Liverpool make five changes to the XI that started the 2-0 FA Cup win at Arsenal. Caoimhín Kelleher, Virgin van Dijk, Diogo Jota, Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley replace Alisson, Jarell Quansah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, who are benched, and the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Fulham also make five changes from their FA Cup starting selection, in the wake of their 1-0 win over Rotherham United. Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson, João Palhinha, Willian and Raúl Jiménez return; Marek Rodák, Kenny Tete, Harry Wilson, Saša Lukić and Rodrigo Muniz all drop to the bench.
Liverpool and Fulham have drawn each other in the League Cup on five previous occasions. It’s not gone well for the Cottagers: they’ve lost every single tie. Most infamously, they shipped ten goals at Anfield in the second round in 1986; they were also on the end of a 5-0 shellacking in 1993, and 3-1 and 3-0 defeats in 1998 and 2000, the last time the clubs met in this competition.
It was close in 1983, mind. Malcolm Macdonald’s second-tier side took Joe Fagan’s team – one destined to win the competition, plus the league and European Cup to boot – to two replays, the last one only settled in the 116th minute by Graeme Souness. That’s surely the historical mark that will give Fulham succour as they embark on their first-ever League Cup semi-final. Throw in their recent form against the Reds – one win and two draws in their last five meetings; Liverpool requiring four worldies to win by the odd goal last month – and this two-legged tie should be much closer than it may look at first glance on paper. Kick off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!