Liverpool 2-1 Fulham – Carabao Cup semi-final LIVE RESULT: Gakpo’s strike sets up tasty second leg at Craven Cottage

Liverpool starting XI:

Jurgen Klopp makes five changes from the side that won at The Emirates on the weekend.

62. Kelleher, 2. Gomez, 4. Van Dijk, 5. Konate, 84. Bradley, 10. Mac Allister, 17. Jones, 38. Gravenberch, 19. Elliott, 20. Jota, 7. Diaz

A tale of two strikers

Whoever comes out on top this evening, their number nines will be key to success.

While Raul Jimenez took some time to get going in West London, his form has been impressive of late.

Many have questioned Darwin Nunez's finishing but his contribution to the team has never been in question.

It's raining shots at Anfield

Fulham keeper Bernd Leno can expect a busy evening under the lights in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Jurgen Klopp's side registered a mind-blowing 60 shots in their last two games at Anfield.

Despite this, they were in clinical mood when they disposed of Arsenal in the FA Cup in the capital on the weekend.

Fans hoping for another Anfield thriller

When Fulham recently visited in the Premier League it was a 4-3 classic at Anfield.

The visitors felt they had the game in the bag 3-2 up with only minutes remaining, before The Reds scored two late goals to win the game.

Alexander-Arnold scored the winner that day, the hosts will not be able to rely upon their talisman this evening.

Supply line missing for Reds

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury has come at a particularly bad time for Liverpool.

While they can find a replacement at right back with academy graduate Conor Bradley able to fill in at right back, The Reds vice-captain offers so much more.

Alexander-Arnold’s assists will be greatly missed and something that Jurgen Klopp will find it hard to replace.

Fulham boss approaching game as one-off tie

Marco Silva has spoken about the need to not look too much towards the game at Craven Cottage:

You're talking about two games but, at the same time, you cannot be thinking about the second game if you don't do so well in the first. This is where you have to have the right balance. I don't want the players just thinking about the second game, because if we don't do our job really well in the first one, probably the chances to be decisive at home are not going to be there. Because of that, we have to play really at our best level there.

Marco SilvaFulham

Welcome to Liverpool vs Fulham

Liverpool welcome Fulham to Anfield for the Carabao Cup semi-final with The Cottagers having their first taste of the penultimate hurdle of a cup competition.

Jurgen Klopp will have Virgil Van Dijk back tonight after his skipper missed their trip to Arsenal in the FA Cup due to illness.

However, he has lost the services of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai who join Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Ben Doak and Joel Matip in the Anfield treatment room.

Mohamed Salah is off at AFCON while Wataru Endo is at the Asian Cup meaning Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota are likely to freshen up the starting XI.

Fulham have lost Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Fode Ballo-Toure to the AFCON tournament also.

Adama Traore and Tim Ream both missed the game on the weekend although the latter has a chance of making the game this evening.

Bern Leno, Joao Palhinha and Raul Jimenez are likely to come back into the side after sitting out the weekend’s FA Cup tie, meaning ex-Liverpool midfielder Harry Wilson is likely to be resigned to a place on the bench.

With the semi-final being a two-legged affair, Fulham will be looking more at the return leg as opposed to winning the game itself this evening.