It might have seemed quite close in then end, but this to me never felt in any doubt. We had another gear to go to if needed but we just did what was required to get the job done and now we’re in another final. I’ve lost count of how many we’ve had under Klopp, I heard someone say this was his 10th semi final and I can’t remember us losing any, so presumably this is final number 10. It doesn’t matter, it’s a lot anyway.*
I expected more from Fulham but for once we actually started well and played a good first half. I thought Fulham would come flying at us but they didn’t really get the opportunity as we smothered them in that first half. Their players had no time on the ball and we just kept them penned in for most of the half. It’s the best we’ve started an away game in ages.
We even scored early! That never happens these days. There was an element of fortune about the goal but Diaz can argue that he made his own luck. The cross field ball by Quansah was ace but it shouldn’t have led directly to a goal. The reason it did was because aggressively attacked it with his chest which took Castagne out and gave him a run into the box. Fulham still had two defenders covering, which ended up being costly as the ball deflected off both of them which might have been why Leno made such a mess of it. He has to save that, but he didn’t and Diaz won’t care in the slightest how it went in.
It was interesting that Diaz lined up on the left. When I saw the line up I assumed he’d be on the right again but instead we saw Gakpo over on that side. That doesn’t necessarily suit him but Gakpo is almost like the attacking version of Joe Gomez, he just gets moved around all over the place. He isn’t currently as good at it as Gomez but he’s doing his bit and I like his willingness to get stuck into whatever job he’s given.
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