
Marco Silva's men were happy to sit back and threaten on counter-attacks, as just after the hour-mark, Bobby De Cordova-Reid had a big break through on goal but his diagonal shot was saved by Kelleher.
Liverpool's pressure eventually paid off on 68 minutes as Jones levelled matters with a deflected shot in the box that looped beyond shot-stopper Bernd Leno.
The Reds had their tails up and Cody Gakpo gave them the lead with a first-time shot in the box from a cut-back by Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool were threatening to kill off the game in the closing stages, as ten minutes before time Leno had to pull off a double save to deny Nunez.
Fulham tried to play through the Reds in the dying minutes but they struggled to break them down in the last third, as the hosts held on to a 2-1 win.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.